Contents Altus Prosator
Ancient of days		 Alii


The folowing hymn is attributed to St. Columba (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD), an Irish abbot who was instrumental in spreading Christianity to Scotland. He founded an abbey on Iona, a small island on the western coast of Scotland. On Latin Columba means ``dove'', and he is also known as Colmcille in Scottish Gaelic. He is is one of the three patron saints of Ireland, after Patrick and Brigid of Kildare.

The ``Altus Prosator'' is and abecedary in as much as the beginning of each stanza starts with a ltter of the alphabet in alphabetical order. The hymn (or poem) starts with the beginning of time, history of Creation, and the Apocalypse and final Judgement.

Besides the ``Altus Prosator'', he is said to have composed the Adiutor Laborantium

R. Quis potest Deo placere Novissimo in tempore Variatis insignibus Veritatis ordinibus Exceptis contemptoribus Mundi praesentis istius? R. Translation needed.
Altus prosator, vetustus Dierum et ingenitus Erat absque origine Primordii et crepidine, Est et erit in saecula Saeculorum infinita; Cui est unigenitas Christus et sanctus spiritus Coaeternus in gloria Deitatis perpetua. Non tres deos depromimus, Sed unum Deum dicimus Salva fide in personis Tribus gloriosissimis. Ancient of days, Father most high, Who art, and shall be, As the ages go by, With Christ and the Spirit, In glory supernal, "Who art God evermore, Unbegotten, eternal We preach not three Gods, But the unity, One, The Father, the Spirit, And co-equal Son.
Bonos creavit Angelos Ordines et Archangelos Principatuum ac Sedium, Potestatum, Virtutum, Uti non esset bonitas Otiosa ac maiestas Trinitatis in omnibus Largitatis muneribus, Sed haberet, caelestia In quibus privilegia Ostenderet magnopere Possibili fatimine. Bright Angel-thrones, And virtues, and powers, By good angels and seraphs His mercies He showers ; That the Godhead most blessed. By His goodness and grace. With celestial expression Might all things embrace.
Caeli de regni apice Stationis angelicae Claritate prae fulgoris, Venustate speciminis Superbiendo ruerat Lucifer, quem formaverat, Apostataeque angeli Eodem lapsu lugubri Auctoris cenodoxiae, Pervicacis invidiae, Ceteris remanentibus In suis principatibus. Cast down from high Heaven, Apostate ranks fell. And the Son of the Morning Was dashed down to hell ; By the foul stain of pride All his glory was lost, While the lowly remained The angelical host.
Draco magnus taeterrimus, Terribilis et antiquus, Qui fuit serpens lubricus, Sapientior omnibus Bestiis et animantibus Terrae ferocioribus, Tertiam partem sideram Traxit secum in barathrum Locorum infernalium Diversorumque carcerum Refugas veri luminis Parasito praecipites. Demon most fearful, Once mighty, once wise, Fell, and with him he drew A third part of the skies, Forsaking the true light In pit most profound, Was flung this deceiver. And for evermore bound.
Excelsus mundi machinam Praevidens et harmoniam, Caelum et terram fecerat, Mare, aquas condiderat, Herbarum quoque germina, Virgultorum arbuscula, Solem, lunam ac sidera, Ignem ac necessaria, Aves, pisces et pecora, Bestias, animalia, Hominem demum regere Protoplaustum praesagmine. (Protoplastus? praesagmine?) Excelling and perfect The great world was made. The earth and the ocean Came forth as He said, The herb and the grasses, The fish and the fire. And lastly came man, Created yet higher.
Factis simul sideribus, Aetheris luminaribus, Conlaudaverant angeli Factura pro mirabili Immensae molis Dominum, Opificem caelestium, Debito et immobili Concentuque egregio Grates egerunt Domino Amore et arbitrio, Non naturae donario. Fair the structure was built, And the angels their lays Came to offer to God, And loudly gave praise. The stars thus created Sang loud to His name ; The universe rang With the great Maker's fame.
Grassatis primis duobus Seductisque paerntibus Secundo ruit diabolus Cum suis satellitibus, Quorum horrore vultuum Sonoque volitantium Consternarentur homines Metu territi fragiles, Non valentes carnalibus Haec intueri visibus, Qui nunc ligantur fascibus, Ergastulorum nexibus. Great the horror and trembling, The dread and affright. That our first parents felt At this vision of night, At the traitorous angels In prison-house kept. While they in atonement Their first sin had wept.
Hic sublatus e medio Deiectus est a Domino, Cuius aeris spatium Constipatur satellitum Globo invisibilium Turbido perduellium, Ne malis exemplaribus Imbuti ac sceleribus Nullis unquam tegentibus Saeptis ac parietibus Fornicarentur homines Palam omnium oculis. Hid from sight of all mortals, Lest their crime should defile While crowds of rank demons An atmosphere vile; Concealed from men only, But known to the Lord, These legends of devils Condemned by His word,
Invehunt nubes pontias Ex fontibus brumalias Tribus profundioribus Oceani dodrantibus Maris, caeli climatibus, Caeruleis turbinibus Profuturas segitibus, Vineis et germinibus, Agitatae flaminibus Thesauris emergentibus, Quique paludes marinas Evacuant reciprocas. In whirlwinds of azure. The clouds deeply blue Are uplifted to Heaven, God's great work to do ; At His bidding they pour forth On vineyard and field, The streams which fertility Everywhere yield.
Kaduca ac tyrannica Mundique momentanea Regum praesentis gloria Nutu Dei deposita; Ecce, gigantes gemere Sub aquis magno ulcere Comprobantur, incendio Aduri ac supplicio Cocyti quae Charybdibus Strangulati turgentibus, Scyllis obtecti fluctibus Eliduntur et scrupibus. Kings and tyrants once famed. Of old world renown, Are dashed deep in ocean, Remorselessly down ; The floods and the rock-stones, The fire and the flame. Are the torment eternal Of these men of great fame.
Ligatas aquas nubibus Frequenter crebrat Dominus, Ut ne erumpant protinus Simul raptis obicibus, Quarum uberioribus Venis velut uberibus Pedetentim natantibus Telli per tractus istius Gelidis ac ferventibus Diversis in temporibus Usquam influunt flumina Nunquam deficientia. Lo, gently the waters. Held fast by God's word, In soft drops do the bidding Of their Maker and Lord. Now with warm breath or cold, As the seasons come round, God's rivers make fruitful, And flow on the ground.
Magni Dei virtutibus Appenditur dialibus Globus terrae et circulus Abysso magnae inditas Suffulta Dei, iduma Omnipotentis valida, Columnis velat vectibus Eundem sustentantibus, Promontoriis et rupibus Solidis fundaminibus Velut quibusdam basibus Firmatus immobilibus. Most mighty foundations, Support the great earth, On pillar and beam. Sustained since its birth By the power of God; Made for ever secure, It rests on foundations Eternally sure.
Nulli videtur dubium In imis ese infernum, Ubi habentur tenebrae, Vermes et dirae bestiae, Ubi ignis sulphureus Ardens flammis edacibus, Ubi rugitas hominum, Fletus et stridor dentium, Ubi Gehennae gemitus Terribilis et antiquus. Ubi ardor flammaticus Sitis famisque horridus. None doubts that hell lieth Where worm and foul beast On corruption, in darkness. For ever shall feast ; Where sulphuric fires The lost souls assail, Where for ever resoundeth The shriek and the wail.
Orbem infra, at legimus, Incolas esse novimus, Quorum genu precario Frequenter flectit Domino, Quibusque impossibile Librum scriptum revolvere Obsignatum signaculis Septem de Christi monitis, Quem idem resignaverat. Postquam victor exstiterat Explens sui praesagmina Adventus prophetalia. Of the dwellers below earth, Who live in the deep, Yet pray to the Lord, As in mystical sleep. Know not of th' unrolling Of what prophet reveals. Nor the mysteries writ In the book with seven seals.
Plantatum a prooemio Paradisum a Domino Legimus in primordio Genesis nobilissimo, Cuius ex fonte flumina Quattuor sunt manantia, Cuius etiam florido Lignum vitae in medio, Cuius non cadunt folia Gentibus salutifera, Cuius inenarrabiles Deliciae ac fertiles. Praise, health, and abundance In Paradise dwelt, Where no sorrow nor sickness Nor grief could be felt ; Where the tree of life flowered. Where four rivers ran. Where the leaves all unfading Gave healing to man.
Quis ad condictum Domini Montem ascendit Sinai? Quis audivit tonitrua Ultra modum sonantia, Quis clangorem perstrepere Inormitatis buccinae? Quis quoque vidit fulgura In gyro coruscantia, Quis lampades et iacula Saxaque collidentia Praeter Israhelitici Moysen iudicem populi? Quivered the mountains, Shouted the thunder, Loud roared the tempest, Lightning flashed under. On the mountain of Sinai, In terror and awe. When Moses ascended, When God gave the law.
Regis regum rectissimi Prope est dies Domini, Dies irae et vindictae, Tenebrarum et nebulae Diesque mirabilium Tonitruorum fortium, Dies quoque angustiae, In quo cessabit mulierum Amor ac desiderium Hominumque contentio Mundi huius et cupido. Run and hide, for the day Of the Lord is at hand ; The King of all kingdoms In judgment will stand. Wrath, vengeance, and darkness. And sadness and fear. Take the place of all pleasure Which man has had here.
Stantes erimus pavidi Ante tribunal Domini Reddemusque de omnibus Rationem affectibus, Videntes quoque posita Ante obtutus crimina Librosque conscientiae Patefactos in facie; In fletus amarissimos Ac singulis erumpemus Subtracta necessaria Operandi materia. Sore stricken in terror At God's judgment-seat, The deeds we have done here Receive what is meet. No more time for repentance. No more time to do well ; The sentence eternal For heaven or hell.
Taba primi archangeli Strepente admirabili Erumpent munitissima Claustra ac poliandria, Mundi praesentis frigola Hominum lucescentia Undique conglobantibus Ad compagines ossibus, Animabus aethralibus Eisdem obviantibus Rursumque redeuntibus Debitis mansionibus. The trump of the angels Shall sound wondrous things ; All bonds dash asunder With flash of their wings, And souls meeting bodies Shall for ever unite. Some descending to hell. Some ascending to light
Uagatur ex climactere Orion caeli cardine Derelicto Virgilio, Astrorum splendidissimo, Per metas Thetis ignoti Orientalis circuli; Girans certis ambagibus Redit priscis reditibus, Oriens post biennium Vesperugo in vesperum; Sumpta in problematibus Tropicis intellectibus. Wildly north and to south Wanderers each star, Driven hither and thither By tempest afar ; And the light of the sun Shall cease from the skies, And the moon quenched in darkness, Shall never more rise.
Xristo de calis Domino Descendente celsissimo Praefulgebit clarissimam Signum crucis et vexillum, Tectisque luminaribus Duobus principalibus Cadent in terram sidera Ut fractas de ficulnea, Eritque mundi spatium Ut fornacis incendium; Tunc in montium specubus Abscondent se exercitus. X t descending from heaven His banner the Cross, Then indeed shall men know That all else is but loss. To the earth the stars falling, The Cross all shall hide, For the terrors of judgment No man can abide.
Ymnorum cantionibus Sedulo tinnientibus, Tripudiis sanctis milibus Angelorum vernantibus Quattuorque plenissimis Animalibus oculis Cum viginti felicibus Quattuor senioribus Coronas admittentibus Agni Dei sub pedibus, Laudatur tribus vicibus Trinitas aeternalibus. Yet the chanting of hymns From the heights shall resound, And music angelic Shall be heard all around. By the four living creatures In sanctus threefold. Casting crowns at His feet, God's praise shall be told.
Zelas ignis furibundos Consumet adversarios Nolentes Christum credere Deo a patre venisse. Nos vero evolabimus Obviam ei protinus Et sic cum ipso erimus In diversis ordinibus Dignitatum pro meritis Praemiorum perpetuis Permansuri in gloria A saeculis in saecula. Zeal-kindled fire The unjust shall destroy. Who deny the Lord Jesus, Our hope and our joy. And the good shall be raised In the heavenly choir. As our merit and glory Have made each one higher.
Latin is from ``Analecta Hymnica Medii Aevi'', Vol. LI, 1908.
English is from "Cloister Songs and Hymns for Children", Sister Mary Francis Clare, M.H. Gill, 1881


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