O magnum mysterium

Nativity Scene by Geertgen tot Sint Jans, c. 1485

General Information

Fourth of the nine responsories for Matins of Christmas Day.

The versicle of the responsory (Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum) is missing from most of the polyphonic settings.

Notes on selected settings

William Byrd, includes the Responsory Giovanni Contino SAATB, includes the Responsory Pedro de Cristo, includes the Responsory Michael J. Drake, Jr., includes the Responsory (SA, SAA, SSAA) Pedro da Esperança, includes the Responsory Giovanni Gabrieli (2nd part of Quem vidistis pastores a 6

Mariano Garau I SAB II SAA José Maurício Nunes Garcia, includes the Responsory Charles H. Giffen, includes the Responsory Morten Lauridsen (copyright restricted) Estêvão Lopes Morago, includes the Responsory

Francis Poulenc (copyright restricted) Peter Smith SATB organ with S solo Johann Stadlmayr, includes the Responsory Ivo de Vento viderunt instead of viderent, repeats jacentem in praesepio at the end. Adrian Willaert, includes the Responsory

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

• Paolo Aretino —  Latin SATB
• Harry Boulton —  Latin SATB
• John J. Brackenborough —  Latin SSA
• Douglas Brooks-Davies —  Latin SATB
• William Byrd —  Latin 
• Jacopo Antonio Cardillo —  Latin SATTB
• Marcos Castán —  Latin SATB
• Giovanni Contino —  Latin SAATB
• Pedro de Cristo —  Latin SATB
• Frédéric Debons —  Latin SAB
• Pedro da Esperança —  Latin SATB
• Mark D. Falcone —  Latin SATB
• Francesco Feroci —  Latin TTB
• Carlotta Ferrari —  Latin SATB
• Giovanni Gabrieli —  Latin SSAB.ATTB
• Giovanni Gabrieli —  Latin ATTTTB
• Mariano Garau —  Latin SAA
• Charles H. Giffen —  Latin SSAT.SATB.ATBB, SSAT.ATBB
• Jacob Handl —  Latin SATB.SATB
• Iñigo Igualador —  Latin SATB
• Maistre Jhan —  Latin STTB
• Michael J. Drake, Jr. —  Latin SA
• Huub de Lange —  Latin SATB
• Gonçalo Lourenço —  Latin SAATTBB
• Estêvão Lopes Morago —  Latin SATB
• Cristóbal de Morales —  Latin SSAA
• Jorge Moreira —  Latin SATB
• Giovan Nasco —  Latin SATB
• Pomponio Nenna —  Latin SATB
• José Maurício Nunes Garcia —  Latin SATB
• Wytze Oostenbrug —  Latin SATB
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina —  Latin SSAATB
• Jacobus Clemens non Papa —  Latin SSATTB
• Giacomo Antonio Perti —  Latin SATB
• Pascal Picard —  Latin SATB
• Abraham González Ponce —  Latin SSAATTBB
• Jeffrey Quick —  Latin 
• Claudio Raffi —  Latin SSATB
• Teodoro Riccio —  Latin SAATTT,SAATBB
• Andrea Rota —  Latin SATTB
• Oscar Santos —  Latin SATB
• Alessandro Scarlatti —  Latin SATB.SATB
• Peter Smith —  Latin SATB
• Johann Stadlmayr —  Latin SATB
• J. G. Stalnaker —  Latin SATB.SATB
• J. G. Stalnaker —  Latin SATB
• J. G. Stalnaker —  Latin SATB
• J. G. Stalnaker —  Latin SSAATTBB
• J. G. Stalnaker —  Latin SATB
• Ivo de Vento —  Latin SSATB
• Tomás Luis de Victoria —  Latin SATB,ATTB
• Pedro Vilarroig —  Latin SATB
• Adrian Willaert —  Latin SATB

Works that currently have no editions available:

• Nicolas Gombert — O magnum mysterium
• Giacomo Antonio Perti — O magnum mysterium

Text and translations

Full text of the responsory

Latin text O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum jacentem in praesepio. O beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Ave Maria, gratia plena: Dominus tecum. O beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Alleluia!

English translation O great mystery and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the new-born Lord lying in a manger! O blessed is the Virgin, whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Hail Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with you. Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Alleluia!

Abbreviated text without the versicle & response

Latin text O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum jacentem in praesepio. O beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Alleluia!

English translation O great mystery and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the new-born Lord lying in a manger! O blessed is the Virgin, whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Alleluia!

Different text in the Prima pars of the Palestrina setting

(includes part of the responsory to the third lesson)

Latin text O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum jacentem in praesepio. Natum vidimus et choros Angelorum collaudantes Dominum. Alleluia!

English translation O great mystery and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the new-born Lord lying in a manger! We have seen the infant, and the choirs of angels praising the Lord together. Alleluia!

Text of the Morales setting

Latin text O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum jacentem in praesepio. Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Domine, audivi auditum tuum et timui: consideravi opera tua, et expavi: in medio duorum animalium.

English translation O great mystery and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the new-born Lord lying in a manger. Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Jesus Christ the Lord. Lord, I heard your voice and was afraid; I considered your works and I trembled: between two animals.

Other translations

English translation Translation by Allen H. Simon O most awesome mystery and sacrament divine and most wondrous: that animals should look and see the Lord a babe newborn beside them in a manger laid. O how truly blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear and bring forth the Lord Christ Jesus. Alleluia! English translation Translation by Mick Swithinbank O great mystery and wonderful sacrament that animals could see the birth of the Lord lying in a manger. Whom did you see, shepherds, say, tell us who has appeared? We saw the child new-born and choirs of angels praising the Lord, alleluia. Another English translation: O great mystery, and strange sacrament As an animal might see the arisen Lord Cast into a manger O sacred Virgin, whose womb was worth to carry the Lord Jesus Christ Alleluia. French translation Ô grand mystère et merveilleux sacrement Que les animaux voient le Seigneur nouveau-né reposant dans la crèche. Ô heureuse Vierge dont les entrailles méritèrent de porter le Seigneur, Jésus Christ. Alléluia.

Italian translation Translation by Daniele Ventre O grande mistero, E mirabile sacramento, Che gli animali vedessero il Signore appena nato giacere nel presepio, O beata Vergine, il cui grembo meritò di portare Gesù cristo nostro Signore, Alleluia! Spanish translation Translation by Manuel Espejo (Colombia) O gran misterio, y maravilloso sacramento, Que los animales hayan visto Al Señor recién nacido yacer en un pesebre. Alabada seas, o Virgen, pues tu vientre mereció llevar a Jesús Cristo, nuestro Señor, ¡Aleluya! Korean translation 아아 크나큰 신비와 경이로운 성사여 구유에 누워계신 신생의 주를 뭇 짐승이 바라볼지니 아아 복된 처녀여 그 품은 주 예수 그리스도를 수태하기에 합당하였도다 할렐루야 German translation by luisen-vocalensemble.de O großes Geheimnis und wunderbares Heiligtum, daß Tiere den geborenen Herrn sehen, in der Krippe liegend. Selig die Jungfrau, deren Leib würdig war, Christus den Herrn zu tragen.

External links

• Wikipedia article