|
Farewell to the Alleluia
One of the features of the Liturgy in Lent and Passiontide is the putting aside of the ancient and familiar Hebrew acclamation Alleluia.
It is replaced by other acclamations and returns in glory at the Easter Vigil where it is sung with great elaboration and joy.
Our medieval ancestors bade farewell to the Alleluia on the third Sunday before AshWednesday “Septuagesima Sunday” often with the singing of the 10th century hymn “Alleluia Dulce Carmen!” which is given here in an English translation. The third stanza is particularly poignant in that we forgo the cry of the redeemed Jerusalem “for awhile” but will regain it on Easter Day.
Alleluia, song of sweetness,
voice of joy that cannot die;
alleluia is the anthem
ever raised by choirs on high;
in the house of God abiding
thus they sing eternally.
Alleluia thou resoundest,
true Jerusalem and free;
alleluia, joyful mother,
all thy children sing with thee;
but by Babylon's sad waters
mourning exiles now are we.
Alleluia cannot always
be our song while here below;
alleluia our transgressions
make us for awhile forgo;
for the solemn time is coming
when our tears for sin must flow.
Therefore in our hymns we pray Thee,
grant us, blessed Trinity,
at the last to keep Thine Easter,
in our home beyond the sky,
there to Thee for ever singing
alleluia joyfully.
|