Spe mercedis et coronae (sequence)
An anonymous chant composition sung in Latin by sopranos Laura Lynch and Stephanie Culica. The recording is taken from a concert of music honoring Saint Thomas Becket, the martyred Archbishop of Canterbury, performed by members of Schola Antiqua under the direction of Michael Alan Anderson. the performance took place on 8 January 2017 as part of the 2016 - 2017 series, Early Music at the Byron Colby Barn.
Text:
Spe mercedis et coronae
Stetit Thomas in agone
Ad mortem oboediens
Morte Christum imitatus
Fide firmus et firmatus
Firmo gressu gradiens.
Furit furor militaris
Ut vir sacer sacris aris
Immoletur hostia;
Quem occident saevientes
Introducunt nescientes
Ad aeterna gaudia.
Christi fortis hic athleta
Qui subire mente laeta
Mortem non abhorruit.
Ut sit salus infirmorum
Et medela peccatorum
Gratiam promeruit.
Caeci, claudi,
Surdi, muti,
Sunt ad usum restituti
Divina clementia.
Non est morbus
Quem non curet
Dum morborum non obduret
Tarda diffidentia.
Hostes Christi Christo cedunt
Signa signis dum succedunt
Argumenta fidei.
Ergo martyr invocetur
Ut per eum nobis detur
Ad superna provehi. Amen.
Translation:
With the hope of reward and a crown,
Thomas stood ready for the contest,
obedient even unto death.
Imitating Christ in death,
confident and firm in faith,
he advanced with steady steps.
The martial furor seethed
as the holy man at the holy altar
was offered as a sacrifice.
The raging soldiers kill him
not knowing that they were leading
him to eternal joy.
He is the brave champion of Christ
who did not hesitate
to suffer death with joyful courage.
So that there might be salvation for the infirmed
and healing power for sinners,
he earned grace.
The blind, the lame,
the deaf, the mute,
have been restored to wholeness
with divine clemency.
There is no sickness
which he does not cure
once the stubborn faithlessness of those sick
does not persist.
The enemies of Christ yield to Christ
when signs, demonstrations of faith,
follow upon signs.
Therefore let the martyr be called upon:
so that through him it might be granted to us
to be carried to celestial realms. Amen.