Salve Festa Dies - Catholic Easter Gregorian Chant (with lyrics)
This Easter hymn written by Venantius Fortunatus is beautifully sung here by the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo dos Silos. Their take on it does not include all of the original stanzas, but the relevant lyrics and translation follow:
Salve festa dies toto venerabilis aevo Qua Deus infernum vicit et astra tenet
Ecce renascentis testatur gratia mundi Omnia cum Domino dona redisse suo
Salve festa dies...
Namque triumphanti post tristia tartara Christo Undique fronde nemus gramina flore favent
Salve festa dies...
Qui crucifixus erat Deus, ecce per omnia regnat Dantque Creatori cuncta creata precem
Salve festa dies...
Hail, festal day, venerable of all ages By which God conquers hell and holds the stars
Behold, it declares grace for a reborn world All gifts have returned with their Lord.
Hail, festal day...
For indeed, after hellish sorrows, to the triumphing Christ: grove with green and buds with flower, everywhere give laud.
Hail, festal day...
The Crucified One was God, behold He reigns over all things, and all creation offers prayer to its Creator.
Hail, festal day...