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Gaudete Lyrics

Gaudete! gaudete! Christus est natus ex Maria Virgine: Gaudete!

Tempus adest gratiae, Hoc quod optabamus;
Carmina laeticiae Devote redamus.

Gaudete! gaudete! Christus est natus ex Maria Virgine: Gaudete!

Deus homo factus est, Natura mirante;
Mundus renovatus est, A Christo regnante.

Gaudete! gaudete! Christus est natus ex Maria Virgine: Gaudete!

Ezechiellis porta Clausa pertransitur;
Unde lux est orta, Salus invenitur.

Gaudete! gaudete! Christus est natus ex Maria Virgine: Gaudete!

Ergo nostra concito Psallat iam in lustro;
Benedicat Domino: Salus Regi nostro.

Gaudete! gaudete! Christus est natus ex Maria Virgine: Gaudete!
Song Info
Submitted by
eyrian On Apr 16, 2004
3 Meanings

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Cover art for Gaudete lyrics by Steeleye Span

A very, very nice song, sung remarkably well. Entirely acapella, the close-harmony chorus is a real treat. Manages at once to be both joyful and deeply sacred. Not usually a fan of religious music, but this is worlds apart.

Somehow works great with its Latin pronounced with heavy English and Scottish accents...reminds me that England was once a very Catholic country.

Cover art for Gaudete lyrics by Steeleye Span

Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born Of the Virgin Mary – Rejoice!

The time of grace has come— That we have wished for; Songs of joy Let us give back faithfully.

God is made man [With] Nature marveling The world is renewed By the reigning Christ

The gate of Ezekiel [which has been] closed is passed through Whence light is risen Salvation is found

So let our assembly Now sing in brightness Let it bless the Lord Salvation to our King

Translation
Cover art for Gaudete lyrics by Steeleye Span

"Gaudete" ("Rejoice") is a sacred carol, celebrating the birth of Christ.

"Deus homo factus est" -- "God is made man" is a reference to the central mystery of the Christian faith, the incarnation of God in the form of the mortal Jesus Christ.

"Ezechielis porta clausa per transitur" -- "the closed gate of Ezekiel has been passed through": in Ezekiel 44:1-3, the prophet Ezekiel describes a vision of the eastern gate of the Temple (the holiest site of Judaism, the temple built in Jerusalem by King Solomon). The gate remains closed forever, because G*d has entered the Temple through it, and so no mortal is allowed to use it. For some Christian theologians such as St. Ambrose and St. Augustine, this verse was seen as a prophecy of Christ's birth, and the closed gate was identified with the womb of the Virgin Mary; no man could pass through it, but God could (and had).

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