Catholic Prayer: Victimae Paschali: The Easter Sequence

Description:

This ancient sequence is sung or prayed every day from Easter Sunday through all the Easter Octave.

Words: Wigbert [Wipo of Burgundy] (d. 1050?); tr. The Antiphoner and Grail, 1880, alt.

Music: Victimae Paschai laudes, plainsong, Mode I; melody att. Wigbert [Wipo of Burgundy] (d. 1050?)

Prayer:

Victimae paschali laudes
immolent Christiani.

Agnus redemit oves:
Christus innocens Patri
Reconciliavit peccatores.

Mors et vita duello conflixere mirando,
Dux vitae mortuus, regnat vivus.

Dic nobis Maria, quid vidisti in via?
Sepulcrum Christi viventis,
Et gloriam vidi resurgentis:

Angelicos testes, sudarium et vestes.
Surrexit Christus spes mea:
Praecedet vos in Galilaeam.

Credendum est magis soli
Mariae veraci
Quam Judaeorum
Turbae fallaci.

Scimus Christum surrexisse
a mortuis vere:
Tu nobis, victor Rex, miserere.
Amen. Alleluia.

---

Christians, to the Paschal victim
Offer your thankful praises!

A Lamb the sheep redeems:
Christ, who only is sinless,
Reconciles sinners to the Father.

Death and life have contended
in that combat stupendous:
The Prince of life, who died,
reigns immortal.

Speak, Mary, declaring
What you saw, wayfaring.
"The tomb of Christ, who is living,
the glory of Jesus' resurrection;

"Bright angels attesting,
The shroud and napkin resting.
"Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;
To Galilee he goes before you."

Christ indeed
from death is risen,
our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, victor King,
ever reigning!
Amen. Alleluia!