Friday, January 16, 2009

ORPHANIS PATREM - The Somascans' Most Beloved Hymn In Honor of St. Jerome Emiliani

St. Jerome Emiliani shown as surrounded by orphans to whom he became a friend and father, defender and protector. In 1928, His Holiness Pope Pius XI proclaimed him The Universal Father of the Orphans and Needy Youth.

This morning I received an e-mail from Bro. Joel France our former organist in the seminary who is now working in Alaska. He is requesting for the copy of this song ORPHANIS PATREM which is the Somascan official hymn in honor of the saint founder. I thought that I already put it here in the Blog but I couldn't find it. I tried to Google it but nothing came out either. It seems that none of the Somascans ever thought of putting into the internet this Jewel of Somascan Spirituality. So I decided to type and post it here. Unless I am mistaken, this could be the first ever copy of this immortal Latin Song so dear to the Somascan hearts in the Internet.

ORPHANIS PATREM

1. Orphanis Patrem pia quem superni

cura Rectoris dedit, atque egenis

voce poscentum facilem rogari,

rite canamus.

2. Ferrea solvit manica revinctum

Ipsa coelesti rutilans decore

Numinis Mater, mediosque duxit

Virgo per hostes.

3. Hinc Stygis victor titulos, opesque

Sprevit antiquas, inopes parente

Colligens orbos pueros, parentis

Munia complens.

4. Nec pium, letho properante, munus

Desiit: certos pietatis almae

Liquit haeredes, operis magister

Factus et auctor.

5. Signa, quae vivens numerosa fecit,

Jam fruens coelo renovat, salutem

Conferens, miram bibat aut quis undam,

Seu prece poscat.

6. Te, Deus, Trinum celebrent et Unum

Omnium linguae: veniam benignus

Supplicum culpis prece da rogatus

Aemiliani. Amen

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5 comments:

  1. This song was taught to us by Fr. Desantis when the Somascan Father Seminary was still in Almanza, Las Pinas, Metro Manila under the then Las Pinas College, now Dr. Faustino Legazpi-Uy Memorial College way back in 1984. It has so inspired me that most of my songs composed are meditational. We sang the song on February 1986 at St. Jerome Parish in Alabang during his feast. It was awesome solemn and people are silenced listening to it although most of them did not know the translations, followed bu Panis Angelicum. Those who still remember, I was playing banduria then. The song then was taught in Lubao, Pampanga later.
    Orphanis Patrem is a six-verse gregorian chant that is so easy to learn yet so sublime to sing. When I sing the song, everything dashes a flash into my memories - the seminary days. Thank you Fr. Abe for posting.

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  2. Dear Bro. Joel,

    You're welcome.

    On our part we learned it in Somascan College Seminary in Lubao, Pampanga. Our batch entered June 1986. It was the late Fr. Bruno Schiavon, CRS who taught it to us and we were singing it together every feast of St. Jerome, the 9 days Novena for his feast and every 8th of the month for his commemoration.

    The most memorable performance done by our group was also held in St. Jerome Emiliani Parish in Alabang during the blessing and inauguration of the new Parish Convent. The principal sponsor Mrs. Meldy Cojuanco was there in terno, prominent businessmen and political leaders were also present such as Gov. Jose Cusia of Central Bank, Sec. Cesar Carino, Mr. Myron Papa and others.

    The guests were also silenced by the majestic beauty of the song and they loved it. Many of them came to us to expreess appreciation and to inquire for the title.

    Let us cherish this wonderful Treasure of our Somascan Hymnal.

    ReplyDelete

  3. I think I come to the right place, because for a long time do not see such a good thing the!
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    ReplyDelete

  4. FATHER baka po pwede paki-post ng Ina ng ga Ulila. Nalimutan ko na lyrics. God bless.

    ReplyDelete

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