Jesu, corona virginum

Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Jesu, corona virginum
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Notes

Jesu Corona Virginum. [Common of Virgins.] This beautiful hymn, founded on Canticles ii. 16, Isaiah xxviii. 5, and Rev. xiv. 4, has been ascribed to St. Ambrose, but is not adjudged to him by the Benedictine Editors. Thomasius, ii. 402, gives it from a Vatican manuscript of the 8th century. It is found in four hymnaries of the 11th century, in the British Museum (Vesp. D. xii. f. 111b; Jul. A. vi. f. 68; Harl. 2961, f. 250; Add. 30851, f. 155), and in the Latin Hymns of the Anglo-Saxon Church, 1851, p. 140, is printed from an 11th century manuscript at Durham. (B. iii. 32 f. 41.) It is also in 3 mss. of the 11th century, at St. Gall (Nos. 387, 413, 414). Among Breviaries it is included in the Roman (Venice, 1478), Ambrosian of 1539, Sarum, York, Aberdeen, &c, the Sarum use being at Lauds and Second Vespers on the festivals of Virgins and Martyrs. Daniel, i., No. 99, gives the text, and at iv. pp. 140, 368, cites it as in a 10th century Rheinau mansucripts, and in a 9th century manuscript at Bern. The Roman Breviary text is also in Cardinal Newman's Hymni Ecclesiae, 1838 and 1865. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
Translations in common use:—
1. Thou Crown of all the Virgin choir. By E. Caswall. Published in his Lyra Catholica, 1849, p. 221; and again in his Hymns & Poems, 1873, p. 116, but altered to "Dear Crown of all the Virgin choir." The original translation is given in Roman Catholic hymn-books for missions and schools. It is also in other collections.
2. Jesu, the Virgin's Crown, do Thou. By J. M. Neale in the 1854 edition of the Hymnal Noted. The most popular form of this translation is its altered text by the compilers of Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861 and 1875. It begins with the same first line, and is in several collections.
3. 0 Jesu, Crown of Virgins, Whom. By R. F. Littledale. Made for and first published in the People's Hymnal, 1867, and signed D. L.
4. 0 Jesu, Crown of Virgins, Thou. This in the Hymnary, 1872, is Dr. Neale's translation as above, altered by the Editors of the Hymnary.
Translations not in common use:—
1. Jesus, receive our suppliant cry. J. R. Beste, 1849.
2. Jesu the Crown, and sweet Reward. R. Campbell, 1850.
3. Jesu, the Virgins' coronal. W. J. Blew, 1852-5.
4. Jesu, the Virgin's Crown. In love , &c. J. W. Hewett, 1859.
6. Jesu, the Crown of Virgins, Whom. J. D. Chambers, 1866.
6. Jesus, the Virgin's crown, their spouse. J. Wallace, 1874.