Battle is o’er, hell’s armies flee, sang British Catholics in the ’30s and ’40s
The very forcefulness of it would never pass in a church of today.
Finita jam sunt proelia
Battle is o’er, hell’s armies flee;
Raise we the cry of victory
With abounding joy resounding, alleluia.
Christ, who endured the shameful tree,
O’er death triumphant welcome we,
Our adoring praise outpouring, alleluia.
On the third morn from death rose he,
Clothed with what light in heaven shall be,
Our unswerving faith deserving, alleluia.
Hell’s gloomy gates yield up their key,
Paradise door thrown wide we see;
Never-tiring be our choiring, alleluia.
Lord, by the stripes men laid on thee,
Grant us to live from death set free,
This our greeting still repeating, alleluia.
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Simphonia Sirenum, 1695, translated by R.A.Knox
Westminster Hymnal, 1939
It’s joyful. Unalloyed joy, I might even say unapologetic.
"It’s joyful. Unalloyed joy, I might even say unapologetic." Triumphalist, eh? Here in Poland, and I gather also in southern Spain, triumphalism is joyful and normal - universal, even. To Hanover with tactful Catholicism. Let's be rude Catholics.
A hymn with vigor. Before I sing at Mass, I check the dates on lyrics and melody to see if its worth the effort.