Adam of Saint Victor: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Supernae Matris Gaudia

Adam of Saint Victor

“Supernae Matris Gaudia” as printed in Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences (1867).

Adam of Saint Victor: Collected Lyrics Text 8 1867 · historical text
Public domainHymnMediaeval song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences, edited by John Mason Neale, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

The Church, on earth, with answering love,

Echoes her mother's joys above:

These yearly feast-days she may keep,

And yet for endless festals weep.

Verse 2

In this world's valley, dim and wild,

That Mother must assist the child;

And heavenly guards must pitch their tents,

And range their ranks in our defence.

Verse 3

The world, the flesh, and Satan's rage,

Their differing wars against us wage;

And when their phantom-hosts come on,

The Sabbath of the heart is gone:

Verse 4

This triple league, with fierce dislike,

At holy festivals would strike:

And set the battle in array

To drive their peace from earth away.

Verse 5

And storms confused above us lower

Of hope and fear and joy and woe;

And scarcely ev'n for one half hour

Is silence in God's House below.

Verse 6

That distant City, oh how blest,

Whose feast-days know nor pause nor rest!

How gladsome is that Palace gate,

Bound which nor fear nor sorrow wait!

Verse 7

Nor languor here, nor weary age,

Nor fraud, nor dread of hostile rage;

But one the joy, and one the song,

And one the heart of all the throng!

Verse 8

The Saints whose praise to-day we sing

Are standing now before the Throne,

And face to nice behold the King

In all His Majesty made known.

Verse 9

In that serene and glorious place

When this life's many toils are past,

Christ, of His everlasting Grace,

Grant us to join the Blest at last!

Credits

Written by Adam of Saint Victor

Words by Adam of Saint Victor. Historical text published in Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences (1867); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences (1867), edited by John Mason Neale, “Supernae Matris Gaudia”

The 1867 published edition is in the public domain in the United States (pre-1931 publication). Entries whose credited author or translator died more than 70 years ago are also in the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions; other entries are held.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-25. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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