What follows is the beautiful Easter Sequence Victimae Paschali, proclaimed before the reading of the Gospel on Easter Sunday. The sequence is attributed to the German Wipo of Burgundy (AD 1039). The original Latin text is on the left, a poetic English translation on the right.
| VICTIMAE Paschali laudes immolent Christiani. |
CHRISTIANS, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise. |
| Agnus redemit oves: Christus innocens Patri reconciliavit peccatores. |
The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb; and Christ, the undefiled, hath sinners to his Father reconciled. |
| Mors et vita duello conflixere mirando: dux vitae mortuus, regnat vivus. |
Death with life contended: combat strangely ended! Life’s own Champion, slain, yet lives to reign. |
| Dic nobis Maria, Quid vidisti in via? |
Tell us, Mary: say what thou didst see upon the way. |
| Sepulcrum Christi viventis, et gloriam vidi resurgentis: |
The tomb the Living did enclose; I saw Christ’s glory as He rose! |
| Angelicos testes, sudarium et vestes. |
The angels there attesting; shroud with grave-clothes resting. |
| Surrexit Christus spes mea: praecedet suos in Galilaeam. |
Christ, my hope, has risen: He goes before you into Galilee. |
| Scimus Christum surrexisse a mortuis vere: Tu nobis, victor Rex miserere. Amen. Alleluia. |
That Christ is truly risen from the dead we know. Victorious King, Thy mercy show! Amen. Alleluia. |
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