"Verbum Supernum Prodiens"

The first line of two hymns celebrating respectively the Nativity 
of Christ and the Institution of the Holy Eucharist. The 
hymnologist Daniel remarks on the obvious relation between the 
Nativity and the Eucharist "by which through all ages the Word 
made Flesh will dwell among us" as justifying the similar forms of 
the two hymns (Thesaurus, I, 254). 

The Nativity Hymn 

In its unrevised form the second line was: "A Patre olim exiens". 
The correctors of the Breviary under Urban VIII changed it into 
its present Breviary form: "E Patris aeterni sinu". Sometimes 
ascribed to St. Ambrose or to St. Gregory the Great, its 
authorship is unknown. Mone supposed it to be of the second half 
of the fifth century; but although Advent may possibly date back 
that far, the hymn is probably much later. From the tenth century 
it has been the usual hymn for Matins, although given in a few 
manuscripts to Lauds. Originally the hymn was rhymed throughout in 
couplets (with one exception). The revision under Urban VIII left 
not a single strophe unchanged, in the removal of its many 
unclassical prosodic features. 

The Eucharist Hymn 

Its second line is: "Nec Patris linquens dexteram". Left untouched 
by the revisers of Urban VIII, it lacks classical prosody, is in 
accentual rhythm, and rhymes alternately: 

Verbum supernum prodiens 
Nec Patris linquens dexteram, 
Ad opus suum exiens 
Venit ad vitae vesperam. 

The Word of God proceeding forth 
Yet leaving not the Father's side, 
And going to His work on earth, 
Had reached at length life's eventide. 

The hymn is assigned to Lauds of Corpus Christi (q.v.) and is 
commonly ascribed to St. Thomas Aquinas. Some scholars compare the 
Office of Corpus Christi with that of the older Cistercian 
breviaries (1484-1674), and suggest that St. Thomas probably 
borrowed (while revising) seven of the responsories of Matins from 
it, and also probably the hymn "Verbum Supernum". In the 
Cistercian Office the hymn comprised nine stanzas divided into two 
hymns (for Matins and Lauds respectively), whereas now the hymn 
has only six stanzas. The Cistercian hymn was sung to the melody 
of the Advent hymn, "Verbum Supernum", whereas we now sing the 
Eucharistic hymn to the different melody of the Ascensiontide 
hymn, "Aeterne Rex Altissime". "It is very natural to suppose that 
this choice (a common melody, as in the Cistercian Office, for 
both of the Verbum Supernum hymns) was the primitive one" (Morin). 

H.T. HENRY 
Transcribed by Charlie Martin 

http://www.knight.org/advent