The St. Gregory Hymnal and Catholic Choir Book — Context and Discussion

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Authors: Montani, Nicola A. (Nicola Aloysius), 1880-1948 [Editor] Published By : Project Gutenberg In Year : 2007

Key Word: Hymns, English; Catholic Church -- Hymns; Service books (Music) -- Catholic Church; Hymns, Latin Target Reader: Readers of public-domain and historical texts

Book Edition: Project Gutenberg digital edition Book Language: en

Edition facts

Words 47,238

Reading time 206 min

Text sections 10

The catalog record for The St. Gregory Hymnal and Catholic Choir Book — Context and Discussion provides practical reading context through 47,238 words, 3 hr 26 min estimated reading time, and 10 detected text sections.

The text analysis averages about 12.5 words per sentence, while the detected sections provide another way to judge how the source is divided.

Project Gutenberg metadata also associates the work with “Hymns, English,” connecting these edition facts with the source record’s subject description.

Source: Project Gutenberg record #23673

An editorial note on Nicola A. Montani's 1920 hymnal, examining its dual-language structure, the transcriber's personal recollections, and the practical indexing system that bridges Latin and English hymns for choir use.

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The thought of Jesus crucified.

O'erwhelmed in depths of woe Saevo dolorum turbine

Tr. Rev. E. Caswall Nicola A. Montani

1. O'erwhelmed in depths of woe, Upon the Tree of scorn Hangs the Redeemer of mankind, With racking anguish torn.

2. See! How the nails those Hands And Feet so tender rend; See! Down His Face, and Neck, and Breast, His sacred Blood descend.

3. Hark! With what awful cry, His Spirit takes its flight; That cry, it smote His Mother's heart And wrapt her soul in night.

4. Come, fall before His Cross, Who shed for us His blood; Who dies, the victim of pure love, To make us Sons of God.

5. Jesu! All praise to Thee, Our joy and endless rest; Be Thou our Guide while pilgrims here, Our Crown amid the blest.

All glory, laud and honor

From the Latin of St.Theodulph by Dr. J. M. Neale M. Haydn

1. All glory, laud, and honor To Thee Redeemer, King, To Whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring.

Refrain All glory, laud, and honor, To Thee Redeemer, King, To Whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring.

2. Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David's royal Son, Who in the Lord's name comest The King and blessed One.

3. The company of angels Are praising Thee on high, And mortal men and all things Created make reply.

4. The people of the Hebrews With palms before them went; To praise and pray'r and anthems Before Thee we present.

5. To Thee before Thy Passion They sang their hymn of praise; To Thee now high exalted Our melody we raise.

6. Thou didst accept their praises, Accept the pray'rs we bring, Who in all good delightest, Thou good and gracious King.

Jesus Christ is risen today Processional Surrexit Christus hodie

Translated by the Rev. J. O'Connor Nicola A. Montani

1. Jesus Christ is ris'n today! (Solo) Alleluia! (Chorus) Sinners, wipe your tears away! (Solo) Alleluia! (Chorus) He Whose death upon the Cross (Solo) Alleluia! (Chorus) Saveth us from endless loss. (Solo) Alleluia! (Chorus)

2. See the holy women come, Alleluia! Bearing spices to the tomb; Alleluia! Hear the white-clad Angel's voice Alleluia! Bid the universe rejoice! Alleluia!

3. Go! Tell all his brethren dear, Alleluia! "He is ris'n, He is not here! Alleluia! Seek Him not among the dead; Alleluia! He has risen as He said." Alleluia!

4. Glory, Jesus, be to Thee! Alleluia! Thine own might hath set Thee free. Alleluia! Come, for primal joy restored, Alleluia! Let us bless our Pascal Lord! Alleluia!

"Ye Sons and daughters of the Lord" (No. 1) O Filii et Filiae Processional

Jean Tisserand (1494) Tr. Rev. E. Caswall Traditional Melody from "Airs sur les Hymnes sacres, Odes et Noels," (Paris 1623)

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

1. Ye sons and daughters of the Lord! The King of glory, King adored, This day Himself from death restored. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2. All in the early morning grey Went holy women on their way, To see the tomb where Jesus lay. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

3. Of spices pure a precious store In their pure hands those women bore, To anoint the Sacred Body o'er. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

4. Then straightway One in white they see, Who saith, "Ye seek the Lord; but He Is ris'n, and gone to Galilee." Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

5. This told they Peter, told they John, Who forthwith to the tomb are gone; But Peter is by John outrun. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

6. That selfsame night, while out of fear The doors were shut, their Lord most dear To His Apostles did appear. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

7. But Thomas when of this He heard, Was doubtful of his brethren's word; Wherefore again there comes the Lord. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

8. "Thomas, behold My Side" saith He; "My Hands, My Feet, My Body see, And doubt not, but believe in Me." Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

9. When Thomas saw that wounded Side, The truth no longer he denied; "Thou art my Lord and God," he cried. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

10. Oh, blest are they who have not seen Their Lord, and yet believe in Him: Eternal life awaiteth them. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

11. Now let us praise the Lord most high, And strive His Name to magnify On this great day through earth and sky: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

12. Whose mercy ever runneth o'er, Whom men and Angel Hosts adore, To Him be glory ever more. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

"Ye sons and daughters of the Lord" (No. 2) O Filii et Filiae

Jean Tisserand (died 1494) Tr. Rev. E. Caswall Melody taken from the Gloria of the Magnificat terii toni by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 1. Ye sons and daughters of the Lord! The King of glory, King adored, This day Himself from death restored. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2. All in the early morning grey Went holy women on their way, To see the tomb where Jesus lay. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Note: Additional stanzas given in previous hymn (28).

Now at the Lamb's royal feast Ad regias Agni dapes

Tr. Rev. E. Caswall Nicola. A. Montani

1. Now at the Lamb's royal feast, In robes of saintly white, we sing, Thro' the Red Sea in safety brought By Jesus our immortal King. O depth of love! For us He drains The chalice of His agony; For us a Victim on the Cross He meekly lays Him down to die.

2. And as th'avenging Angel pass'd Of old the blood be-sprinkled door; As the cleft sea a passage gave, Then closed to whelm th'Egyptians o're; So Christ, our Paschal Sacrifice, Has brought us safe all perils thro', While for unleavened bread He asks, But heart sincere and purpose true.

3. Hail, purest Victim Heav'n could find The pow'rs of Hell to overthrow! Who didst the bonds of Death unbind Who dost the prize of Life bestow. Hail, victor Christ! Hail, risen King! To Thee alone belongs the crown; Who has at the heav'nly gates unbarred, And cast the Prince of darkness down.

4. O Jesus! From the death of sin Keep us, we pray; so shalt Thou be The everlasting Paschal joy Of all the souls newborn in Thee; To God the Father, with the Son Who from the grave immortal rose, And Thee, O Paraclete be praise, While age on endless ages flows.

Christ the Lord is risen today Victimae Paschali Laudes

Translated by Miss Leeson Nicola A. Montani

1. Christ the Lord is ris'n today; Christians, haste your vows to pay; Offer ye your praises meet At the Paschal Victim's feet; For the sheep the Lamb hath bled, Sinless in the sinner's stead, Christ the Lord is ris'n on high; Now He lives, no more to die.

2. Christ the Victim undefiled, Man to God hath reconciled, When in strange and awful strife Met together death and life; Christians, on this happy day Haste with joy your vows to pay; Christ the Lord is ris'n on high; Now He lives, no more to die.

3. Say, O wond'ring Mary, say What thou sawest on the way, "I beheld, where Christ had lain, Empty tomb and angels twain, I beheld the glory bright Of the rising Lord of light; Christ my hope is ris'n again; Now He lives, and lives to reign."

4. Christ, Who once for sinners bled, Now the first-born from the dead, Thron'd in endless might and pow'r, Lives and reigns forever more. Hail, eternal hope on high! Hail, Thou King of victory! Hail, Thou Prince of life ador'd! Help and save us, gracious Lord!

Lift up, ye princes of the sky Ps. xxiii

Translated by Father Aylward from a Slovak Hymnal Arr. By N. A. M.

1. Lift up, ye princes of the sky, Lift up your portals, lift them high; And you, ye everlasting gates, Back on your golden hinges fly; For lo, the King of glory waits To enter in victoriously. Who is the King of glory? Tell, O ye who sing His praise so well.

2. The Lord of strength and matchless might, The Lord all-conquering in the fight, List, lift your portals, lift them high, Ye princes of the conquered sky; And you, ye everlasting gates, Back on your golden hinges fly; For lo, the King of glory waits, The Lord of hosts, the Lord most high.

ASCENSION O Thou pure light of souls that love Salutis humanae Sator Translated by Father Caswall from a Slovak Hymnal Arr. By N. A. M.

1. O Thou pure light of souls that love, True joy of ev'ry human breast, Sower of life's immortal seed, Our Maker, and Redeemer blest!

2. What wonderous pity Thee o'ercame To make our guilty load Thine own, And sinless suffer death and shame, For our transgressions to atone!

3. Thou, bursting Hades open wide, Didst all the captive souls unchain; And thence to Thy dread Father's side With glorious pomp ascend again.

4. O still may pity Thee compel To heal the wounds of which we die; And take me in Thy light to dwell, Who for Thy blissful Presence sigh.

5. Be Thou our guide, be Thou our goal; Be thou our pathway to the skies; Our joy when sorrow fills our soul; In death our everlasting prize.

Holy Spirit, Lord of Light

Processional Tr. Rev. E. Caswall S. Webbe (1740-1816)

1. Holy Spirit, Lord of Light, From the clear celestial height, Thy pure beaming radiance give. Come, Thou Father of the poor, Come with treasures which endure; Come Thou light of all that live.

2. Thou, of all consolers best, Thou, the soul's delightsome guest, Dost refreshing peace bestow; Thou in toil art comfort sweet; Pleasant coolness in the heat; Solace in the midst of woe.

3. Light immortal, Light divine, Visit thou these hearts of Thine, And our inmost being fill; If Thou take Thy grace away, Nothing pure in man will stay; All his good is turned to ill.

4. Thou, on those who evermore Thee confess and Thee adore, In thy sev'nfold gifts descend; Give them comfort when they die; Give them life with Thee on high; Give them joys that never end.

Come Holy Ghost, Creator Come Veni Creator Spiritus

Translated by Dryden W. A. Mozart Arr. from the figured bass by N. A. M. Melody "O Gottes Lamm" Koch. Verz. No. 343

1. Come, Holy Ghost, Creator come From Thy bright heav'nly throne, Come, take possession of our souls, And make them all Thy own. Thou Who art called the Paraclete, Best gift of God above, The living spring, the living fire, Sweet unction and true love.

2. Thou who are sev'nfold in Thy grace, Finger of God's right hand; His promise teaching little ones To speak and understand. O, guide our minds with Thy bless'd light With love our hearts inflame; And with Thy strength, which ne'er decays, Confirm our mortal frame.

3. Through Thee may we the Father know, Thro' Thee th'Eternal Son, And Thee, the Spirit of the both, Thrice blessed Three in One. All Glory to the Father be, With His coequal Son; The same to Thee, great Paraclete, While endless ages run.

O Come, Creator Spirit! Come Veni Creator Spiritus

Translated by Father Faber K. Kurpinski

1. O come Creator Spirit come, Vouchsafe to make our minds Thy home And with Thy heav'nly grace fulfil The hearts Thou madest at Thy will.

2. Thou that are named the Paraclete, The Gift of God, His Spirit sweet; The living Fountain, Fire, and Love, And gracious Unction from above.

3. The sev'nfold grace Thou dost expand, O Finger of the Father's Hand; True promise of the Father, rich In gifts of tongues and various speech.

4. To God the Father let us raise And to His only Son, our praise, Praise to the Holy Spirit be Now, and for all eternity.

Spirit of Grace and Union Qui procedis ab utroque

Adam of St. Victor Nicola A. Montani

1. Spirit of grace and Union! Who from the Father and the Son Dost equally proceed. Inflame our hearts with holy fire Our lips with eloquence inspire, And strengthen us in need.

2. The Father and the Son through Thee Are linked in perfect unity And everlasting love; Ineffably Thou dost pervade All nature; and Thyself unsway'd The whole creation move.

3. O inexhaustive Fount of light! How doth Thy radiance put to flight The darkness of the mind! The pure are only pure through Thee; Thou only dost the guilty free, And cheer with light the blind.

4. Lord of all sanctity and might! Immense, immortal, infinite! The life of earth and Heav'n! Be, through eternal length of days, All honor, glory, blessing, praise, And adoration giv'n!

O God of loveliness O bello Dio, Signor del Paradiso

Translated by Rev. E. Vaughan, C. SS. R. Traditional Melody "Schonster Herr Jesu" Pilgrims' Song dating from the time of the Crusades. Adapted by N. A. M.

1. O God of loveliness, O Lord of Heav'n above How worthy to posses My heart's devoted love! So sweet Thy Countenance, So gracious to behold, That one, one only glance To me were bliss untold.

2. Thou art blest Three in One, Yet undivided still; Thou art that One alone Whose love my heart can fill. The heav'ns and earth below, Were fashioned by Thy Word; How amiable art Thou, My ever dearest Lord!

3. To think Thou art my God, O thought forever blest! My heart has overflowed With joy within my breast. My soul so full of bliss Is plunged as in a sea, Deep in the sweet abyss of holy charity.

4. O loveliness supreme, And Beauty infinite; O everflowing Stream, And Ocean of delight; O life by which I live, My truest life above, To Thee alone I give My undivided love.

Holy God, we praise Thy Name Te Deum Laudamus

Translated by Rev. Clarence Walworth (1820-1900) Melody from the "Katholisches Gesangbuch" (1775)

1. Holy God, we praise Thy Name, Lord of all, we bow before Thee; All on earth Thy sceptre claim; All in heav'n above adore Thee, Infinite Thy vast domain, Everlasting is Thy reign,

2. Hark! The loud celestial hymn, Angel choirs above are raising! Cherubim and Seraphim In unceasing chorus praising; Fill the Heav'ns with sweet accord; Holy, holy, holy Lord!

3. Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit, Three we name Thee, While in essence only One, Undivided God we claim Thee; And adoring bend the knee, While we own the mystery.

Full of Glory, full of wonders

Processional Father Faber Nicola A. Montani

1. Full of glory, full of wonders, Majesty Divine 'Mid Thine everlasting thunders How Thy lightnings shine! Shoreless Ocean! Who shall sound Thee? Thine own eternity is round Thee, Majesty Divine, Majesty Divine!

2. Timeless, spaceless, single, lonely, Yet sublimely Three, Thou art grandly, always, only God in Unity! Lone in grandeur, lone in glory, Who shall tell thy wonderous story, Awful Trinity, Awful Trinity?

3. Splendors upon splendors beaming Change and intertwine! Glories over glories streaming All translucent shine! Blessings, praises, adorations Greet Thee from the trembling nations Majesty Divine, Majesty Divine!

I need Thee, Precious Jesus

(Communion Hymn) For additional Communion Hymns see NOS. 44, 47, 49, 51, 53, 54, 122. From a Slovak hymn Arr. by N. A. M.

1. I need Thee, precious Jesus I need a friend like Thee; A friend to soothe and sympathize, A friend to care for me. I need Thy Heart, sweet Jesus, To feel each anxious care; I long to tell my ev'ry want, And all my sorrows share.

2. I need Thy Blood, sweet Jesus, To wash each sinful stain; To cleanse this sinful soul of mine, And make it pure again. I need Thy Wounds, sweet Jesus, To fly from perils near, To shelter in these hallowed clefts, From ev'ry doubt and fear.

3. I need Thee, sweetest Jesus, In Thy Sacrament of Love; To nourish this poor soul of mine, With treasures of Thy Love. I'll need Thee, sweetest Jesus, When death's dread hour draws nigh, To hide me in Thy Sacred Heart, Till wafted safe on high.

When morning gilds the skies (May Jesus Christ be praised)

Processional Translated by Father Caswall Traditional Melody (1678)

1. When morning gilds the skies, (Solo Voices ad lib) My heart awaking cries: May Christ be praised! (Chorus) Alike at work and prayer: (Solo Voices) To Jesus I repair: May Christ be praised! May Christ be praised! (Chorus)

2. The sacred minster bell, It peals o'er hill and dell: May Christ be praised! Oh! Hark to what it sings: As joyously it rings: May Christ be praised! May Christ be praised!

3. To Thee, my God above, I cry with glowing love: May Christ be praised! The fairest graces spring In hearts the ever sing: May Christ be praised! May Christ be praised!

4. To God the Word on high, The host of angels cry: May Christ be praised! May mortals, to upraise Their voice in hymn of praise: May Christ be praised! May Christ be praised!

5. Let earth's wide circle round In joyful notes resound: May Christ be praised! Let air and sea and sky, From depths to heights reply: May Christ be praised! May Christ be praised!

6. Be this, while life is mine, My canticle divine: May Christ be praised! Be this th'eternal song, Through all the ages on: May Christ be praised! May Christ be praised!

Crown Him with many Crowns

Processional Matthew Bridges Nicola A. Montani

1. Crown Him with many crowns, The Lamb upon the throne; Hark, how the heav'nly anthem drowns All music but its own; Awake, my soul and sing Of Him who dies for thee, And hail Him as thy matchless King Thro' all eternity.

2. Crown Him the Virgin's Son, The God Incarnate born; Whose arm those crimson trophies won, Which now His brow adorn! Fruit of the Mystic Rose, As of the Rose the Stem; The Root whence Mercy ever flows, The Babe of Bethlehem.

3. Crown Him the Lord of Love: Behold His hands and side, Rich Wounds, yet visible above In beauty glorified: No Angel in the sky Can fully bear that sight, But downward bends his burning eye At mysteries so bright.

4. Crown Him the Lord of peace, Whose pow'r a sceptre sways From pole to pole, that wars may cease, Absorbed in pray'r and praise: His reign shall know no end, And round His pier-ced Feet Fair flow'rs of Paradise extend Their fragrance ever sweet.

5. Crown Him the Lord of heaven, One with the Father known, And the blest Spirit through Him giv'n From yonder Triune throne: All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou hast died for me; Thy praise shall never, never fail Thro'out eternity.

Jesus, Lord, be Thou mine own Mondo, piu, per me non sei

Communion Hymn St. Alphonsus Don Lorenzo Perosi Tr. Rev. E. Vaughan, C. SS. R.

1. Jesus Lord, be Thou mine own; Thee I long for, Thee alone; All myself, I give to Thee; Do whate'er Thou wilt with me.

2. Life without Thy love would be Death, O Sovereign Good, to me; Bound and held by Thy dear chains Captive now my heart remains.

3. Thou, O God, my heart inflame, Give that love which Thou dost claim; Payment I will ask for none; Love demands but love alone.

4. God of beauty, Lord of Light, Thy good will is my delight; Now henceforth Thy will divine Ever shall in all be mine.

Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep The Good Shepherd

Processional Pastor Amans Miss J. E. Leeson (1807-1882) Adaptation of a Litany Melody from Catholic Hymntunes (Publ. 1819; J.M.Capes)

1. Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep Keep me, Lord in safety keep; Nothing can Thy pow'r withstand, None can pluck me from Thy Hand. Loving Shepherd, Thou didst give Thine own life that I might live; May I love Thee day by day, Gladly Thy sweet Will obey.

2. Loving Shepherd, ever near, Teach me still Thy voice to hear; Suffer not my step to stray From the strait and narrow way. Where Thou leadest may I go, Walking in Thy steps below; Then before Thy Father's throne, Jesus, claim me for Thine own.

THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

The Very Angels' Bread Panis Angelicus

Tr. by Rt. Rev. Msgr. H. T. Henry, Litt.D. P. Meurers

1. The very Angels' Bread Doth food to men afford; The types have vanished, Remains the Truth adored: O wonderous mystery Their banquet is the Lord The poor and lowly, bond and free.

Continue Reading →

Nicola A. Montani's The St. Gregory Hymnal and Catholic Choir Book (1920) presents itself as a practical collection, yet its editorial voice emerges through the transcriber's notes rather than Montani's own. The transcriber, Don Kostuch, opens with a vivid memory: standing five feet from shouting organ pipes in a choir loft, a detail that grounds the hymnal in lived liturgical experience. He admits his Latin is limited to two high school years from fifty years prior, and that poetic meter may be incorrect—an honest limitation that shapes the digital edition's approach.

The Transcriber's Lens

The transcriber's notes are the most personal element of this edition. Kostuch writes, "I fondly remember singing from the St. Gregory hymnal in grade school," and describes the organ pipes as stretching "from floor to ceiling." This recollection colors the entire project: he aims to provide a source for singers who love "old Latin hymns," calling them "Oldies, but goodies." His admission of limited Latin—"the precise meanings and poetic meter is lost on me"—is a rare moment of self-awareness in a reference work. It suggests that the digital text may contain structural errors in poetic formatting, though he claims to have "carefully compared the printed text with the transcription." The reader should approach the Latin hymns with this caveat in mind.

Dual-Language Architecture

The hymnal is divided into English and Latin sections, each with its own index of first lines. The English hymns include titles like "Hark! A Mystic Voice is Sounding" (Advent) and "On those who at Thine altar kneel," while the Latin section lists Adeste Fideles, Ave Maria, and Kyrie Eleison. Montani's compilation is described as "A Complete Collection of approved English and Latin Hymns, Liturgical Motets and appropriate Devotional Music for the various seasons of the Liturgical Year." The dual-language structure reflects the bilingual reality of Catholic liturgy in the early 20th century, where Latin remained the official language but English hymns were increasingly used for congregational participation.

Indexing and Navigation

The digital edition preserves page numbers for easy reference to the original book, a departure from standard Project Gutenberg practice. The HTML index provides hymn numbers and page numbers; clicking on a hymn number takes you to the text, while clicking on page numbers displays the original page image. Image files are named systematically: N145_P226.gif indicates hymn 145, page 226. This design allows users to search by a few remembered words and find the full text. The transcriber also notes that some files contain facing pages because they are "read and sung using both pages." This attention to the physical layout of the original hymnal—a small book measuring 4.3 by 6.0 inches—shows a commitment to preserving the user experience of a choir member holding the book in hand.

Readers should treat the Latin texts with caution due to the transcriber's acknowledged limitations, but the English hymns and the indexing system are reliable. The hymnal is best used as a reference for identifying hymns by fragmentary text, or for exploring the repertoire of early 20th-century Catholic liturgical music. The personal warmth of the transcriber's notes adds a layer of affection that a purely scholarly edition would lack.

Flipping through Montani’s hymnal, I kept noticing how his dual-language index felt like a quiet bridge between two worlds—Latin and English, old and new. It reminded me of another old companion, where the incidental details, the footnotes and the margins, seemed to carry their own music. Shakespeare and Music — Edition Insights held that same unhurried patience, as if both editors simply trusted the reader to find the harmony on their own.