Song of the Day - 26th December

Christmas Day is over for another year, so Happy Boxing Day to my UK readers.

Boxing Day may not be celebrated world-wide, but 26th December is St. Stephen's Day throughout Western Christendom. Today's Song of the Day is a setting of a hymn, or rather the translation of a hymn in praise of St. Stephen by Adam of St. Victor: Yesterday, With Exultation. These words are probably the oldest in the entire collection, Adam of St. Victor having lived c. 1068 – 1146.

The archives of Notre Dame Cathedral dated 1098 note that Adam held office there first as a subdeacon and later as a precentor. He left the cathedral for the Abbey of Saint Victor around 1133, remaining there until his death.

Stephen (c. 5 AD – c. 34 AD) is traditionally venerated as the protomartyr or first martyr of Christianity. According to the Acts of the Apostles, he was a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem who angered members of various synagogues by his teachings. Accused of blasphemy at his trial, he made a speech denouncing the Jewish authorities who were sitting in judgment on him and was then stoned to death.

Yesterday, with exultation

By Adam of St. Victor

Translated from Latin to English by John M. Neale (1818–1866)

Yesterday, with exultation

Joined the world in celebration

Of her promised Saviour's birth:

Yesterday the Angel nation

Poured the strains of jubilation

O'er the Monarch born on earth.

But today, O deacon glorious,

by thy faith and deeds victorious,

Stephen, champion renowned,

thee we hail who, triumph gaining,

mid the faithless faith sustaining,

first of martyr saints wast found.

Lo! in Heav'n thy Witness liveth;

Bright and faithful proof He giveth

Of His Martyr's full success:

Thou by name a Crown impliest;

Meetly then in pangs thou diest

For the Crown of Righteousness!

For a crown that fadeth never,

Bear the torturer's brief endeavour,

Victory waits to end the strife.

Death shall be thy birth's beginning,

And life's losing be the winning

Of a true and better life.

Whom the HOLY GHOST endueth,

Whom celestial light imbueth,

Stephen penetrates the skies:

There GOD's fullest glory viewing,

There his victor strength renewing,

For his near reward he sighs.

As the dying Martyr kneeleth,

For his murderers he appealeth,

For their madness grieving sore;

Then to CHRIST he sleepeth sweetly,

Who His pattern kept completely,

And with CHRIST he reigneth meetly,

Martyr first-fruits, evermore!