In a recent blog post, Cynthia remarks how she was strongly working this past Adent with two items: the “Rorate Coeli,” that ancient Gregorian Advent chant, plus the Gurdjieff Movement 39. Together they circumscribe a space whose qualities are repentance, comfort, and simple, unwavering presence.
This is Cynthia’s own pairing of psalm 85 (of Babette’s Feast fame) with the traditional Advent Gregorian chant hymn Rorate Coeli. The whole image is of the bare and stony ground being revived and moistened with heavenly compassion and justice.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum.
O Lord You once favored Your land and revived the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the guilt of Your people and covered all their sins.
You averted all Your rage and calmed the heat of Your anger.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum.
Revive us O God our Helper. Put an end to Your grievance against us.
Will You be angry with us forever? Will Your anger never cease?
Will You not restore again our life that Your people may rejoice in You.
Let us see O Lord Your mercy and give us Your saving help.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum.
I will hear what the Lord God has to say. A voice that speaks of peace.
Peace for His people and His friends and those who turn to Him in their hearts.
His help is near for those who fear Him and His glory will dwell in our land.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum.
Mercy and faithfulness have met. Justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice look down from heaven.
The Lord will make us prosper and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before Him, and peace shall follow His steps.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum.
This is the traditional Rorate Coeli
Rain down gently upon us, you heavens above and let the clouds weep justice
Do not be angry, O Lord, nor remember iniquity forever:
your holy cities are a desert, Sion is a desert, Jerusalem a desolation:
your holy and beautiful house where our ancestors praised you.
Rain down gently upon us, you heavens above and let the clouds weep justice
We have sinned are are as an unclean thing, and we all do fade as a leaf:
our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away:
you have hid your face from us and have consumed us because of our iniquities.
Rain down gently upon us, you heavens above and let the clouds weep justice
You are my witnesses says the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen:
that you may know me and believe in me; I, even I, am the Lord, and beside me there is no Savior:
and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.
Rain down gently upon us, you heavens above and let the clouds weep justice
Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, my salvation shall not tarry:
I have blotted out as a thick cloud your transgressions.
Fear not, for I will save you; for I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your redeemer.
***
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum.
Ne irascaris Domine, ne ultra memineris iniquitatis:
ecce civitas Sancti facta est deserta: Sion deserta facta est: Jerusalem desolata est:
domus sanctificationis tuae et gloriae tuae, ubi laudaverunt te patres nostri.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum.
Peccavimus, et facti sumus tamquam immundus nos, et cecidimus quasi folium universi:
et iniquitates nostrae quasi ventus abstulerunt nos:
abscondisti faciem tuam a nobis, et allisisti nos in manu iniquitatis nostrae.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum.
Vide Domine afflictionem populi tui, et mitte quem missurus es:
emitte Agnum dominatorem terrae, de Petra deserti ad montem filiae Sion:
ut auferat ipse iugum captivitatis nostrae.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum.
Consolamini, consolamini, popule meus:
cito veniet salus tua: quare maerore consumeris, quia innovavit te dolor:
Salvabo te, noli timere, ego enim sum Dominus Deus tuus, Sanctus Israel, Redemptor tuus.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum.
