Victimae paschali laudes

[Stone]

Latin
Victimae paschali laudes
Immolent Christiani.

Agnus redemit oves:
Christus innocens Patri
Reconciliavit peccatores.

Mors et vita duello
Conflixere mirando:
Dux vitae mortuus,
Regnat vivus.

Dic nobis Maria,
Quid vidisti in via?

Sepulcrum Christi viventis,
Et gloriam vidi resurgentis:

Angelicos testes,
sudarium, et vestes.

Surrexit Christus spes mea:
Praecedet suos in Galilaeam.

Scimus Christum surrexisse
A mortuis vere:
Tu nobis, victor Rex, miserere.
Amen.


English
Christians, to the Paschal victim
offer your thankful praises!

A lamb the sheep redeemeth:
Christ, who only is sinless,
reconcileth sinners to the Father.

Death and life have contended
in that combat stupendous:
the Prince of life, who died,
reigns immortal.

Speak, Mary, declaring
what you saw, wayfaring:

"The tomb of Christ, who is living,
the glory of Jesus' resurrection;

"Bright angels attesting,
the shroud and napkin resting.

"Yea, Christ my hope is arisen;
to Galilee he will go before you."

Christ indeed from death is risen,
our new life obtaining;
have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
Amen.

　
Season: Octave of Easter
Use: Sequence, at Mass

The Victimae Paschali Laudes is the Sequence of Easter, an extension, as it were, of the Alleluia verse before the Gospel.  Our Alleluia, which has been silent during Lent, sounds anew with this hymn to the risen Christ on Easter!  We sing Christ's victory over death, the empty tomb, the announcement to the women by the angels, adding our own gratitude and petition.