Pone Luctum, Magdalena

Pone luctum, Magdalena This is the beginning of a famous Easter hymn of uncertain date. Undoubtedly it belongs to the Middle Ages, for in this hymn, as well as in the Dies Irae (q.v.) and other Latin hymns, the same identification of Mary Magdalene with "the woman that was a sinner" (Lu 7:37), which runs through all the theology of the Middle Ages, is expressed. This hymn may be found in almost all collections of Latin hymns, and the first verse runs thus:

"Pone luctum, Magdalena, Et serena lacrymas; Non est jamn Sinioiis coena, Noll cur fletum exprimas; Causam mile sunt laetandi, Cause mille exultandi: Alleluja resonet.

For the original, see Daniel, Thesaurus Hymnol. 2, 365; Trench, Sacred Latin Poetry, p. 159; Bässler, Auswahl maltchristl. Lieder, p. 237; Simrock, Lauda Sion, p. 188; Königsfeld, Hymnen u. Gesänge, 1, 230. English translations are given in Schaffs Christ in Song, p. 256. For German translations, see Büssler, 1. c. p. 135; Simrock, Königsfeld, and Fortlage, Gesänge christl. Vorzeit, p. 142. (B. P.)