Salve, Festa Dies, Toto Venerabilis Aevo

Salve, Festa Dies, Toto Venerabilis Aevo, is the beginning of a resurrection hymn by Venantius Fortunatus. "In this sweet poem, the whole nature, born anew in the spring, and arrayed in the bridal garment of hope and promise, welcomes the risen Savior, the Prince of spiritual and eternal life." The original, as given by Daniel (Da 1:21), has fourteen stanzas, of three lines each. Trench gives only ten lines, and so likewise Biassler, Rambach, and Simrock in their collections. Daniel remarks, "Ex hoc suavissimo poimate ecclesia decem versus sibi vindicavit, qui efficerent canticum triumphale Paschatis." We give the first stanza:

"Salve, festa dies, toto venerabilis aevo, Qua Deus infernum vicit et astra tenet. Salve, festa dies, toto venerabilis aevo."

There are different English renderings, as by Mrs. Charles, Christian Life in Song, p. 135: "Hail, festal day! ever exalted high;" in Lyra Eucharistica, p. 16: "Hail, festal day! for evermore adored;" in Schaffa Christ in Song, p. 235: "Hail, Day of Days! in peals of praise." German translations are given by Rambach, Bassler, Simrock, and Fortlage. (B.P.)