Audite Omnes Amantes

A Hymn Dedicated to Saint Patrick

The Audite omnes amantes, also known as “Saint Sechnall’s Hymn to Saint Patrick,” is a hymn found in the 7^th century Antiphonary of Bangor. This poem was attributed to St. Seachnall, described as a disciple of St. Patrick in medieval tradition, and is mentioned in various martyrologies including The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee (Félire Óengusso).

The version presented here is an original translation in Modern Irish, and an English translation originally produced by Fr. Atkinson, S.J. As these hymns have yet to be set to music, they offer a unique perspective on the titular saint and demonstrates his importance as Apostle of Ireland.

Irish Version

Éistigí sibh a bhfuil grá agaibh do Dhia mar deirim libh faoi Phádraig, an tEaspag,

Fear a bheannaigh an Máistir, laoch tuillteanas beannaithe;

Deirtear go bhfuil sé cosúil le haingil mar gheall ar an maitheas a dhéanann sé sa domhan,

Seasann sé mar phiara ag na hAspail mar gheall ar a shaol gan locht.

Cosnaíonn sé gach píosa beag de shainorduithe Chríost beannaithe;

Drithlíonn solas a chuid oibreacha go geal i radharc an domhain;

Tá an eiseamláir a leagann sé amach iontach agus naofa agus leanann fir,

Á moladh an TIARNA do gach rud, á moladh an Athar thuas.

Diongbháilte atá sé ina eagla roimh a Dhéantóir; tá a chreideamh chomh láidir is a bhí riamh;

Daingean mar a bhíonn ar Pheadar éiríonn an Eaglais - tógtha in airde;

Thug Dia ról dó mar Aspal istigh ann,

Níl tairseacha ifreann láidir go leor taobh leis chun an lámh in uachtar a fháil.

Is é an duine a roghnaigh an Máistir mar mhúinteoir ar na ciníocha barbartha,

Beartach le saighean na fírinne, ag iascaireacht d'fhir lena eangach,

Ionas go mbainfeá tonnta an domhain leis an ngrásta le creideamh,

Ag tabhairt orthu a dTIARNA a leanúint chuig a ríchathaoir sa spéir.

Is iad buanna Chríost ná na buanna a dhíolann sé, bonn iontach na dea-scéala,

Á n-éileamh ar ais ónár ndreamanna, torthúil le gnóthachan na húsaireachta;

Cinnte dá aitheantas don saothar, do phraghas a shaothair dhiomailtigh,

Lá éigin le Críost le háthas a bheith ann i ríocht na bhflaitheas.

Dílis i seirbhís do Dhia tá sé ar an toscaire is glórmhaire de chuid Dia,

Tá sé ina mhúnla agus cineál den maitheas ar cheart d'Aspal a bheith,

Seanmóirí le focal agus le gníomh de réir mar a ghlaonna Dia ar a chuid daoine,

Mar sin, má bhíonn an focal sin rólag, d'fhéadfadh gníomh iad a spreagadh chun maitheas.

Tá a ghlóir féin ag Críost, ach tugtar onóir dó fós anseo ar domhan,

Tá sé á adhradh roimh gach duine a fheiceann air, go fiú mar aingeal Dé;

Is sin, mar ab ann do Phól do na Gintlithe, sheol Dia é chuige mar Aspal,

Á thabhairt treoir ar na céimeanna de na fir lena thabhairt abhaile, chuig Ríocht Dé.

Umhal i spiorad agus i gcorp, tá eagla roimh a Dhéantóir aige,

Is breá leis an TIARNA scíth a dhéanamh ar a anam mar gheall ar an maitheas ann;

Tá marc an Mháistir ina chneas atá gan peaca,

Á iompar go foighneach gan glóir a fháil ach ab é sa Chros.

Cothaíonn sé siúd a chreideann le féastaí neamhaí go neamheaglach agus go corrthónach,

Le nach mbeidh orthu turas a dhéanamh le Críost, agus titim i laige dé réir mar a shiúlann siad ar an mbóthar,

Á chur briathraí an tsoiscéil ar a n-arán os seo amach

Lo! mar mhanna ar an rud iolraithe ina lámha ar fad.

Geanmnaí mar gheall ar a ghrá don TIARNA, coinníonn sé a chorp go tuirseach,

Curtha le chéile agus maisithe mar scrín, le chéile le haghaidh an Spiorad Dé:

Is sin, agus fanann an Spiorad go deo i measc na n-oibreacha atá glan,

Is sin, is íospartach é atá ag maireachtáil agus atá taitneamhach do Dhia.

Solas an domhain is é, trí thine, mar a dúradh sa Soiscéal leis,

Soilsithe agus atá leagtha ar an seastán, á lonrú i bhfad amach don chine daonna:

Daingean is ea den Rí, cathair a cuireadh go hard ar bharr cnoic.

Tá saibhris fhairsinge ann, stóráilte le haghaidh an Máistir de gach.

Is cinnte go nglaofar ar Phádraig mar an duine is fearr i ríocht na bhflaitheas,

Is sin a mhúineann a fhocail naofa, coirp i maitheas an ghnímh;

Treoraíonn sé urgharda an luchta dhílis mar phatrún agus múnla de gach duine,

Muinín a choinneáil i nDia le croí glan.

Molann sé ainm an TIARNA go hard go ceannasach leis na ciníocha ainchreidmheacha,

Grásta a thabhairt dóibh gan deireadh, as (laver) na beatha.

Déanann sé achainí lá i ndiaidh lae le haghaidh a bpeacaí le Dia,

An anáil a bhaint do shláinte d'anamacha d'íospartaigh ar fiú Dia iad.

Sáraíonn sé moladh domhanda, gur féidir dlí Dé a bhunú go fóill,

Agus é ag Tábla Dé a sheasann sé, tá gach mar thruflais ina súile;

Is féidir go bpléascfadh toirneach an domhain seo; seasann sé os a comhair go calma,

Sásta i gcorraíl sin atá mícheart, ós rud é gur ar son Críost é an rud a fhulaingíonn sé.

Aoire chomh dílis agus chomh fíor ar an scata gur bhuaigh an Soiscéal air,

Arna roghnú féin ag barda féin Dé de mhuintir Dé,

A roghnaíodh lena ndaoine a chur ar féarach le teagasc a ceapadh ón bhflaitheas,

A bheatha á chur i mbaol dá scata, mar a rinne Críost.

Is é a d'ardaigh an Slánaitheoir a bheith ina Easpag mar gheall ar a tuillteanais,

Comhairleoir leis na sagairt á dtroid cath Dé,

Éadach le caitheamh agus bia a thabhairt dóibh ó stóras neamhní,

Focail neamhaí Naofa, ag éirí as a chúram go dtí an rud iomlán.

Lo! a deir sé leis an lucht dílis maidir le glao an Rí leis an mbainis,

Ag caitheamh an róba bainise, cumhdaithe le héadaí de ghrásta.

Tarraingíonn sé fíon neamhní gan seal in árthacha réaltacha,

Daoine Dé a ordú le teacht chuig an gcupán neamhní.

I bhfolach sna Leabhair naofa, seoid naofa a fuair sé,

Ag féachaint ar an Diacht soiléir faoi Chneas an tSlánaitheora,

Tá a thuillteanais naofa agus iomlán a cheannaíonn an tseoid.

'Trodaí Dé,' a ghlaotar air, ag féachaint ar Dhia lena anam.

Is finné dílis é ar an TIARNA i bproiceapta caitliceacha,

Proiceapta atá stóráilte go cúramach, salann leis an teachtaireacht diaga;

Ionas nach dtiontóidh cneas an chine daonna i mbia do phéist talún,

Á choimhéad ag an sú neamhaí úr le go dtairgfidh Dia

Saothraí uasal dílis é i ngort an tSoiscéil,

Síolta dea-scéala Chríost á chur i radharc an domhain;

Cuireann sé lena bheola go gcosnaíonn Dia síolta i gcluasa daoine faichilleacha,

Ag déanamh a gcroíthe agus a n-aigne réidh do Spiorad Dé.

Rinne Críost rogha é féin; chuir a ionadaí anseo in áit é,

As seilbh beirt thíoránach, á scaoileadh a bpríosúnaigh saor

Á d’fhuascail sclábhaithe ó na slabhraí de na fir a choinnigh i ngéibheann iad,

Á saoradh an iliomad anam ó riail Sátan, anamacha a bhí aige.

Iomainn agus sailm a chanann sé leis an TIARNA le hApacailipsis Naomh Eoin;

Ag canadh leis a chuid oibre a dheifrigh, ag tógáil muintir Dé.

Tugann sé an dlí dóibh lena choinneáil in Ainm an Trí-aonta,

Is Triúir iad Teagasc na Daoine, substaint Dé go simplí.

Socraithe le fáinne Dé, gan stad riamh i rith an lae nó i rith na hoíche

Lena THIARNA agus a Dhia, ardaíonn a phaidir gan sos;

Is tréan na hoibre maslaí, agus is cinnte an luach saothair a bheidh ann dá shaothar

Tiarnas mar aon leis an Dáréag thar mhuintir Dé.

Éistigí sibh a bhfuil grá agaibh do Dhia mar deirim libh faoi Phádraig, an tEaspag,

Fear a bheannaigh an Máistir, laoch tuillteanas beannaithe;

Deirtear go bhfuil sé cosúil le haingil mar gheall ar an maitheas a dhéanann sé sa domhan

Seasann sé mar phiara ag na hAspail mar gheall ar a shaol gan locht.

English Version

Listen ye lovers of God as I tell you of Patrick the Bishop,

Man whom the Master hath blest, hero of saintly deserts;

How for the good that he does upon earth, he is likened to angels,

How for his life without flaw, peer of Apostles he stands.

Every tittle he guards of the mandates of Christ the All-Blessed;

Bright in the sight of the world glitters the light of his works;

Wondrous and holy indeed the example he sets and men follow,

Praising the LORD for it all, praising the Father above.

Steadfast is he in the fear of his Maker; his faith is unshaken;

Firm as on Peter the Church rises up-builded on him;

God hath allotted to him the place of Apostle within it,

'Gainst it the portals of hell never are strong to prevail.

Him hath the Master elected a teacher of barbarous races,

Cunning with seine of the truth, fishing for men with his net,

So that from waves of the world he may win unto grace the believing,

Making them follow their LORD up to his throne in the skies.

Christ's are the talents he sells, the excellent coin of good tidings,

Claiming them back from our clans, fruitful with usury's gain;

Certain for meed of his toil, for price of his prodigal labour,

Some day with Christ to possess joy in his heavenly realm.

Faithful in service to God is he God's most glorious envoy,

Model and type to the good what an Apostle should be,

Preacher with word and with action to such as God calls for his people,

So that if word be too weak, action may urge them to good.

Christ hath his glory in keeping, yet here upon earth is he honoured,

Worshipped by all who behold, e'en as an angel of God;

Yea, for as Paul to the Gentiles, so God hath sent him his Apostle,

Guiding the steps of men home, unto the Kingdom of God.

Humble in spirit and body, the fear of his Maker hath filled him,

Though for his goodness the Lord loveth to rest on his soul;

Deep in his flesh that is sinless he carries the mark of the Master,

Patiently bearing nor e'er glorying save in the Cross.

Dauntless and restless he feeds the believing with heavenly banquets,

Lest they that journey with Christ, faint as they walk on the road,

Furnishing forth unto all for their bread the words of the Gospel

Lo! as the manna of old multiplied still in his hands.

Chaste for the love of his Lord, he warily keepeth his body

Wrought and adorned as a shrine, meet for the Spirit of God:

Yea, and the Spirit for ever abides amid works that are cleanly,

Yea, 'tis a victim he gives living and pleasing to God.

Light of the world is he, kindled ablaze, as was told in the Gospel,

Lighted and set on the stand, shining far out to mankind:

Stronghold is he of the King, a city placed high on the hill-top

Plentiful riches are there, stored for the Master of all.

Surely shall Patrick be called in the heavenly kingdom the greatest,

Who what his holy words teach, bodies in goodness of deed;

Pattern and model of all, he guides the van of the faithful,

Keeping in pureness of heart trust ever clinging to God.

Boldly he blazons the name of the LORD to the infidel races,

Giving them grace without end, out of the laver of life.

Day after day for their sins unto God he makes his petition,

Slaying for health of their souls victims worthy of God.

Worldly acclaim doth he flout, that God's law may yet be established,

While at God's Table he stands, all is as dross in his eyes;

Thunder of this world may crash; undaunted he faces its crashing,

Glad in the tempest of wrong, since that he suffers for Christ.

Shepherd so faithful and true of the flock that the Gospel has won him,

Chosen by God's own self ward of the people of God,

Chosen to pasture His people with teaching appointed from heaven,

Risking his life for the flock, after the pattern of Christ.

Him hath the Saviour raised to be Bishop because of his merits,

Counsellor unto the priests fighting the battle of God,

Giving them raiment to wear and food from a heavenly storehouse,

Holy celestial words, quitting his task to the full.

Lo! to the faithful he bears the call of the King to his nuptials,

Wearing the nuptial robe, clad with the garment of grace.

Heavenly wine doth he draw without stint in celestial vessels,

Bidding God's people approach unto the heavenly cup.

Hid in the sacred Books, a sacred treasure he found him,

Seeing the Godhead clear under the Saviour's Flesh,

Holy and all complete are his merits that purchase the treasure.

'Warrior of God,' is he called, looking on God with his soul.

Faithful witness is he of the LORD in catholic precepts,

Precepts carefully stored, salt with the message divine;

So that man's flesh may never corrupt into food for the earth-worms,

Kept by the heavenly juice fresh to be offered to God.

Labourer noble and loyal is he in the field of the Gospel,

Sowing in sight of the world seeds of good tidings of Christ;

Sowing with lips that God guards seed in the ears of the wary,

Making their hearts and their minds tilth of the Spirit of God.

Christ for Himself hath made choice; his deputy here hath he placed him,

Out of two tyrants' holds setting their prisoners free

Ransoming slaves from the chains of men who held them in bondage,

Freeing from Satan's rule numberless souls that were his.

Hymns and psalms doth he sing to the LORD with St. John's Revelations;

Chanting to hasten his work, building the people of God.

Into their keeping he gives the law in the Name of the Triune,

Teaching the Persons are Three, simple the Substance of God.

Girt with the girdle of God, by day and by night never ceasing

Unto his Lord and his God, riseth his prayer without rest;

Mighty the toil is, and sure the guerdon that waits for his labour

Lordship along with the Twelve over the people of God.

Listen ye lovers of God as I tell you of Patrick the Bishop,

Man whom the Master hath blest, hero of saintly deserts;

How for the good that he does upon earth, he is likened to angels

How for his life without flaw, peer of Apostles he stands.