Bérenger Saunière and the ‘Jesu medela vulnerum’ inscription

Bérenger Saunière’s replacement 1887 Main Altar included a bas-relief depiction of Mary Magdalene bearing the following Latin inscription:

Being an extract from a Hymn attributed to St Odo of Cluny (c.878-942):

That is also included amongst the prayers, hymns, missals etc allotted to St Mary Magdalene on her Feast Date of 22 July.

Vespers, Matins, Missals, Nocturns, Lauds for the Feast Date of July 22 – of St Mary Magdalene:
http://www.breviary.net/propsaints/propsaints07/propsaints0722.htm

Thou only Son of God on high,

Regard us with gracious eye,

Who weeping Magdalene dost own,

And call unto thy glorious throne.

 

Lo! in the royal coffers laid,

Again the long-lost coin displayed;

The noble gem of sparkling sheen,

From mire recovered, glows serene.

 

Jesu, our Refuge sure and sweet,

Thee, Hope of penitents, we greet;

Forgive the hearts that fain would break

For that repentant sinner's sake.

 

And may thy Mother kind and meek

Think on our nature frail and weak,

And raise her prayer that we may gain

A passage safe o'er life's rough main.

 

To God alone be honour paid

For grace so manifold displayed:

Their guilt he pardons who repent,

And gives reward for punishment. Amen.

A more literal translation of the Latin text would read:

Only Son of God most high,

Look down upon us with your pious face,

While calling us to the cradle of glory

Is the penitent heart of Mary Magdalen.

 

The coin once lost shall lie

Hidden in the royal treasury,

And the jewel, washed clean of its stain,

Shall conquer the stars with its heavenly lustre.

 

Jesus, remedy against all our pains,

The only hope for the penitent,

Through the tears of Magdalen

Thou washest away our sins.

 

Most pious mother of God,

Us, the weeping descendants of Eve

From the stormy waters of life

Thou bringest to a safe haven.

 

Glory to the One True God,

For his manifold graces

Who the offences of the penitent

Remits and gives them their just reward.

Noël Corbu pointing to the Latin inscription on Saunière’s Main Altar (Noir et Blanc, 1960).

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