Martin D. O'Keefe SJ, Exsultemus: Rejoicing with God in the Hymns of the Roman Breviary

When the Roman Breviary was translated into English some years ago, the Latin hymns with which each of the five ‘hours’ (or parts) of the office for each day begin were not translated; rather, in their place already existing English poetry was substituted a wise decision, perhaps, but one that carried with it the likelihood that the original hymns would be lost, given the declining number of individuals who could read Latin with any ease. This book provides a first ever, new, reverent, and careful English translation of all of these approximately 300 hymns. It can serve as a source of inspiration and prayer even if not used in conjunction with the Breviary (or ‘Liturgy of the Hours’, as it is now called) itself.

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