| "Jesus Christus nostra salus" | |
|---|---|
| Hymn | |
 Jan of Jenštejn, bust at thePrague Cathedral, where the hymn-writer was archbishop | |
| English | Jesus Christus, our salvation |
| Related | basis for "Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der von uns den Gotteszorn wandt" (1524) |
| Written | before 1410 |
| Text |
|
| Language | Latin |
"Jesus Christus nostra salus" (English:Jesus Christ, our salvation) is ahymn inEcclesiastical Latin celebrating theEucharist. It first is confirmed to have appeared in a manuscript in 1410. For a long time it was attributed toJohannes Hus, but was more likely written by theArchbishop of Prague,Jan of Jenštejn. Several hymns in different languages were derived from it, among othersMartin Luther's "Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der von uns den Gotteszorn wandt".
The earliest extant version of the hymn is contained in a 1410 manuscript from theCistercian abbey ofHohenfurth (Vyšší Brod Monastery).[1][2] In that version, it has ten stanzas of four lines each, and a refrain of praise.[3] The first eight stanzas form anacrostic on the name JOHANNES (John). Possibly the eight acrostic stanzas were a first version which was expanded by two more stanzas and the refrain. The hymn is in content comparable to the 13th centuryLauda Sion Salvatorem.[4] It is focused on the eucharist and the presence of Christ in bread and wine.[5]
According to modern research, the text was written byJan of Jenštejn, archbishop of Prague, in the late 14th century. A Czech language version of the hymn exists: this version probably originated in the 15th century.[5]
The melody of the hymn also appears in Hohenfurth 1410.[6] The melody may go back to the 13th century.[7]
The hymn was sung and distributed by theHussiteBohemian Brethren.[5][8] During theReformation, it was considered as a work of the early reformer and martyrJohannes Hus and was printed in collections of his works.
Martin Luther's "Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der von uns den Gotteszorn wandt", first published in 1524, was based on "Jesus Christus nostra salus".[9] Luther's hymn appeared under the header "Das Lied S. Johannes Hus gebessert" (The song of St. Johannes Hus improved).[5][10]
Achoral setting of the hymn byThomas Stoltzer is contained inSacrorum hymnorum, Book I, published byGeorg Rhau in 1542.
In Finland, "Iesus Christus nostra salus" was published as No. 39 in the 1582 first edition of thePiae Cantiones (No. 21 in a 1910 UK republication).[11] In Finnish the hymn translates as "Jeesus Kristus Elämämme".[1] In Swedish, hymnsJesus Kristus är vår hälsa [sv] (1589) and "Jesus Christus, lunastajam" (1609) were based on "Jesus Christus nostra salus".[2]
An English translation by R. F. Littledale, "Jesus Christ our true salvation", appeared inLyra Eucharistica in 1864.[12]
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