The tradition of Christian hymnology which upholds a way of life is
fundamental in Ambrosian and contemporary hymns. The “way” is the first
term by which Christianity was designated in the Scriptures. Thus to the
Scriptures the hymn writers turned for the living characterization of
their themes. The call to a virtuous life is sounded in _Splendor
paternae gloriae_ quoted above. Similarly throughout these hymns, the
high ideal of faith, purity, hope, patience, humility and love and the
ethical teachings derived from the words of Jesus and from the early
exemplars of the Christian religion are clearly expressed and enjoined.
Not alone for contemporaries in a period of crisis and controversy were
these hymns effective. They have continued to speak the same words in
the same spirit of joy and devotion derived from contact with the
earlier springs of faith to every succeeding century.
The writings of men familiar with Roman civilization and trained in
classical culture would naturally be presumed to retain the flavor of a
non-Christian literature. Christianity had already appropriated from the
pagan philosophers those teachings which were congenial to its own.
Ambrose reveals both in his poetic and prose writings his acquaintance
with classical thought and literary models. Prudentius mingles the
classical and the Christian. Fortunatus was inspired by classical poetry
to a Christian expression of beauty in form and content. But in every
case, these characteristics are marginal. The core of their hymns is the
scriptural narrative. Not only is the subject matter faithfully
reproduced but the actual text is sometimes embedded in the verse. The
result is a rare objectivity and a lack of embellishment especially in
the works of Ambrose which became the preferred standard for later
writers.[12]
The life of Jesus is a favorite theme particularly in those episodes
which were described and expanded in hymns for the Nativity, Epiphany,
Passion, Easter and Pentecost. From the episode of the Nativity the
praise of the Virgin was developed. The doctrine of the Trinity was
everywhere upheld in hymns, even as its defense had been influential in
their creation.
The group of hymns which praise the early Christian leaders, either
directly or by incidental mention, form a nucleus for the impressive
medieval hymnology of the saints. The Apostles have first place both in
chronology and importance. Prudentius praised the Roman martyrs and
Ambrose those of Rome and Milan as well. Both honored Laurence the
Deacon and Agnes the Virgin. To the praise of the whole group “the noble
army of martyrs,” the hymn _Aeterna Christi munera_, “The eternal gifts
of Christ the King,” was written, unrivalled as a martyr hymn in any
period of Latin hymnology.
(See Illustrative Hymns, III. _Aeterna Christi munera_, “The eternal
gifts of Christ the King.”)
CHAPTER TWO
Early Middle Ages: The Old Hymnal