Caelestis formam gloriae
Caelestis formam gloriae. Latin, 15th Century, author unknown.
According to Frere (1909, p. 353) this hymn was ‘one of those anciently sung at Salisbury and elsewhere for the Transfiguration.’ He then goes on to say that ‘when that festival was brought into common use at the end of the XVth century many new hymns were written for it, and this among the number.’ JJ gives its provenance as being found in a Sarum Breviary (Venice, 1495). It is of unknown authorship. It began:
Caelestis formam gloriae, quam spes quaerit ecclesiae, in monte Christus indicatquo supra solem emicat.
It was translated by John Mason Neale* in The Hymnal Noted, Part II (1854),beginning:
A type of those bright rays...
If you have a valid subscription to Dictionary of Hymnology, please log inlog in to view this content. If you require a subscription, please click here.
Cite this article
MLA style (see MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, 3rd Ed.)
. "Caelestis formam gloriae."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press. Web. 1 Dec. 2023.<
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/c/caelestis-formam-gloriae>.
Chicago style (see The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Ed.)
. "Caelestis formam gloriae."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press, accessed December 1, 2023,
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/c/caelestis-formam-gloriae.