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...