Venantius Fortunatus

Bishop and Hymnwriter

On December 14, the Church commemorates Venantius Fortunatus, bishop, hymnwriter, and poet. He was born between 530 and 540 A.D., classically educated in the Roman tradition, and immersed in poetry early in his life. He was ordained around 576 A.D., and was appointed bishop of Poitiers around 600 A.D., where he served until his death shortly thereafter. 

Fortunatus was a skilled poet, having produced eleven books which have survived to this day. He was not only trained in the style of Latin poets like Virgil and Martial, but also Christian poets like Coelius Sedulius and Arator. Based on his other writings, it is also likely that Fortunatus had some knowledge of the Greek language and Greek writers and philosophers. His most common style of poetry is panegyric, which is a high praise or admiration of a person or thing.

He also wrote the narrative piece Vita S. Martini, which recounts the life of St. Martin of Tours, in whose honor Fortunatus embarked on a pilgrimage 565 which brought him to Mainz, Cologne, and Trier, Germany. His narrative poem of St. Martin of Tours emulates the style of Greek and Roman poetry, yet it is inundated with Christian themes. Accordingly, Fortunatus has been described as a transitional figure between the ancient and medieval periods of literature.

Most importantly, Fortunatus wrote the first Christian sequence hymn, Vexilla Regis, which is known today as “The Royal Banners Forward Go,” which was sung at Vespers during Holy Week. His other Passiontide poem, Pange lingua gloriosi proelium certaminis, usually translated as “Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle,” also demonstrates his classical prose and poetic prowess. This hymn inspired Thomas Aquinas to write Pange lingua gloriosi corporis mysterium, translated “Sing, my tongue, the Savior’s glory,” and known in the Lutheran Service Book (LSB) as “Now, My Tongue, the Mystery Telling,” which is a Eucharistic hymn written for the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Fortunatus’ two Passiontide hymns are still sung today. Vexilla Regis is largely associated with the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (known to many Lutherans as Holy Cross Day), likely because it was written in honor of the True Cross, a relic which is said to be the actual cross on which Christ was crucified. Pange lingua gloriosi, on the other hand, is a majestic Passiontide piece which encapsulates the bittersweet victory of Christ on the cross, a moment to which His entire ministry led.

It is said that in his time, Fortunatus filled a deep societal desire for Latin poetry. He often used poetry to advance political or personal ideas, often perpetrated by Gregory of Tours or Radegunde, a Frankish queen, with whom Fortunatus was close friends.

Little else is known about Fortunatus compared to some other early Church bishops like Augustine, Jerome, Cyprian, or Polycarp. Nevertheless, his work which has been retained is incredibly valuable for Christian piety. His Christian poetry helped create the tradition of sequence hymns in worship, and his profound imagery and prose has inculcated the Church for centuries.

Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle; 
Sing the ending of the fray. 
Now above the cross, the trophy, 
Sound the loud triumphant lay: 
Tell how Christ, the world's redeemer, 
As a victim won the day. 

Tell how, when at length the fullness 
Of the appointed time was come, 
He, the Word, was born of woman, 
Left for us His Father's home, 
Blazed the path of true obedience, 
Shone as light amidst the gloom. 

Thus, with thirty years accomplished, 
He went forth from Nazareth, 
Destined, dedicated, willing, 
Did His work, and met His death;
Like a lamb He humbly yielded 
On the cross His dying breath. 

Faithful cross, true sign of triumph, 
Be for all the noblest tree; 
None in foliage, none in blossom, 
None in fruit your equal be; 
Symbol of the world's redemption, 
For the weight that hung on thee! 

Unto God be praise and glory: 
To the Father and the Son, 
To the eternal Spirit honor 
Now and evermore be done; 
Praise and glory in the highest 
While the timeless ages run.

—”Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle” (LSB 454)