# Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences/Laus Tibi, Christe

Laus Tibi, Christe
Next to S. Notker himself, the most famous writer of the Proses named from him, was Godescalcus—to be carefully distinguished from his predestinarian namesake. The following sequence for S. Mary Magdalene is his composition; and has an interesting notice in the Lives of the Brothers of the Common Life, by Thomas à Kempis. It occurs in that of Lubert ten Bosche.
"It fell out also that Master Lubert was seized with the same plague. And, behold, in the month of July, three days before the feast of the blessed Mary Magdalene, he fell ill, and took to his bed, and said that he was not long for this world. We, on the other hand, laboured with many prayers, and sought remedies from God, and from intelligent surgeons, because his life was desirable to all.
"But his prayers were heard beyond ours, and they were full of desires to be admitted among the heavenly citizens. One of the brethren said, 'We shall not be separated so quickly, but we shall hold our conversations in the room of Master Florentius.' 'No,' said he, 'not any more here, but in the heavenly places with the Saints,' for he desired to depart, and to be with Christ. On the feast of S. Mary Magdalene he ​asked that the sequence 'Laus Tibi, Christe,' might be sung in his room.
1. Praise be to Thee, O Christ, the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Saviour.
2. Of the heaven, the earth, the sea, angels, and men.
3. Whom alone we confess to be God and Man.
4. Who didst come that Thou mightest save sinners,
5. Without sin assuming the likeness of sin.
6. From the number of which sinners as Thou didst visit the Canaanitish woman, as also Mary Magdalene,
7. At the same table of the Divine Word, Thou didst refresh the one with crumbs, the other with drink,
8. In the house of Simon the leper, sitting down at the Typical Feast.
9. The Pharisee murmurs, where the woman, conscious of her sin, laments.
10. The sinner despiseth his fellow-sinner: ​Thou that knewest no sin, hearest her, penitent—cleansest her, defiled—lovest her, that Thou mayest make her fair.
11. She embraceth the feet of the Lord, washeth them with her tears, wipeth them with her hair: by washing, by wiping, by ointment, she anointeth them,—with kisses she encircleth them.
12. These are the banquets which are well-pleasing to Thee, O Wisdom of the Father!
13. O Thou born of a Virgin, Who disdainest not to be touched by a woman that was a sinner!
14. Thou wast invited by the Pharisee: Thou wast banqueted by Mary.
15. Much Thou forgivest to her that loved much, and repeated not her sin in time to come.
16. From seven devils Thou cleansest her, by Thy sevenfold Spirit.
17. From the dead Thou didst grant her to see Thee again before the others.
18. By her, O Christ, Thou signifiest Thy proselyte Church; whom albeit alien-born, Thou callest to the table of Thy sons.
​19. Whom at the feast of the law and grace, the pride of the Pharisees contemns, the leprosy of heresy vexes.
20. What she is Thou knowest; she toucheth Thee because she is a sinner, because she is a desirer of pardon.
21. What, sick one, could she have possessed, if she had not received it, if the Physician had not been present?
22. King of kings, rich unto all, save us; Thou that wipest away all the crimes of sinners, Thou that art the hope and glory of Saints.