Angularis Fundamentum

This hymn is used for Lauds in the Common of the Dedication of a Church in both Forms of the Roman Breviary. According to Fr. Britt, this hymn is a continuation of “Urbs Ierusalem Beata.” It was used for Nocturns for the Common of the Dedication of a Church in the Paris Breviary of 1736. It was also used for Lauds and Vespers II for the Office of the Dedication of a Church in the Sarum Breviary.

Angularis fundamentum
Lapis Christus missus est,
Qui parietum compage
In utroque nectitur,
Quem Sion sancta suscepit,
In quo credens permanet.

Omnis illa Deo sacra
Et dilecta civitas,
Plena modulis, in laude
Et canore iubilo,
Trinum Deum unicumque
Cum fervore prædicat.

Hoc in templo, summe Deus,
Exoratus adveni,
Et clementi bonitate
Precum vota suscipe:
Largam benedictionem
Hic infunde iugiter.

Hic promereantur omnes
Petita acquirere,
Et adepta possidere
Cum Sanctis perenniter
Paradisum introire,
Translati in requiem.

*Gloria et honor Deo
Usquequaque Altissimo,
Una Patri, Filioque,
Inclyto Paraclito,
Cui laus est et potestas
Per æterna sæcula. Amen.

Words: Anonymous Latin 6th or 7th Century.
Tune: “Angularis Fundamentum” Gregorian Chant, Mode IV, traditional.
Meter: 87.87.87

*John Chandler provides this alternate closing doxology in Hymni Ecclesiastici. This is the doxology used in the 1736 Paris Breviary:
Sit perennis laus Parenti
Sit perennis Filio:
Laus tibi, qui nectis ambos
Sit perennis, Spiritus,
Chrisma cuius nos inungens
Viva templa consecrat. Amen.

The hymn takes the following form in Pope Urban VIII’s 1632 reform of the Breviary:

Alto ex Olympi vertice
Summi Parentis Filius,
Ceu monte desectus lapis
Terras in imas decidens,
Domus supernæ, et infimæ,
Utrumque iunxit angulum.

Sed illa sedes cælitum
Semper resultat laudibus,
Deumque Trinum et Unicum
Iugi canore prædicat:
Illi canentes iungimur
Almæ Sionis æmuli.

Hæc templa, Rex cælestium,
Imple benigno lumine:
Huc, o rogatus, adveni,
Plebisque vota suscipe,
Et nostra corda iugiter
Perfunde cæli gratia.

Hic impetrent fidelium
Voces precesque supplicum
Domus beatæ munera,
Partisque donis gaudeant:
Donec, soluti corpore,
Sedes beatas impleant.

Decus Parenti debitum
Sit usquequaque Altissimo,
Natoque Patris unico,
Et inclito Paraclito,
Cui laus, potestas, gloria
Æterna sit per sæcula. Amen.

Tune: Unknown
Meter: 88.88.88

This is the version of the text that appears in the Sarum Breviary:

Angulare fundamentum
Lapis Christus missus est,
Qui compage parietum*
In utroque nectitur,
Quem Sion Sancta suscepit,
In quo credens permanet.

Omnis illa Deo grata
Et dilecta civitas,
Plena modulis in laude
Et canoro Iubilo,
Trinum Deum Unum quoque*
Cum favore prædicat*.

Hoc in templo Summe Deus
Exoratus adveni,
Et clementi* bonitate
Precum vota suscipe,
Largam benedictionem
Hic infunde iugiter.

Hic promereamur omnes
Petita acquirere,
Et adepta possidere
Cum sanctis perenniter,
Paradisum introire
Translati in requiem.

Gloria et honor Deo
Usquequo altissimo,
Una Patri Filioque
Inclito Paraclito,
Cui laus est et potestas
Per æterna sæcula. Amen.

*The following are the differences in the variations in the text in The Hymnale Secundum Usum Insignis Ac Praeclarae Ecclesiae Sarisburiensis (1850) in the order in which they occur:
*parietis
*Unicumque
*prædicant
*clemente

This hymn has been translated into English as the following:
Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation
Christ Is Our Corner-Stone, On Him Alone We Build
Deeply Laid, A Sure Foundation {Blessed City, Heavenly Salem (Benson)} – Part II.
From Highest Heav’n, the Father’s Son