Venance Fortunat
v. 530-v. 600 6th century Feast day: December 14
Praise sung while walking, holding up what words alone could not hold.
Who was Venance Fortunat?
Born near Treviso and trained at Ravenna, he crossed the Alps about 565 and never went back: first a court poet, then a priest, at last bishop of Poitiers. He became the friend and confidant of Radegund, a Frankish queen turned nun, and wrote for her monastery. When a relic of the Cross reached Poitiers in 569 he composed for the procession hymns the West still sings fifteen centuries later.
In their own words
The Royal Banners forward go; The Cross shines forth in mystic glow; Where He in flesh, our flesh Who made, Our sentence bore, our ransom paid.
Where deep for us the spear was dy'd, Life's torrent rushing from His side, To wash us in that precious flood Where mingled Water flow'd, and Blood.
Fulfill'd is all that David told In true Prophetic song of old; Amidst the nations God, saith he, Hath reign'd and triumph'd from the Tree.