Rorate caeli

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Rorate caeli (also spelled Rorate coeli) is a traditional Advent chant in the Roman Catholic Church. The text is derived from the Book of Isaiah and is used in the liturgy during the season of Advent.

Etymology

The phrase "Rorate caeli" is Latin and translates to "Drop down, ye heavens" in English. It is taken from the opening words of Isaiah 45:8 in the Vulgate.

Liturgical Use

The Rorate caeli is particularly associated with the Rorate Mass, a special Votive Mass celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the season of Advent. This Mass is traditionally celebrated before dawn, and the church is often illuminated only by candlelight, symbolizing the coming of the Light of the World.

Text

The text of the Rorate caeli is a plea for the heavens to send down the Messiah and for the earth to bring forth the Savior. The full text in Latin is as follows:

Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum:
aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.

Musical Settings

The Rorate caeli has been set to music by various composers throughout history. It is often sung in Gregorian chant, but there are also polyphonic settings by composers such as Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and Michael Praetorius.

Cultural Significance

In addition to its liturgical use, the Rorate caeli has cultural significance in various countries. In some regions, it is associated with traditional Advent customs and practices. For example, in parts of Germany and Austria, the Rorate Mass is a popular Advent devotion.

See Also

• Advent
• Gregorian chant
• Votive Mass
• Blessed Virgin Mary
• Messiah
• Light of the World
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
• Michael Praetorius