Remnants of western orthodoxy: Ubi Caritas
Appreciating western tradition
Among the most beloved hymns of the Catholic tradition is Ubi Caritas. Traditionally sung during the liturgy of Holy Thursday, it encapsulates the essence of Christian love and unity. Its message invites all Christians to reflect on the importance of communal harmony and a Christ-centered mindset.
Historical Background
The exact year of origin for Ubi Caritas is unknown, but it is widely believed to date back to the early centuries of Christianity, likely between the 4th and 10th centuries. The hymn is associated with the Western Church's ancient liturgical traditions, possibly the Gallican or Mozarabic rites, which were in use before the standardization of the Roman Rite.
The hymn is traditionally sung during the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday, emphasizing Christ’s command to love one another as He loved us.
Text and Meaning
Here is the Latin text of Ubi Caritas with a basic translation:
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Where charity and love are, there is God.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
The love of Christ has gathered us into one.
Exsultemus, et in ipso jucundemur.
Let us rejoice and be glad in Him.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.
Let us fear and love the living God.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.
And let us love one another with a sincere heart.
The hymn not only calls Christians to live in love but also warns against divisions. One less commonly sung stanza explicitly references this danger:
Ne nos mente dividamur, caveamus.
Let us be wary, lest we be divided in mind.
This line speaks to the need for unity, both within the community and within our own hearts. Division, whether interpersonal or internal, is a betrayal of the love that Christ commands.
Unity and the Orthodox Phronema
The warning against being "divided in mind" resonates deeply with the Orthodox understanding of the phronema — the collective mindset or spiritual disposition of the Church. In Orthodoxy, the phronema reflects the life of the Church as guided by the Holy Spirit. It emphasizes unity of thought, love, and purpose, rooted in the mind of Christ.
To cultivate the phronema is to align one’s heart and mind with the Church’s life and teachings. In this light, the message of Ubi Caritas is profoundly orthodox: it reminds Christians to guard against the fragmentation of their hearts and communities, lest they stray from the presence of God.