E06930: Aldhelm, in his poem On the Altars of the Twelve Apostles, records the dedication of an altar to *Jude Thaddaeus (the Apostle, S00792), presumably in Britain; he then concludes the poem with a prayer for forgiveness. Written in Latin in southern Britain, c. 670/710.

Aldhelm, Carmina Ecclesiastica, 4.12-13

XII. IN SANCTI THADDEI
Supremus numerum concludat Thaddeus almum,
Cui cognomen erat praedictum Libbeus olim;
Quem duxisse ferunt Christi cum grammate scedam
Abgaro, quondam qui regni sceptra regebat,
Postquam Tartareum damnavit morte tyrannum
Et tetris herebi gaudens emersit ab antris,
Exin sidereum Christus conscendit Olimpum .
Dicitur hic etiam vulgato nomine Iudas;
Cuius praesenti laudes celebrantur in aula.

Qui nobis unum facundo famine biblum
Edidit antiquas promulgans ore loquelas,
Quas Enoch prisco descripsit tempore vates,
Ante rapax mundum quam pontus plecteret undis,
Dicens: 'Ecce, venit Dominus cum milibus almis
Ponere iudicium cunctis habitantibus orbem!'
Quos nubes appellat aqua stillante carentes,
Frigida quas rapidis dispergunt flamina ventis,
Nec non arboribus sterili de stipite natis
Comparat, autumni quae fructum tempore perdunt;
Sic quoque spumiferis undarum fluctibus aequat
Errabunda vocans caelorum sidera sontes,
Quis servata restat tenebrosis poena procellis.

Nempe feras gentes et Ponti barbara regna
Iudas ad Dominum doctrinis flexerat almis;
Cuius in Armenia sopitum morte cadaver
Exsurrecturum fatali fine quiescit,
Sed tamen aethereas lustravit spiritus arces.

XIII.
Iam bis sena simul digessi nomina patrum.
E quibus altithrono conversus credidit orbis.
Hos precibus verna crebris et pectore pulso,
Ut mihi clementer noxarum pondera laxent
Et veniam dantes commissa piacula solvant,
Quatenus in requiem divina gratia fretus
Ultimus ingrediar Christo regnante per aethram.


'xii. On St Thaddeus (Jude)
The last (apostle), Thaddeus, concludes the holy number (twelve); his name had formerly been Libbeus [Mt. 10:3]. They say that he brought a letter in Christ's own handwriting to Abgar, who once ruled the sceptres of the realm, (written) after Christ had condemned the tyrant of hell to death and emerged rejoicing from the dark abyss of hell; He thereupon ascended the starry heavens. This man is commonly known by the name of Jude; his praise is celebrated in the present church.

Jude produced for us one book in elegant writing [i.e. the biblical Epistle of Jude], bringing forth from his mouth the ancient words which the prophet Enoch had written down in days of yore, before the all-engulfing Flood had punished the world with its waters, saying: 'Behold the Lord comes with his holy thousands to impose judgement on all those who inhabit the earth' [Jude 14]. He describes these (sinners) as clouds devoid of dripping rainwater which freezing winds disperse with impetuous blasts [cf. Jude 12]; he also compares them to trees sprung from a sterile trunk which lose their fruit in the autumn; he likens them as well to the foaming surges of the waves, referring to these guilty (sinners) as the wandering stars of the heavens [Jude 13] for whom a punishment in (the realms of) shadowy tempests is reserved (in the hereafter).

To be sure, Jude, with his holy teaching, converted the savage races and barbarous realms of Pontus to the Lord. His body lies in Armenia, released through death, to be resurrected at the end of allotted time; but his spirit nevertheless traverses the heavenly citadels.

xiii. Conclusion
I have now set out the twelve names of the (apostolic) fathers through whom the world was converted to belief in High-throned God. I, (their abject) servant, humbly beseech them in my heart with frequent prayers that they may mercifully remit the burden of my sins and, offering forgiveness, may absolve the iniquities I have committed so that, sustained by divine grace, I may enter as the last into (eternal) peace, with Christ reigning in heaven.'


Text: Ehwald 1919, 30-31. Translation: Lapidge and Rosier 1985, 56-7.