Expert: Maria - 9/29/2008

Question
What does this mean:
Viderunt omnes fines terrae salutare Dei nosri:
Jubilate Deo omnis terra.
V. Notum fecit DDominus salutare suum:
ante conspectum genitum revelavit justitiam suam

Answer
Hello,

First of all here’s the correct text of  this Latin Gradual for Nativity by Pérotin,choirmaster at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris,in the  first half  of the 13th century:

Viderunt omnes fines terrae salutare Dei nostri:
Iubilate Deo, omnis terra.
Notum fecit Dominus salutare suum:
ante conspectum gentium revelavit iustitiam suam.

This biblical text (Psalm 97/98:3,4,2) sung between the Epistle and the Gospel of the Third Mass of the Nativity means:

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Sing joyfully to God, all you lands.
The Lord has made known his salvation:
He has revealed his justice in the sight of all the peoples”.

Regards,
Maria