Inni Sacri: La Risurrezione

The Inni Sacri (“Sacred Hymns”) are Manzoni’s first artistic creations following his religious conversion, and also the first important indication of his literary conversion. He had planned to write twelve hymns in poetic celebration of Christianity’s main events as narrated in the New Testament and reiterated in Catholic liturgical rites, but he only composed five: the first four (La Risurrezione, Il nome di Maria, Il Natale, La Passione) from 1812-1815, and the fifth (La Pentecoste) between 1817 and 1822. Their metrical structures derive from eighteenth century lyric poetry, including that of Metastasio and Parini, but their solemn, simple and singable rhythm evokes the ancient ecclesiastical hymns (such as the Ambrosian hymn) sung in chorus by the faithful. The first hymn he wrote was La Risurrezione, composed between April and June 1812. With the jubilant and emphatic cadences of its octosyllabic lines, this celebration of Christianity’s most significant event (resurrection after the death of the body and soul) expresses the fervent and ingenuous enthusiasm of a poet who has recovered his faith. The hymn is divided into two parts, one historical and the other ethical. In the first part (lines1-70), the poet depicts the historical place and time of the event narrated in the Gospels and announced by the Biblical prophets (women mourning over the Dead Christ; Christ lifting and removing the stone that had closed the tomb; the angel sitting at the empty tomb and replying to Magdalene). The second part (lines 71-112) describes the effects of that event upon Christian society: festive rites, with solemn and dignified exultation; renewal of the sentiment of charity and brotherhood; sorrow for those who have strayed and the hope that nel Signor chi si confida / col Signor risorgerà (“he who confides in the Lord will rise again with the Lord”).