Annotations to James Joyce's Ulysses/Oxen of the Sun/375

Annotations

Ut novetur sexus omnis corporis mysterium     (Latin) That the secret of the sex of every body may be known. Gifford translates this: That the whole mystery of physical sexuality may become known, but Joyce seems to be talking about the determination of the sex (male or female) of the foetus. The title is possibly an allusion to a genuine anthem (or antiphon), O Redemptor sume carmen temet concinentium (O Redeemer, Receive the Song of Those Who Celebrate Thee), which includes the line: Ut novetur sexus omnis unctione Chrismatis (That both men and women may be renewed by this chrism). This hymn is sung on Maundy Thursday in the Mass of the Chrism.

Orate, fratres, pro memetipso     (Latin) Pray, Brethren, for me myself. These words are based on the Offertory in the Latin Tridentine Mass, which was still in use in 1904. At the end of the Offertory, the celebrant kisses the altar, turns to the congregation and says: Orate, fratres: ut meum ac vestrum sacrificium acceptabile fiat apud Deum patrem omnipotentem (Pray, Brethren, that my and your sacrifice may be acceptable to God the Almighty Father).