The 6th or 7th Century. Attributed to St. Gregory the Great.
- Nox atra rerum contegit
Terræ colores omnium:
Nos confitentes poscimus
Te, juste judex cordium: - Ut auferas piacula,
Sordesque mentis abluas:
Donesque Christe gratiam,
Ut arceantur crimina. - Mens ecce torpet impia,
Quam culpa mordet noxia;
Obscura gestit tollere,
Et te Redemptor quærere. - Repelle tu caliginem
Intrinsecus quam maxime,
Ut in beato gaudeat
Se collocari lumine. - Præsta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
Cum Spiritu Parælito
Regnans per omne sæculum.
| - The dusky veil of night hath laid
The varied hues of earth in shade;
Before Thee, righteous Judge of all,
We contrite in confession fall. - Take far away our load of sin,
Our soiled minds make clean within:
Thy sov’reign grace, O Christ, impart,
From all offence to guard our heart. - For lo! our mind is dull and cold,
Envenomed by sin’s baneful hold:
Fain would it now the darkness flee,
And seek, Redeemer, unto Thee. - Far from it drive the shades of night,
Its inmost darkness put to flight;
Till in the daylight of the Blest
It joys to find itself at rest. - Almighty Father, hear our cry,
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord most High,
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
Doth live and reign eternally.
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