Walpole: Ambrose probably wrote it for daily use
throughout the year and Ambrosian MSS give as rubric simply hymnus uespertinalis. It was adopted
into the later hymnary and there assigned to vespers on Saturday. 'Its general
use is on Saturdays from that preceding the 1st Sunday after the Octave of the
Epiphany to the Saturday before Quadragesima Sunday, both inclusive; and from
the Saturday preceding the 1st Sunday in August to Advent.'
Walsh & Hutch: This hymn consoled Augustine at
his mother's death: “I remembered the very true verses of your Ambrose . . .” The first two stanzas then follow (Conf. 9.12.32). He recalled that earlier
his mother had quoted the final line at Cassiciacum (De beata vita 35). At Arles, Caesarius prescribed it as an evening
hymn. It is structured with a fourfold division: invocation to the Creator, who
grants the night for necessary rest (SS 1—2); thanksgiving for the day now past
(SS 3—4); prayer for faith to sustain us in sleep (SS 5—6); and entreaty to the
Trinity to repel the devil's guile in the night hours (SS 7-8).
O God, Creator of all, Ruler of the sky, vesting
the day with beauteous light, night with the grace of rest. That quiet might
loosen limbs and restore us for work and relieve weary minds, relax anxious
grief. Grateful for the day that has passed and urged by the prayers of night,
we sing and offer you a hymn that you would help us keep our vows. May our
inmost hearts sing of you, a tuneful voice resound, chaste desire love you, the sober
mind adore you. That when the deep darkness of night covers the day, faith may
know no darkness and night may sparkle with faith. We ask this of Christ and
his Father and the Spirit of Christ and the Father, one power through all
things, O Trinity, favor those who pray. Amen.
This hymn was appointed by Caesarius of Arles to
be sung ad secundum nocturnum (i.e.
at what was afterwards known as Lauds).
This
hymn is certainly Ambrose's, for Augustine (Retract. 1.21) cites lines 15—16
"ex versibus beatissimi Ambrosii" (from the verses of the most
blessed Ambrose). Moreover, Ambrose repeats many of the motifs at Hexaemeron
5.88. The hymn is specified as a hymnus nocturnalis in AmbroSian manuscripts.
Caesarius of Arles appointed it to be sung at the Second Nocturn as an
appropriate composition with which to greet the dawn. The poem is structured
round the two interconnected themes of the cock as herald of the dawn and of
the repentance it inspired in Peter after his triple denial of Christ.
Eternal Creator of things, you who rule night and
day, and give the time of the seasons that you may relieve our boredom.
The cock, the watchman through the deep of night, now sounds, a nocturnal light
for travelers, separating one from another. By this the morning star is
aroused, the sky is parted from the darkness; by this every band of
errors abandons its harmful ways. By this the sailor regains his strength
and the raging sea is calmed; by this Peter himself, the rock of the Church, by
song washes away his guilt. O Jesus, look upon those who are falling, for by
one glance you correct; if you see us, our lapses fall and crime is absolved by
tears. You, O Light, shine on our senses, may sleep of our souls depart; our
voices sing to you and our promises to you are kept.
The eighth day is more holy and brighter than
other days, which you, O Jesus, consecrated as the first fruits of the
resurrection. First now raise our souls
together with you; then may our bodies rise free from the second death. O
Christ, may we soon be carried to meet you in the clouds, with you conquering
forever: for you are life and resurrection. Seeing your face, may we be
transfigured into glory; may we know you as you are: true light and goodness.
May the Holy Trinity bring the kingdom to fulfillment: making us glad in
Christ, handed over to the Father and filled with the seven-fold
anointing. Amen.
Greatest
Creator of light, providing the light of day and fashioning the first
beginnings of new light at the beginning of the world; You who bid morning
joined to evening to be called day: now dark disorder falls upon us: hear our
prayers with tears. Let not our minds heavy with sin be deprived of the rewards
of life and bind ourselves to sin with no thought for things eternal. May our
soul knock at the door of heaven, carry away the prize of life; let us shun
everything harmful, let us purge all that is evil.
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