Friday: Weeks 2 & 4

 

 

Lauds: “Earlier Hymnal” 7-8^th Centuries

 

Walpole: this poetical hymn is not mentioned by Caesarius or Aurelian, but early became the office hymn for Mattins on Sunday. Probably the first four stanzas are addressed to God the Father, the direct invocation of Christ not coming until stanza V, But, sator in verse 2 may be vocative, in which case the address to Christ begins at that point.

 

Deus, qui cæli lumen es

satórque lucis, qui polum (1)

patérno fultum brácchio (2)

præclára pandis déxtera, (3)

 

Auróra stellas iam tegit (4)

rubrum sustóllens gúrgitem,

uméctis atque flátibus

terram baptízans róribus.

 

Iam noctis umbra línquitur,

polum calígo déserit,

typúsque Christi, lúcifer

diem sopítum súscitat.

 

Dies diérum tu, Deus, (5)

lucísque lumen ipse es,

Unum potens per ómnia,

potens in unum Trínitas.

 

Te nunc, Salvátor, quæsumus

tibíque genu fléctimus,

Patrem cum Sancto Spíritu

te notis laudántes vócibus. Amen .

 

1.      sator] 'creator,' or 'father,' lit. 'sower.' Perhaps the word is chosen, because light and fire were thought to spring from seeds.

However, like inventor and other similar

Words never lost its special meaning

2.       fultum] 'firmly set.' The firmament was supposed to be solid and propped upon mountains at either end.

3.       ' The arm of the Lord ' is a metaphor frequently found in the O.T., as at Exod. vi. 6. li. 13, Jer. x. 12; pandis seems to denote the opening of the curtain to give light ; cp. 46. 4, 1. 43. 5 f.

4.        ' Dawn now shrouds the stars, uplifting her ruddy flood, for with damp blasts she bedews the earth.' Aurora is personified, as generally in the Latin poets. And just as the darkness is regarded as a material substance.

5.       Dies dierum = ‘the holy one’

 

O God, you are the light of heaven, sower of light, the sky is firmly set upon your fatherly arm and spread out by your illustrious right hand. Now the dawn covers the stars, bearing up its ruddy stream, and the breeze wet with dew baptizes the earth. Now the shadow of night is left behind, darkness deserts the sky and the type of Christ, the morning star, awakes the day from sleep. You, O God, are the Day of days, the Light of light, one powerful in all things, powerful in one Trinity.  Now, O Savior, we beseech you and bend the knee to you, Father with the Holy Spirit, praising you with familial voices.  Amen.

 

Office of Readings:  before the 6^th century

This hymn is made up of verses 4, 5, and 6 of the hymn Lucis largitor splendide

 

Adésto, rerum cónditor,

patérnæ lucis glória,

cuius amóta grátia

nostra pavéscunt péctora,

 

Tuóque plena Spíritu,

secum Deum gestántia,

nil rapiéntis pérfidi

diris patéscant fráudibus,

 

Ut inter actus sæculi,

vitæ quos usus éxigit,

omni caréntes crímine

tuis vivámus légibus.

 

Be present, O Creator of all things, the Glory of the Father’s light, without your grace our hearts begin to fear. Filled with the Spirit and bearing God within us, may our hearts not be exposed to the dangerous deceptions of the thieving unfaithful one.  That in the midst of worldly tasks, which life requires, free from all sin, we may live by your laws.

 

 

Vespers

Mozarabic Hymn

 

Horis peráctis úndecim

ruit dies in vésperum;

solvámus omnes débitum

mentis libénter cánticum.

 

Labor diúrnus tránsiit

quo, Christe, nos condúxeras;

da iam colónis víneæ

promíssa dona glóriæ.

 

Mercéde quos nunc ádvocas,

quos ad futúrum múneras,

nos in labóre ádiuva

et post labórem récrea.

 

The eleventh hour now completed, day rushes into night; we all gladly offer the hymn, which is due.  Finished is our daily work to which, you O Christ, have led us; grant to vineyard workers the promised gift of glory. Reward now those whom you have called to future gifts: help us in our work and afterwards refresh us.

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