Tuesday: Weeks II & IV

Lauds: 6^th -7^th Centuries

Ætérne lucis cónditor,

lux ipse totus et dies,

noctem nec ullam séntiens

natúra lucis pérpeti, (1)

Iam cedit pallens próximo

diéi nox advéntui,

obtúndens lumen síderum (2)

adest et clarus lúcifer.

Iam stratis læti súrgimus

grates canéntes et tuas,

quod cæcam noctem vícerit

revéctans rursus sol diem.

Te nunc, ne carnis gáudia

blandis subrépant ǽstibus, (3)

dolis ne cedat sǽculi

mens nostra, sancte, quǽsumus.

Ira ne rixas próvocet,

gulam ne venter íncitet,(4)

opum pervértat ne famis,(5)

turpis ne luxus óccupet, (6)

Sed firma mente sóbrii,

casto manéntes córpore

totum fidéli spíritu

Christo ducámus hunc diem. (7)

Sed firma mente sóbrii,
casto manéntes córpore
totum fidéli spíritu
Christo ducámus hunc diem. Amen. 

Eternal Creator of light, light itself and wholly day, you know nothing of night, by virtue of being perpetual light. Now colorless night surrenders to coming day, the bright morning star is here and shrouding the solid light of the stars. Now we rise joyfully from our beds and sing our thanks to you, for the sun returns again the day, which conquers blind night. Now we pray you, O holy Christ, that joys of the flesh not catch us unaware with worldly allurements  and our minds not fall to secular deceits. That anger not provoke strife, that the stomach not incite gluttony, lest hunger for wealth pervert and base wealth consume us. But sober and with firm intent, our bodies chaste, let us pass this whole day faithful to the spirit of Christ. 

1. Walpole: 1 John 1:5: there is no darkness in God's everlasting nature of light; 2. Walpole prefers obtendens = 'shrouding as with a veil' to obtúndens = 'dulling';  3. blandis = 'alluring';  subrépant = 'evil stealing on us unawares'; ǽstibus = 'burning heat' , 'the undue heat of passion'; 4. gulam = 'the gullet' hence 'gluttony'; 5. opum...famis = 'hunger for riches'; 6. occupet: Job 3:5: 7. Walpole: Christe instead of Christo

When the Office of Readings is said in the daytime: 10^th Century

Ad preces nostras deitátis aures,

Deus, inclína pietáte sola;

súpplicum vota súscipe, precámur

fámuli tui.

 Réspice clemens sólio de sancto

vultu seréno, lámpadas illústra

ólei nostri, ténebras depélle

péctore cunctas.

Crímina laxa pietáte multa,

áblue sordes, víncula disrúmpe,

parce peccátis, réleva iacéntes

déxtera tua.

Glória sit ætérno Patri,
sit tibi semper, Genitóris Nate,
cum quo per cuncta Spíritus æquális
sæcula regnat. Amen.

By your singular love. O God, incline your ears to our prayers; we ask you to receive the humble petitions of thy Servants. Mercifully look down from your heavenly throne with a peaceful countenance: light our lamps with oil and drive away darkness from all hearts. Of your love loosen us from our many sins, wash our uncleanness, break our chains, spare sinners, and lift up with your right hand the fallen.

Vespers: 7^th – 8^th Centuries

Sator princépsque témporum,

clarum diem labóribus

noctémque qui sopóribus

fixo distínguis órdine,

 Mentem tu castam dírige,

obscúra ne siléntia

ad dira cordis vúlnera

telis patéscant ínvidi.

Vacent ardóre péctora,

faces nec ullas pérferant,

quæ nostro hæréntes sénsui

mentis vigórem sáucient.

Præsta, Pater piísime,
Patríque compare Unice,
cum Spíritu Paráclito
regnans per omne saéculum. Amen.

O Sower and Ruler of time, in an established order, you designate the bright day for work and the night for sleep. Direct the chaste mind that the dark and silent night not expose us to the attacks of the Invidious One,  wounding the heart. May hearts be free from the passions that they may not have to endure any dangerous heat, which clinging to our senses wounds strength of mind.