Monday: Weeks II & IV: Lux et totum

 

 

Lauds: before 6^th Century: Walpole: “This beautiful and evidently ancient hymn” (Walsh & Hutch) does not appear in either the New or the Old Hymnal. It was composed by one of the many imitators of Ambrose. The original in Walpole is in eight verses not counting the doxology.

 

Lucis largítor spléndide,

cuius seréno lúmine

post lapsa noctis témpora

dies refúsus pánditur,

 

Tu verus mundi lúcifer,

non is qui parvi síderis

ventúræ lucis núntius

angústo fulget lúmine,

 

Sed toto sole clárior,

lux ipse totus et dies,

intérna nostri péctoris

illúminans præcórdia.

 

Evíncat mentis cástitas

quæ caro cupit árrogans,

sanctúmque puri córporis

delúbrum servet Spíritus.

 

Sit, Christe, rex piíssime,

tibi Patríque glória

cum Spíritu Paráclito

in sempitérna sǽcula. Amen.

 

O splendid Giver of light, by whose brightness, after the fall of night, day is poured forth again and opened (across the sky). You are the true Morning Star, not he who is a dimer star and mere herald of the coming light, who shines with a narrow light.  Rather you are total Light itself and Day brighter than the Sun, bringing light to the inner depths of the heart. May chastity of mind triumph over that which arrogant flesh demands and may the Spirit keep the holy temple of our bodies pure.

 When the Office of Readings is said in the daytime: Walfrad Strabo (808-849)

Vita sanctórum, via, spes salúsque,

Christe, largítor probitátis atque

cónditor pacis, tibi voce, sensu

pángimus hymnum:

 

Cuius est virtus manifésta totum

quod pii possunt, quod habent, quod ore,

corde vel factis cúpiunt, amóris

igne flagrántes.

 

Témporum pacem, fídei tenórem,

lánguidis curam veniámque lapsis,

ómnibus præsta páriter beátæ

múnera vitæ.

 

Æqua laus summum célebret Paréntem

teque, Salvátor, pie rex, per ævum;

Spíritus Sancti résonet per omnem

glória mundum. Amen.

 

O Christ, the life of the Saints: the way and hope of salvation, the giver of uprightness and author of peace, to you with voice and mind we sing a hymn.  Your power has been revealed: all that the holy can do, possess, desire in word, heart or deed, burning with the fire of love. Grant peace in our day, faith preserved, health to the sick, and pardon for the fallen and to all together the gifts of a blessed life. May equal praise honor the Father supreme, and you, O Savior, holy King, through the ages and may the glory of the Holy Spirit resound throughout the world. Amen.

 

 

Vespers: Alcuin 735-804

Lúminis fons, lux et orígo lucis,

tu pius nostris précibus favéto,

luxque, peccáti ténebris fugátis,

nos tua adórnet.

 

Ecce transáctus labor est diéi,

teque nos tuti sumus adnuénte;

en tibi grates ágimus libéntes

tempus in omne.

 

Solis abscéssus ténebras redúxit:

ille sol nobis rádiet corúscus

luce qui fulva fovet angelórum

ágmina sancta.

 

Quas dies culpas hodiérna texit,

Christus deléto pius atque mitis,

pectus et puro rútilet nitóre

témpore noctis.

 

Laus tibi Patri, decus atque Nato,

Flámini Sancto párilis potéstas,

cuncta qui sceptro régitis suprémo

omne per ævum. Amen.

 

O Fount of light, light itself and source of light, in your holiness favor our prayers: put to flight the darkness of sin and adorn us with your light. See the work of day is done and by your promise we are safe; we eagerly give thanks to you at all times. The sun’s departure returns the darkness; may that splendid divine Sun sheds its rays upon us with that golden light which the holy hosts of angels cherish. May Christ, holy and meek, blot out today’s hidden sins;  may the heart glow  with pure brightness during the night. Praise to you, O Father, and honor to the Son, the same power to the fiery Spirit, you who with the loftiest scepter rule all things for ever. Amen.