Benignitatis Fons Deus

 

Benignitatis Fons Deus

Posted on September 2, 2018 by Noah

This hymn was used for Vespers & Lauds for the three day fast leading up to Epiphany in the Mozarabic Breviary. It was also used in that Breviary for Lauds on Ash Wednesday, Vespers and Lauds on the fast from Wednesday through Saturday leading up to Pentecost (only Lauds on Saturday) and Vespers and Lauds on the fasts before the Feast of St. Cyprian (Sept. 14) and St. Martin (Nov. 11) (only Lauds on Saturday). It is also listed for Terce during Lent in the section on the Minor Offices in the Mozarabic Breviary.

Benignitatis fons Deus,
Qui non habens finem boni
Super malum scelestium,
Semper pius, semper bonus.

Mœstum satis cor cædimus,
Et triste pectus tundimus,
Aquas pupillæ fundimus,
Mœstas genas inducimus.

Egisse multum pœnitet
Horrens, tetrum, vel pessimum;
Turpissimum, ac sordidum
Fatemur omne noxium.

Elata vox te postulat,
Tu parce, dicit, Conditor,
Iam parce clamat obsecrans,
Ignosce quod commisimus.

Non ira mœstos sorbeat,
Non pœna fessos conterat:
Solare contritos cito,
Et gaudium nobis dato.

Præsta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito,
Regnans per omne sæculum. Amen.