Contents Summae Deus clementiae
Great God of Boundless Mercy
Hymni


The author of this 7th century hymn is unknown. In the Roman Breviary this hymn is used at Saturday Matins during Ordinary Time. In the Liturgia Horarum the hymn is used on the first and third weeks of the Psalter for the Office of the Readings during Ordinary Time.

SUMMAE Deus clementiae
mundique factor machinae,
qui trinus almo numine
unusque firmas omnia,1
GREAT GOD of boundless mercy hear;
Thou Ruler of this earthly sphere;
in substance one, in Persons three,
dread Trinity in Unity!
Nostros piis cum canticis
fletus benigne suscipe,
quo corde puro sordibus
te perfruamur largius.2
Do Thou in love accept our lays
of mingled penitence and praise;
and set our hearts from error free,
more fully to rejoice in Thee.
Lumbos adure congruis
tu caritatis ignibus,
accincti ut adsint perpetim
tuisque prompti adventibus,3
Our reins and hearts in pity heal,
and with Thy chastening fire anneal;
gird Thou our loins, each passion quell,
and every harmful lust expel.
Ut, quique horas noctium
nunc concinendo rumpimus,
donis beatae patriae
ditemur omnes affatim.4
Now as our anthems, upward borne,
awake the silence of the morn,
enrich us with Thy gifts of grace,
from heaven, Thy blissful dwelling place!
Praesta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
cum Spiritu Paraclito
regnans per omne saeculum. Amen.
Hear Thou our prayer, Almighty King;
hear Thou our praises, while we sing,
adoring with the heavenly host
the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Latin from the Liturgia Horarum. English translation by John David Chambers (1805-1893).

Changes made by Pope Urban VIII in 1632 to the Roman Breviary:
1 Summae Parens clementiae,/ mundi regis qui machinam,/ unius et substantiae,/ trinus personis Deus:
2 Nostros pius cum canticis/ fletus benigne suscipe:/ ut corde puro sordium/ te perfruamur largius.
3 Lumbos iecurque morbidum/ flammis adure congruis,/ accincti ut artus excubent,/ luxu remoto pessimo.
4 Quicumque ut horas noctium/ nunc concinendo rumpimus,/ ditemur omnes affatim/ donis beatae patriae.


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