Contents Iam, Christe, sol iustitiae
Now Christ, Thou Sun of Righteousness		 Quadragesimae


From the 10th century, though some feel it is Ambrosian from the 6th century. This hymn is traditionally used for the ferial offices for Lauds during the weeks of Lent before Holy Week. The revsion of 1632 altered the hymn extensively with the title of the hymn becoming O Sol salutis, initimis.

IAM, Christe, sol iustitiae,
mentis dehiscant tenebrae,
virtutum ut lux redeat,
terris diem cum reparas. 		NOW Christ, Thou Sun of righteousness,
let dawn our darkened spirits bless:
the light of grace to us restore
while day to earth returns once more.
Dans tempus acceptabile
et paenitens cor tribue,
convertat ut benignitas
quos longa suffert pietas. 		Thou who dost give the accepted time,
give, too, a heart that mourns for crime,
let those by mercy now be cured
whom loving - kindness long endured.
Quiddamque paenitentiae
da ferre, quo fit demptio,
maiore tuo munere,
culparum quamvis grandium. 		Spare not, we pray, to send us here
some penance kindly but severe,
so let Thy gift of pardoning grace
our grievous sinfulness efface.
Dies venit, dies tua,
per quam reflorent omnia;
laetemur in hac ut tuae
per hanc reducti gratiae. 		Soon will that day, Thy day, appear
and all things with its brightness cheer:
we will rejoice in it, as we
return thereby to grace, and Thee.
Te rerum universitas,
clemens, adoret, Trinitas,
et nos novi per veniam
novum canamus canticum.
Amen. 		Let all the world from shore to shore
Thee, gracious Trinity, adore;
right soon Thy loving pardon grant,
that we our new-made song may chant. Amen.
From the Liturgia Horarum. Translation from the Primer of 1706 and ascribed to John Dryden (1631 - 1701).

Changes made by Pope Urban VIII in 1632 to the Roman Breviary:
O Sol salutis, initimis:
1 O Sol salutis, initimis/ Iesu, refulge mentibus,/ dum nocte pulsa, gratior/ orbi dies renascitur.
2 Dans tempus acceptabile,/ da lacrimarum rivulis/ lavare cordis victimam,/ quam laeta adurat caritas.
3 Quo fonte manavit nefas,/ fluent perennes lacrimae,/ si virga paenitentiae/ cordis rigorem conterat.
4 Dies venit, dies tua,/ in qua reflorent omnia:/ laetemur et nos in viam/ tua reducti dextera.
5 Te prona mundi machina,/ clemens, adoret, Trinitas,/ et nos novi per gratiam/ novum canamus canticum.


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