| Contents | Splendor paternae gloriae O Splendor of God's Glory |
Hymni |
Written by St. Ambrose (340-397), this hymn is a companion hymn to his Aeternae rerum Conditor. Splendor paternae gloriae is a beautiful morning hymn asking for help and guidance throughout the day. It is directed to the Trinity, and especially to Christ as the light of the world. The hymn is traditionally sung at Monday Lauds and is used in the Liturgia Horarum at Lauds for Monday of the first and third weeks of the Psalter during Ordinary Time.
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| SPLENDOR paternae gloriae, de luce lucem proferens, lux lucis et fons luminis, diem dies illuminans. |
O splendor of God's glory bright, O Thou that bringest light from light, O Light of Light, light's Living Spring, O Day, all days illumining. |
| Verusque sol, illabere micans nitore perpeti, iubarque Sancti Spiritus infunde nostris sensibus. |
O Thou true Sun, on us Thy glance let fall in royal radiance, the Spirit's sanctifying beam upon our earthly senses stream. |
| Votis vocemus et Patrem, Patrem perennis gloriae, Patrem potentis gratiae,1 culpam releget lubricam. |
The Father too our prayers implore, Father of glory evermore, the Father of all grace and might, to banish sin from our delight: |
| Informet actus strenuos, dentem retundat invidi, casus secundet asperos, donet gerendi gratiam.2 |
To guide whate'er we nobly do, with love all envy to subdue, to make ill-fortune turn to fair, and give us grace our wrongs to bear. |
| Mentem gubernet et regat casto, fideli corpore;3 fides calore ferveat, fraudis venena nesciat. |
Our mind be in His keeping placed, our body true to Him and chaste, where only faith her fire shall feed to burn the tares of Satan's seed. |
| Christusque nobis sit cibus, potusque noster sit fides; laeti bibamus sobriam ebrietatem Spiritus.4 |
And Christ to us for food shall be, from Him our drink that welleth free, the Spirit's wine, that maketh whole, and mocking not, exalts the soul. |
| Laetus dies hic transeat; pudor sit ut diluculum, fides velut meridies, crepusculum mens nesciat. |
Rejoicing may this day go hence, like virgin dawn our innocence, like fiery noon our faith appear, nor know the gloom of twilight drear. |
| Aurora cursus provehit: Aurora totus prodeat,5 in Patre totus Filius et totus in Verbo Pater. Amen. |
Morn in her rosy car is borne: let Him come forth our Perfect Morn, the Word in God the Father One, the Father perfect in the Son. Amen. |
| From the Liturgia Horarum. Translation by Poet Laureate Robert Bridges (1844-1930), Yattendon Hymnal (1899). Changes made by Pope Urban VIII in 1632 to the Roman Breviary: 1 Patrem potentis gloriae/ Patrem perennis gratiae, 2 Confirmet actus strenuos,/dentes retundat invidi,/casus secundet asperos,/agenda recte dirigat. 3 sit pura nobis castitatis; 4 profusionem Spiritus. 5 Aurora lucem provehit,/ cum luce nobis prodeat. The Roman Breviary concludes with: Deo Patri sit gloria,/ eiusque soli Filio,/ cum Spiritu Paraclito,/ nunc et per omne saeculum. |
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