Another old and venerable hymn for the close of day at Compline. This hymn has 8th century origins and is sometimes attributed to the Venerable Bede.
|
CHRISTE, qui,
splendor et dies,
noctis tenebras detegis,
lucisque lumen crederis,
lumen beatis praedicans, |
CHRIST, thou who art the light and day,
who chasest nightly shades away,
thyself the Light of Light confessed,
and promiser of radiance blest: |
Precamur, sancte Domine,
hac nocte nos custodias;
sit nobis in te requies,
quietas horas tribue. |
O holy Lord, we pray to thee,
throughout the night our guardian be;
in thee vouchsafe us to repose,
all peaceful till the night shall close. |
Somno si dantur oculi,
cor semper ad te vigilet;
tuaque dextra protegas
fideles, qui te diligunt. |
O let our eyes due slumber take,
our hearts to thee forever wake:
and let thy right hand from above
shield us who turn to thee in love. |
Defensor noster, aspice,
insidiantes reprime,
guberna tuos famulos,
quos sanguine mercatus es. |
O strong defender, hear our prayers,
repel our foes and break their snares,
and govern thou thy servants here,
those ransomed with thy life-blood dear. |
Sit, Christe, rex piissime,
tibi Patrique gloria,
cum Spiritu Paraclito,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen. |
Almighty Father, this accord
through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord,
Who with the Holy Ghost and thee
doth reign through all eternity. Amen. |
From the Liturgia Horarum, translation by R. F. Littledale (1833-1890)
|
|