Tuesday Lauds Even Week revisited

Back in June when I translated this one, I said I'd like to know who wrote it. Now I know where to look. The translation is a bit improved now.

We attend to the works of virtue

Ætérne lucis cónditor,
Eternal creator of light
lux ipse totus et dies,
Light itself wholly and the complete day
noctem nec ullam séntiens
nor dost Thou feel any darkness
natúra lucis pérpeti,
given the nature of light eternal

2. Iam cedit pallens próximo
So the night cedes to the nearing pale dawn
diéi nox advéntui,
of the coming day
obtúndens lumen siderum
dimming the light of the stars
adest et clarus lúcifer.
as the gleaming morning star draws near.

3. Iam stratis læti súrgimus
So from our beds rejoicing we arise
grates canéntes et tuas,
and singing Thy glad thanks
quod cæcam noctem vicerit
for the sun has conquered the blind night
revéctans rursus sol diem.
and carried back the day once again.

4. Te nunc, ne carnis gáudia
Now we beg Thee, let no fleshly pleasures
blandis subrépant áestibus,
with alluring passions sneak up on us
dolis ne cedat sáeculi
let our mind not yield to the tricks of the age
mens nostra, sancta quáesumus.
we ask Thee, O Holy One.

5. Ira ne rixas próvocet,
Let anger not provoke violence
gulam ne venter íncitet,
nor the belly incite gluttonous appetite
opum pervértat ne famis,
let neither influence of hunger pervert
turpis ne luxus óccupet,
nor base luxury capture [our minds].

6. Sed firma mente sóbrii,
Rather with constant, sober hearts,
casto manéntes córpore
remaining chaste in body
totum fidéli spíritú
completely faithful in spirit
Christo ducámus hunc diem.
let us regard this day with Christ

7. Præsta, Pater piísime,
Patríque compare Unice,
cum Spíritu Paráclito
regnans per omne sáeculum. Amen.

The author of this 5th or 6th century hymn is unknown. It is recorded in the Rule of St. Aurelio.

Tuesday Office of Readings Odd Week diurno

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We sing to Thee, O Trinity, in adoration

O sacrosáncta Trínitas,
O most holy Trinity,
quæ cuncta condens órdinas,
Thou dost set in order all things Thou hast made
diem labóri députans
assigning labor to the day
noctem quiéti dédicas,
Thou dost dedicate the night for rest,

2. Te mane, simul véspere,
To Thee in the morning, also at evening,
te nocte ac die cánimus;
To Thee night and day do we sing;
in tua nos tu glória
do Thou in Thy glory
per cuncta serva témpora.
preserve us through all times/hours.

3. Nos ádsumus te cérnui
Here we are bowing before Thee
en adorántes fámuli;
behold Thy servants paying homage;
vota precésque súpplicum
offerings and prayers of suppliants
hymnis adiúnge caélitum.
add Thou to the hymns of the saints.

4. Præsta, Pater piísime,
Patríque compare Unice,
cum Spíritu Paráclito
regnans per onme saéculum. Amen.

Verse 1-2 are from an unknown 11th century author. Verse 3 is from an unknown 10th century author. Verse three was added to this extremely short hymn (2 verses). The third verse was taken from the hymn Adesto, sancta Trinitas, which is sung during the Easter season
(after the octave, ad libitum) at the Office of Readings.

Tuesday Office of Readings Even Week diurno

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Always awaiting Thee with lamps burning

Ad preces nostras deitátis aures,
To our prayers, the divine ears,
Deus, inclína pietáte sola;
O God, incline who alone art holy;
súpplicum vota súscipe, precámur
receive our prayer, offered on bended knee, we beg
fámuli tui.
from thy servants.

Réspice clemens sólio de sancto
Merciful One, gaze from Thy holy throne
vultu seréno, lámpadas illústra
with tranquil face, light up our lamps
ólei nostri, ténebras depélle
filled with our oil, drive away all the darkness
péctore cunctas.
from our hearts.

Crímina laxa pietáte multa,
Forgive our crimes by Thy great love,
áblue sordes, víncula disrúmpe,
wash away the filth, burst our chains,
parce peccátis, réleva iacéntes
spare us our sins, reveal those who lie in ruins
déxtera tua.
bring them to Thy right hand/side.

Glória sit ætérno Patri,
Glory be to the eternal Father,
sit tibi semper, Genitóris Nate,
and always to Thee, O Son of the Father,
cum quo per cuncta Spíritus æquális
who reigns with the equally divine Spirit
sæcula regnat. Amen.
through all ages.

The author of this c. 10th century hymn is unknown. This hymn was very widespread in the middle ages, especially used for Lent, preserved also from the Breviary of Pius V. These are verses 1, 2, 3 and 9 of a longer hymn. Verses 5, 6 and 8 appear in tomorrow's diurno hymn.

Tuesday Office of Readings Even Week noctu

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Nocte surgéntes vigilémus omnes,
Rising by night, let us all keep watch
semper in psalmis meditémur atque
and ever devote our minds to psalmody
víribus totis Dómino canámus Update: Thanks Figulus!
and with all our strength let us sing to the Lord
dúlciter hymnos,
sweet hymns,

Now from the slumbers of the night arising,
chant we the holy psalmody of David,
hymns to our Master, with a voice concordant,
sweetly intoning.

Ut, pio regi páriter canéntes,
That singing to the loving King,
cum suis sanctis mereámur aulam
together with His Saints, we may merit
íngredi cæli, simul et beátam
to enter the royal court of heaven, and with them (at the same time)
dúcere vitam.
to lead a blessed life

So may our Monarch pitifully hear us,
that we may merit with His Saints to enter
mansions eternal, there withal possessing
joy beatific.

Præstet hoc nobis Déitas beáta
May He grant us this, the blessed Deity
Patris ac Nati, paritérque Sancti
of the Father, Son and likewise of the Holy
Spíritus, cuius résonat per omnem
Spirit, whose glory resounds throughout
glória mundum. Amen.
the whole world.

This be our portion, God forever blessed,
Father eternal, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Whose is the glory, which through all creation
ever resoundeth. Amen.

Lentini's title: Let us keep vigil (now) in song to sing then in heaven

I pretty much just copied Britt's translation today(hymn number 7 in his book). I guess going to the beach with the kids made me feel all lazy and relaxed.

Not much to say about this Sapphic-and-Adonic-metered hymn. Britt says it's by Gregory the Great, while Lentini says "Author unknown, Carolingian Age, 8th-9th century." (I lean toward Lentini.) Britt says that Nocte Surgentes (today's hymn) is the "companion hymn" to Ecce iam noctis, the hymn for morning prayer on Even Sundays. My post for that hymn has more about the "Sapphic and Adonic" meter as well, so check it out if you missed that one.

Tuesday Office of Readings Odd Week noctu

Consors paterni luminis,
O Sharer in the Father's light
lux ipse lucis et dies,
Thyself Light of lights and the Day
noctem canendo rumpimus:
we interrupt the night with singing
assiste postulantibus.
attend to our praying.

O Light of light, O Dayspring bright,
coequal in Thy Father's light:
assist us, as with prayer and psalm
Thy servants break the nightly calm.

Aufer tenebras mentium,
Take away the darkness of our minds
fuga catervas daemonum,
drive away the swarm of evil spirits
expelle somnolentiam
expel our drowsiness
ne pigritantes obruat.
lest it bring ruin to us who hesitate continually.

All darkness from our minds dispel,
and turn to flight the hosts of Hell:
bid sleepfulness our eyelids fly,
lest overwhelmed in sloth we lie.

Sic, Christe, nobis omnibus
Thus, O Christ, to us all
indulgeas credentibus,
be lenient to your faithful
ut prosit exorantibus
that (it) may profit us who are pleading
quod praecinentes psallimus.
what we chant before Thee in song.

Jesu, Thy pardon, kind and free,
bestow on us who trust in Thee:
and us Thy praises we declare,
O with acceptance hear our prayer.

Sit, Christe, rex piissime,
tibi Patrique gloria
cum Spiritu Paraclito
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

O Father, that we ask be done,
through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son,
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
doth live and reign eternally.

Attributed to St. Ambrose 340-397. Translation by Joseph William Chadwick (1841-1882) and John David Chambers (1805-1893). Historically the concluding doxology "Praesta, Pater piissime" was used with this hymn and hence the above metrical translation's mis-match with the Latin.

Britt was a ton of help today. This hymn was in fact the Matins hymn for Tuesdays, so if you go to that link, just find hymn number 13 or look in the index for "Tuesday at Matins."

Pigritantes comes from pigror, pigrari, pigratus sum (hesitate, hang back), but it has been intensified by the addition of "-it" after the root. The "-it" apparently can also signify iteration, hence I have opted for "the continually hesitating." Britt just says "slothful." I guess that is a good definition of sloth: you just keep hesitating until inaction forces you into laziness, even if you started out determined not to be lazy. I guess the "hang back" meaning could also result in a translation something like "the continual non-starters."

I have experienced this often when trying to pray while sleepy. The prayer just pauses, and then pauses again, and then again for longer, and pretty soon I am not praying anymore. Which is fine if I'm trying to pray myself to sleep like I did last night, but terrible when I am trying to get up early to pray.

Tuesday Vespers Even Week

Thanks to Quantitative Metathesis, who mentioned this blog in a post last night. She has also started a new project: translating the patristic reading from the Office of Readings in the Latin breviary. Just a lil' project to "keep her out of trouble." Awesome cool stuff. She debuts with Clement to the Corinthians.

Sator princépsque témporum,
Sower and master of times,
clarum diem labóribus
the bright day with labors
noctémque qui sopóribus
and the night which with sleep
fixo distínguis órdine,
you separate in fixed order,

Mentem tu castam dírige,
Direct Thou the chaste mind
obscúra ne siléntia
conceal not silences (by silence?)
ad dira cordis vúlnera
toward dreadful wounds of the heart
telis patéscant ínvidi.
that they may reveal the hateful spears.

Vacent ardóre péctora,
May our souls be free from passions,
faces nec ullas pérferant,
may they not bear any torch
quæ nostro hæréntes sénsui
which, clinging to our senses
mentis vigórem sáucient.
would wound the life of the mind.

Præsta, Pater piísime,
Patríque compare Unice,
cum Spíritu Paráclito
regnans per omne saéculum. Amen.

Short and sweet today. I love the imagery of hateful darts, wounds in the soul, torches and the like. It's not that I love the darts and torches: my own cor et pectus et mens have suffered these (too-oft self-inflicted) attacks. I just love seeing my everyday experience reflected in a medieval hymn.

I long to really enter into the meaning of obscúra ne siléntia. I'm not understanding it in the context of that stanza right now, and I suspect some hidden, wonderful truth in the meaning of this prayer. Can anyone help?

Tuesday Vespers Odd Week

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Tellúris ingens Cónditor,
Uncreated creator of the world,
mundi solum qui éruens,
who digging up the surface of the earth,
pulsis aquae moléstiis,
and driving off the troubled waters
terram dedísti immóbilem,
didst firmly establish the land,

Earth's mighty Maker, whose command
raised from the sea the solid land;
and drove each bill'wy heap away,
and bade the earth stand firm for aye:

Ut germen aptum próferens,
That it might bring froth appropriate produce,
fulvis decóra flóribus,
be adorned with golden flowers,
fecúnda fructu sísteret
become prolific in fruits,
pastúmque gratum rédderet:
and yield agreeable sustenance.

That so, with flowers of golden hue,
the seeds of each it might renew;
and fruit-trees bearing fruit might yield,
and pleasant pasture of the field:

Mentis perústae vúlnera
The wounds of the sin-parched soul
munda viróre grátiae,
cleanse by the freshness of Thy grace,
ut facta fletu díluat,
that it may wash way with tears its evil deeds,
motúsque pravos átterat,
and suppress sinful emotions.

Our spirit's rankling wounds efface
with dewy freshness of Thy grace:
that grief may cleanse each deed of ill,
and o'er each lust may triumph still.

Iussis tuis obtémperet,
May it obey Thy commands;
nullis malis appróximet,
may it draw nigh nothing sinful;
bonis repléri gáudeat,
that it may rejoice to be filled with good,
et mortis actum nésciat.
and know not the act of death.

Let every soul Thy law obey,
and keep from every evil way;
rejoice each promised good to win,
and flee from every mortal sin.

Præsta, Pater piíssime,
Patríque compar Unice,
cum Spíritu Paráclito
regnans per omne saéculum.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!

This hymn tells of the third day of Creation from the first chapter of Genesis.

Tuesday Lauds Even Week

I know that today is the feast of the Birth of John the Baptist (and you can get some really good info about the Vespers hymns from chantblog. It is the Ut-re-mi hymn. Cool stuff!), but I am on a roll analyzing Lauds hymns for Ordinary Time. If God wills, I will get around to saint's days hymns someday.

Ætérne lucis cónditor,
Eternal creator of light
lux ipse totus et dies,
Light itself wholly and the day
noctem nec ullam séntiens
nor feeling any night
natúra lucis pérpeti,
the nature of light eternal

2. Iam cedit pallens próximo
So the night cedes to the nearing pale dawn
diéi nox advéntui,
of the coming day
obtúndens lumen siderum
striking the light of the stars
adest et clarus lúcifer.
as the gleaming morning star draws near.

3. Iam stratis læti súrgimus
So from our beds rejoicing we arise
grates canéntes et tuas,
and singing your glad thanks
quod cæcam noctem vicerit
for the sun has conquered the dark night
revéctans rursus sol diem.
and carried back the day once again.

4. Te nunc, ne carnis gáudia
You now, no joys in the flesh
blandis subrépant áestibus,
which flattering would sneak up on the passions
dolis ne cedat sáeculi
by the tricks of the age, do not allow
mens nostra, sancta quáesumus.
our minds [to fall?], we ask holy

5. Ira ne rixas próvocet,
Let not violent anger provoke
gulam ne venter íncitet,
nor the belly incite appetite
opum pervértat ne famis,
let not powerful opinion pervert
turpis ne luxus óccupet,
nor base luxury capture

6. Sed firma mente sóbrii,
Rather strengthen the heart with sobriety
casto manéntes córpore
chaste remaining in body
totum fidéli spíritú
completely faithful in spirit
Christo ducámus hunc diem.
let us regard this day with Christ

7. Præsta, Pater piísime,
Patríque compare Unice,
cum Spíritu Paráclito
regnans per omne sáeculum. Amen.

If I have time later, I will try to find out who wrote this very vivid and lengthly morning hymn. I like this one.

Tuesday Lauds Odd Week

This morning's hymn contains the noun spicula, which as far as I can figure out is an arrow, javelin, or the sharp point of some weapon. Update: In looking at the next day's hymn, I have discovered that spicula refers to a ray of the the sun. I believe that pergrata(very agreeable or pleasant) could be describing spicula or perhaps aurora, so that the opening line could rendered as "The early morning (aurora) heavens report the pleasant ray of the sun" or perhaps "The heavens' pleasant dawn announces the sun's ray." (I am acutely aware that the first verse makes no sense whatsoever(it's better now). I'm trying really hard to make sense of it, but...all I can do at this point is give the raw vocab. Hopefully I am catching the right flavor of the text, but I could be way off.)

Pergráta mundo núntiat
The pleasant heavens report
auróra solis spícula,
the dawn sun's ray
res et colóre véstiens
clothing everything with color
iam cuncta dat nitéscere.
so the thing gives as it begins to shine
(res refers to either spicula or solis?)

2. Qui sol per ævum praénites,
who the sun through time shining before
o Christe, nobis vívidus,
O Christ, to us lively
ad te canéntes vértimur,
to you singing we are turned
te gestiéntes pérfrui.
you exulting to enjoy.

3. Tu Patris es sciéntia
You are knowledge of the Father
Verbúmque per quod ómnia
and the Word through whom all things
miro refúlgent órdine
shines with wonderful order
mentésque nostras áttrahunt.
and attract our minds.

4. Da lucis ut nos fílii
Give us the Son's light that
sic ambulémus ímpigri,
we may walk with eagerness
ut Patris usque grátiam
that the Father's grace (continually?)
mores et actus éxprimant.
habits and action they may express

5. Sincéra præsta ut prófluant
Pure, grant that they may emanate
ex ore nostro iúgiter,
from our mouth continually,
et veritátis dúlcibus
and delightful truths
ut excitémur gáudiis.
that we may awaken with joy.

6. Sit, Christe, rex piísime,
Christ, most loving King
tibi Patríque glória
to you and to the Father be glory
cum Spíritu Paráclito,
with the Spirit Paraclete
in sempitérna saécula. Amen.
unto endless ages.