Ruler of the Dread Immense! / Aeterne Rector Siderum

Marcantonio Franceschini (1648-1729) - Wikipedia

PROPER OF SAINTS - Ruler of the Dread Immense! is a translation by the Catholic convert Fr. Edward Caswall (1814-1878) of Aeterne Rector Siderum by St. Robert Bellarmine, SJ (1542-1621). Bellarmine, one of leading Cardinals of the Counter-Reformation and was made a Doctor of the Church in 1931. Despite his extensive and pressing work in the theological and ecclesiastical matters of his day, he also found time to compose a number of poems in Italian and Latin. In the Roman Breviary  Aeterne Rector Siderum is sung at Lauds on the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels (October 2). Ruler of the Dread Immense! can be sung to Culbach, as featured in the following video.

 Tune: Culbach


RULER OF THE DREAD IMMENSE! by Edward Caswall

1. Ruler of the dread immense!
Maker of this mighty frame!
Whose eternal providence
Guides it, as from Thee it came:

 2. Low before Thy throne we bend;
Hear our supplicating cries;
And Thy light celestial send
With the freshly dawning skies.

3. King of kings, and Lord most High!
This of Thy dear love we pray:
May Thy Guardian Angel nigh,
Keep us from all sin this day.

4.May he crush the deadly wiles
Of the envious serpent's art,
Ever spreading cunning toils
Round about the thoughtless heart

5. May he scatter ruthless war
Ere to this our land it come;
Plague and famine drive away,
Fix securely peace at home.

 6. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
One eternal Trinity!
Guard by Thy Angelic host
Us who put our trust in Thee.


AETERNE RECTOR SIDERUM by Robert Bellarmine

1. Aeterne Rector siderum
Qui, quidquid est, potentia
Magna creasti, nec regis
Minore providentia

2. Adesto supplicantium
Tibi reorum cœtui,
Lucisque su crepusculum
Lucem novam da mentibus.

3. Tuusque nobis Angelus
Electus ad custodiam,
Hic adsit, a contagio
Ut criminum nos protegat.

4. Nobis draconis æmuli
Versutias exterminet;
Ne rete fraudulentiæ
Incauta nectat pectora.

5. Metum repellat hostium
Nostris procul de finibus,
Pacem procuret civium
Fugetque pestilentiam. 

6. Deo Patri sit gloria
Qui, quos redemit Filius
Et sanctus unxit Spiritus
Per Angelos custodiat.