O God of Truth and Lord of Power / Rector Potens Verax Deus

Whose Fiery Sun at Noonday Shines

O God of Truth and Lord of Power is an 1852 translation by the Anglican priest, scholar and hymn-writer John M. Neale of the Office hymn for Sext: Rec­tor Po­tens, Ver­ax De­us, attributed to St. Am­brose of Mi­lan (337-397). In the Divine Office (1974), O God of Truth and Lord of Power is used with the Office of Readings. The recommended tune in the Office is Severn View. An alternative tune that can also be used is Winchester New, as featured in the following video.


Tune: Winchester New

O GOD OF TRUTH, O LORD OF MIGHT by John Mason Neale, 1852 (Public Domain)

1. O God of truth, O Lord of might,
Who ord’rest time and change aright,
Bright’ning the morn with golden gleams,
Kindling the noonday’s fiery beams.

2. Quench Thou in us the flame of strife,
From passion’s heat preserve our life,
Our bodies keep from perils free,
And give our souls true peace in Thee.

3. Almighty Father, hear my cry
Through Jesus Christ our Lord most high,
Who with the Holy Ghost and Thee
Doth live and reign eternally.


Gregorian

RECTOR POTENS, VERAX DEUS

1. Rector potens, verax Deus,
qui temperas rerum vices,
splendore mane instruis
et ignibus meridiem,

2. Extingue flammas litium,
aufer calorem noxium,
confer salutem corporum
veramque pacem cordium.

3. Praesta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
cum Spiritu Paraclito
regnans per omne saeculum. Amen.
 
Ambrosian

Liturgical Guide: Mary, Mother of God

The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God is an ancient feast with it's origins in the Eastern Church. It was eventually expanded to the entire Catholic Church in 1570 by Pope Pius V. Beginning at paragraph #963, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says this of Mary - Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church: "The Virgin Mary is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and of the redeemer. She is clearly the mother of the members of Christ since she has by her charity joined in bringing about the birth of believers in the Church, who are members of its head. Mary's role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it. In a wholly singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope, and burning charity in the Savior's work of restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason she is a mother to us in the order of grace." 

LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)
73. Virgin-Born, We Bow Before You
79. Joy to You
80. O Mary, of All Women

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
42. Star of Sea and Ocean
43. Maiden Yet a Mother
44. Mary Crowned with Living Light
45. Hail Queen of Heaven the Ocean Star
46. God Who Made the Earth and Sky
47. Queen on WhoseStarry Brow DothRest


Reflection by Monsignor James P. Moroney of CatholicTV

COLLECT
O God, who through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary
bestowed on the human race
the grace of eternal salvation,
grant, we pray,
that we may experience the intercession of her,
through whom we were found worthy
to receive the author of life,
our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Hostis Herodes Impie / Crudelis Herodes, Deum

Ibant Magi, Quam Viderant

Hostis Herodes Impie is written by the 5th century Christian poet, Coelius Sedulius (d.450?). It is composed of verses 8, 9, 11, and 13 of a much longer poem: an abecedarius, in which each verse begins with a consecutive letter of the alphabet (Latin, in this case). The Paean Alphabeticus de Christo consisting of 23 quatrains of iambic dimeters recounts the life of Christ from birth to resurrection. In the Roman Breviary Hostis Herodes Impie is sung at Vespers on Epiphany. A later revision: Crudelis Herode, Deum (included below), differs only in the first two lines being changed. The first 7 verses of Sedulius' epic poem also comprise another hymn: A Solis Ortus Cardine, which is sung during Christmas season.


Hostis Herodes Impie performed by Grup de Cant gregorià de l'Ateneu de Sant Just Desvern

HOSTIS, HERODES IMPIE

1. Hostis, Herodes impie,
Christum venire quid times?
Non eripit mortalia,
qui regna dat caelestia.

2. Ibant Magi, quam viderant,
stellam sequentes praeviam:
Lumen requirunt lumine:
Deum fatentur munere.

3. Lavacra puri gurgitis
caelestis Agnus attigit:
peccata, quae non detulit,
nos abluendo sustulit.

4. Novum genus potentiae:
aquae rubescunt hydriae,
vinumque iussa fundere,
mutavit unda originem.

5. Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
qui apparuisti gentibus,
cum Patre, et almo Spiritu,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.
                  or
5. Gloria tibi, Domine,
qui apparuisti hodie,
cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.


CRUDELIS HERODES, DEUM

1. Crudelis Herodes, Deum,
regem venire quid times?
Non eripit mortalia,
qui regna dat cælestia.

2. Ibant Magi, quam viderant,
stellam sequentes praeviam:
Lumen requirunt lumine:
Deum fatentur munere.

3. Lavacra puri gurgitis
caelestis Agnus attigit:
peccata, quae non detulit,
nos abluendo sustulit.

4. Novum genus potentiae:
aquae rubescunt hydriae,
vinumque iussa fundere,
mutavit unda originem.

5. Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
qui apparuisti gentibus,
cum Patre, et almo Spiritu,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.