Aeterne Rerum Conditor

Mosaic of St. Ambrose - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Aeterne Rerum Conditor is by the Bishop of Milan, St. Ambrose of Milan (340-397). It is one of just four Ambrosian chants that modern scholars ascribe with certainty to Ambrose. Of the hymns sung in the Church of Milan at that time, St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) writes in The Confessions: "How greatly did I weep in Your hymns and canticles, deeply moved by the voices of Your sweet-speaking Church! The voices flowed into mine ears, and the truth was poured forth into my heart, whence the agitation of my piety overflowed, and my tears ran over, and blessed was I therein.".  In 1632, in accordance with revisions made to the hymns of the Divine Office by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644) it was changed to Aeterne Rerum Conditor (1632). Both versions are shown below. It is sung at Sunday Lauds in the Roman Breviary.


Ambrosian Chant

AETERNE RERUM CONDITOR by St. Ambrose

1. Aeterne rerum conditor,
noctem diemque qui regis,
et temporum das tempora,
ut alleves fastidium;

2. Praeco diei iam sonat,
noctis profundae pervigil,
nocturna lux viantibus
a nocte noctem segregans. 

3. Hoc excitatus lucifer
solvit polum caligine,
hoc omnis erronum chorus
vias nocendi deserit.

4. Hoc nauta vires colligit
pontique mitescunt freta,
hoc ipsa petra ecclesiae
canente culpam diluit.

5. Surgamus ergo strenue!
Gallus iacentes excitat,
et somnolentos increpat,
Gallus negantes arguit.

6. Gallo canente spes redit,
aegris salus refunditur,
mucro latronis conditur,
lapsis fides revertitur.

7. Iesu, labantes respice,
et nos videndo corrige,
si respicis, lapsus cadunt,
fletuque culpa solvitur.

8. Tu lux refulge sensibus,
mentisque somnum discute,
te nostra vox primum sonet
et ore psallamus tibi.

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


AETERNE RERUM CONDITOR (1632 Version)

1. Aeterne rerum Conditor,
Noctem diemque qui regis,
Et temporum das temporã,
ut alleves fastidium.

2. Nocturna lux viantibus
A nocte noctem. segregans,
Praeco diei iam sonat,
Iubarque solis evocat.

3. Hoc excitatus lucifer
Solvit polum caligine:
Hoc omnis erronum cohors
Viam nocendi deserit.

4. Hoc nauta vires colligit,
Pontique mitescunt freta:
Hoc, ipsa petra Ecclesiae.
Canente, culpam diluit.

5. Surgamus ergo strenue:
Gallus iacentes excitat,
Et somnolentos increpat,
Gallus negantes arguit.

6. Gallo canente spes redit,
Aegris salus refunditur,
Mucro latronis conditur,
Lapsis fides revertitur. 

7. Iesu labantes respice,
Et nos videndo corrige:
Se respicis, labes cadunt,
Fletuque culpa solvitur.

8. Tu lux refulge sensibus,
Mentisque somnum discute:
Te nostra vox primum sonet,
Et vota solvamus tibi.

9. Deo Patri sit gloria,
Eiusque soli Filio,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito,
Nunc et per omne saeculum. Amen

Liturgical Guide: Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Painting by José de Ribera - Courtesy of Wikipedia

The hymns sung on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul speak to us of the fidelity of the Apostles to the teachings of Jesus Christ, and their unwavering dedication to "bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). As early as the 3rd century, there is evidence that a feast day honouring the martyrdom in Rome of both saints was already well established. The date is believed to be the anniversary of either their deaths or the translation of their relics. In his 2005 Homily on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Benedict XVI said: "The Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is at the same time a grateful memorial of the great witnesses of Jesus Christ and a solemn confession for the Church: one, holy, catholic and apostolic. It is first and foremost a feast of catholicity. ...Catholicity does not only express a horizontal dimension, the gathering of many people in unity, but also a vertical dimension: it is only by raising our eyes to God, by opening ourselves to him, that we can truly become one."


Reflection by the Apostleship of Prayer

LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)
106. This I Ask (John 15)
147. What Fairer Light
168. The Eternal Gifts of Christ the King

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
What Fairer Light

ROMAN BREVIARY (1962)
Decora Lux
Beate Pastor

Liturgical Guide: Nativity of St. John the Baptist

Painting by Rogier van der Weyden - Courtesy of Wikipedia

The hymns used in the Liturgy of the Hours for the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist speak of his role in Salvation History as the precursor of the Lord. It is one of the oldest feast days of the Church, already well established by the 6th century. Paragraph #523 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church says this about John the Baptist: "John surpasses all the prophets, of whom he is the last. He inaugurates the Gospel, already from his mother's womb he welcomes the coming of Christ, and rejoices in being 'the friend of the bridegroom', whom he points out as 'the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world'".


Reflection by the Apostleship of Prayer

LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)
57. Be Consoled, My People
146. The Great Forerunner of the Morn

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
God Called Great Prophets