Before We End Our Day, O Lord / Te Lucis Ante Terminum

Give Us This Night, Untroubled Rest

Before We End Our Day, O Lord is a translation of the Latin hymn, Te Lucis Ante Terminum. Dating back to the 7th century, this Ambrosian hymn has long been associated with the hour of Compline in various forms of the Office including the Roman Breviary. This translation is set to the tune: St. Bernard, an arrangement by John Ri­chard­son (1816-1879) of a chorale from the Toch­ter Si­on of 1741. In the Divine Office, Before We End Our Day, O Lord is used for Evening Prayer.


Tune: St. Bernard (Ri­chard­son)

TE LUCIS ANTE TERMINUM

1. Te lucis ante terminum,
rerum Creator, poscimus
ut pro tua clementi a
sis praesul et custodia.

2. Procul recedant somnia
et noctium phantasmata;
hostemque nostrum comprime,
ne polluantur corpora.

3. Praesta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
cum Spiritu Paraclito

regnans per omne saeculum. Amen.


Ambrosian Chant