June 19, 2014

Primo Dierum Omnium / Primo Die, Quo Trinitas

St. Gregory the Great - Image by Wikipedia

Primo Dierum Omnium is attributed to Pope St. Gregory I (540-604). In 1632, in accordance with revisions made to the hymns of the Divine Office by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644) it was changed to Primo Die, Quo Trinitas. Both versions are shown below. It is sung on Sundays at Matins in the Roman Breviary.

PRIMO DIERUM OMNIUM

1. Primo dierum omnium,
quo mundus exstat conditus
vel quo resurgens conditor
nos, morte victa, liberat.

2. Pulsis procul torporibus,
surgamus omnes ocius,
et nocte quaeramus pium,
sicut Prophetam novimus.

3. Nostras preces ut audiat
suamque dexteram porrigat,
et hic piatos sordibus
 reddat polorum sedibus,

4. Ut quique sacratissimo
huius diei tempore
horis quietis psallimus,
donis beatis muneret.

5. Iam nunc, Paterna claritas,
te postulamus affatim:
absit libido sordidans,
omnisque actus noxius.

6. Ne foeda sit, vel lubrica
compago nostri corporis,
per quam averni ignibus
ipsi crememur acrius. 

7. Ob hoc, Redemptor, quaesumus,
ut probra nostra diluas:
vitae perennis commoda
nobis benignus conferas.

8. Quo carnis actu exsules
effecti ipsi caelibes,
ut praestolamur cernui,
melos canamus gloriae.

9. Praesta, Pater, piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
cum Spiritu Paraclito
regnans per omne saeculum.


PRIMO DIE, QUO TRINITAS

1. Primo die, quo Trinitas
beata mundum condidit,
vel quo resurgens Conditor
nos, morte victa, liberat:

2. Pulsis procul torporibus,
surgamus omnes ocius,
et nocte quaeramus Deum,
propheta sicut praecipit:

3. Nostras preces ut audiat,
suamque dexteram porrigat,
et expiatos sordibus
reddat polorum sedibus:

4. Ut quique sacratissimo
huius diei tempore
horis quietis psallimus,
donis beatis muneret.

5. Iam nunc, Paterna claritas,
te postulamus affatim:
absint faces libidinous,
et omnis actus noxius.

6. Ne foeda sit, vel lubrica
compago nostri corporis,
ob cuius ignes ignibus
avernus urat acrius.

7. Mundi Redemptor, quaesumus,
Tu probra nostra diluas:
nobisque largus commoda
vitae perennis conferas.

8. Praesta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
cum Spiritu Paraclito
regnans per omne saeculum.

2 comments:

  1. The older version, attributed to St Gregory by some, is sung in the Liturgia Horarum at Sunday OL in nocte vel summo mane, in diminished form i.e. through Ut quique sacratissimo... inclusive, with the doxologia Deo Patri sit gloria.

    When the promised new edition that I seem to have read about happens, I hope it includes the complete versions of the ancient hymns saltem in appendice.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes, thanks Marc. I'll add that. - It will be interesting to see what the new edition is like.

    ReplyDelete

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