Ecce Iam Noctis

Lo! The Dim Shadows of the Night are Waning

Ecce Iam Noctis is attributed to St. Gregory the Great (540-604), although some scholars suggest that the Carolingian court poet and theologian, Alcuin of York (735-804) may instead be the writer. It is the Lauds counterpoint to the Sunday Matins hymn: Noc­te Sur­gen­es Vi­gil­e­mus Om­nes. Both hymns are written in sapphic verse and both appear to share the same authorship.  In 1632, in accordance with revisions made to the hymns of the Divine Office by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644) it was altered and changed to Ecce Iam Noctis (1632). Both versions are shown below. It is sung at Sunday Lauds in the Roman Breviary.



ECCE IAM NOCTIS by St. Gregory the Great
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1. Ecce iam noctis tenuatur umbra
lucis aurora rutilans coruscat;
nisibus totis rogitemus omnes
cunctipotentem,

2. Ut Deus, nostri miseratus, omnem
pellat angorem, tribuat salutem,
donet et nobis pietate patris
regna polorum

3. Praestet hoc nobis Deitas beata
Patris ac Nati, pariterque Sancti
Spiritus,cuius resonat per omnem
gloria mundum. Amen.


ECCE IAM NOCTIS (1632)

1. Ecce iam noctis tenuatur umbra
lux et aurorae rutilans coruscat:
supplices rerum Dominum canora
voce precemur.

2. Ut reos culpae miseratus omnem
pellat angorem, tribuat salutem,
donet et nobis sempiternae
munera pacis.

3. Praestet hoc nobis Deitas beata
Patris ac Nati, pariterque Sancti
Spiritus, cuius resonat per omnem
gloria mundum. Amen.