Lux Ecce Surgit Aurea / Sol Ecce Surgit Igneus

Behold! The Fiery Sun Rises

Lux Ecce Surgit Aurea is by the Roman poet, Aurelius Prudentius (348-c.413). It is drawn from his work Liber Cathemerinon, comprised of 12 poems that contemplate the canonical hours, and liturgical feast days and seasons.  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 Sol Ecce Surgit Igneus. Both versions are shown below. It is sung at Thursday Lauds in the Roman Breviary.

LUX ECCE SURGIT AUREA by Aurelius Prudentius

1. Lux ecce surgit aurea,
pallens facessat caecitas,
quae nosmet in praeceps diu
errore traxit devio.

2. Haec lux serenum conferat,
purosque nos praestet sibi:
nihil loquamur subdolum:
Volvamus obscurum nihil.

3. Sic tota decurrat dies,
ne lingua mendax, ne manus
oculive peccent lubrici,
Ne noxa corpus inquinet.

4. Speculator astat desuper,
Qui nos diebus omnibus,
actusque nostros prospicit
a luce prima in vesperum.

5. Deo Patri sit gloria,
eiusque soli Filio,
cum Spiritu Paraclito,
nunc et per omne saeculum.


SOL ECCE SURGIT IGNEUS (1632 Revision)
Listen

1. Sol ecce surgit igneus,
piget, pudescit, paenitet,
nec teste quisquam lumine
peccare constanter potest.

2. Tandem facessat caecitas,
quae nosmet in praeceps diu
lapsos sinistris gressibus
errore traxit devio.

3. Haec lux serenum conferat
purosque nos praestet sibi;
nihil loquamur subdolum,
volvamus obscurum nihil.

4. Sic tota decurrat dies,
ne lingua mendax, ne manus
oculive peccent lubrici,
ne noxa corpus inquinet.

5. Speculator astat desuper,
qui nos diebus omnibus
actusque nostros prospicit
a luce prima in vesperum.

6. Deo Patri sit gloria
eiusque soli Filio
cum Spiritu Paraclito,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.