Bright Builder of the Heavenly Poles |
Bright Builder of the Heavenly Poles |
Creator alme siderum is based upon the 7th century hymn Conditor alme siderum. In order to fit models of classical Latin poetry, Pope Urban VIII revised a number of hymns in the Roman Breviary in 1632. The hymns for Advent, in particular, were extensively revised to fit classical meters. Only one line of the original hymn made it into the revised hymn below which was formerly used at Vespers during Advent. |
| CREATOR alme siderum, aeterna lux credentium, Iesu, Redemptor omnium, intende votis supplicum. |
BRIGHT builder of the heavenly poles, eternal light of faithful souls, Jesus, Redeemer of mankind, our humble prayers vouchsafe to mind: |
| Qui daemonis ne fraudibus periret orbis, impetu amoris actus, languidi, mundi medela factus es, |
Who, lest the fraud of hell's black king should all men to destruction bring, didst, by an act of generous love, the fainting world's physician prove. |
| Commune qui mundi nefas ut expiares, ad crucem e Virginis sacrario intacta prodis victima. |
Thou, that Thou mightst our ransom pay and wash the stains of sin away, didst from a Virgin's womb proceed and on the Cross a Victim bleed. |
| Cuius potestas gloriae, Nomenque cum primum sonat, et caelites et inferi tremente curvantur genu. |
Thy glorious power, Thy saving Name no sooner any voice can frame, but heaven and earth and hell agree to honor them with trembling knee. |
| Te, deprecamur ultimae magnum diei Iudicem, armis supernae gratiae defende nos ab hostibus. |
Thee, Christ, who at the latter day shalt be our Judge, we humbly pray such arms of heavenly grace to send as may Thy Church from foes defend. |
| Virtus, honor, laus, gloria Deo Patri cum Filio, Sancto simul Paraclito, in saeculorum saecula. |
Be glory given and honor done to God the Father and the Son and to the Holy Ghost on high, from age to age eternally. |
From the Roman Breviary. Tr. from the Primer (1685) and the Evening Office (1710).
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