Hymn: Creator of the stars of night

Conditor alme siderum
   Creator of the stars of night,
aetérna lux credéntium
   Thy people's everlasting light,
Christe redémptor
   Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
ómnium exáudi preces súpplicum
   and hear Thy servants when they call.

Qui cóndolens intéritu
   Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
mortis perire saeculum
   should doom to death a universe,
salvásti mundum languidum
   hast found the medicine, full of grace,
donnas reis remedium.
   to save and heal a ruined race.

 

Vergénte mundi véspere
  Thou camest, the Bridegroom of the Bride,
uti sponsus de thálamo
  as drew the world to evening tide,
egréssus honestissima
  proceeding from a virgin shrine,
Virginis matris cláusula.
  the spotless Victim all divine.

Cuius forti ponténtiae
  At whose dread Name, majestic now,
genu curvántur ómnia
  all knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
caeléstia, terréstia
  and things celestial Thee shall own,
nutu faténtur súbdita.
  and things terrestrial Lord alone.

Te, Sancte fide quáesumus,
  O Thou whose coming is with dread,
venture iudex sáeculi,
  to judge and doom the quick and dead,
consérva nos in témpore
  preserve us, while we dwell below,
hostis a telo perfidi.
  from every insult of the foe.

Sit, Christe rex piissime
  To God the Father, God the Son,
tibi Patríque glória
  and God the Spirit, Three in One,
cum Spíritu Paráclito
  laud, honor, might, and glory be
in sempitérna sáecula.
  from age to age eternally.
Amen.

Text: Latin, trans. John Mason Neale; Music: Plainsong
Monestary