Hymni

Hymns of Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. Hymn I. Eternal creator of things, who rule night and day, and give the times of the seasons, to relieve weariness, The herald of day now sounds, watchful through the deep night, a nocturnal light for travellers, separating night from night. Roused by this, Lucifer frees the sky from darkness; by this, the whole chorus of errors abandons the path of harming. By this, the sailor gathers his strength, and the seas' straits grow calm; by this, even the rock of the Church, when he sings, washes away guilt. Let us therefore rise vigorously; the cock rouses those lying down and rebukes the sleepy, the cock convicts the deniers. When the cock crows, hope returns, health is restored to the sick, the robber's sword is sheathed, faith returns to the lapsed. Jesus, look upon the faltering, and correct us by your gaze; if you look, the fallen rise, and guilt is dissolved by weeping. You, light, shine upon our senses, and dispel the sleep of the mind; let our voice first sound you, and let us fulfill our vows to you.

Hymn II. God, creator of all things, and ruler of the pole, clothing the day with comely light, the night with the grace of sleep. That rest may restore limbs loosened for the use of labor, and relieve weary minds, and resolve anxious griefs. Thanks for the day now completed, and prayers at the onset of night, we, guilty ones, pour forth a hymn, wishing you to help us. Let the depths of the heart resound with you, let chaste love cherish you, let the sober mind adore you. So that when the deep darkness of night has closed the day, faith may know no shadows, and the night may shine with faith. Do not allow the mind to sleep; let sin know how to sleep; let faith, the refreshing guardian, temper the vapor of sleep. Stripped of slippery sense, may the depths of the heart dream of you; nor may the deceit of the envious foe rouse the peaceful from their slumber. Let us beseech Christ and the Father, and the Spirit of Christ and the Father, one powerful through all things; cherish the suppliants, O Trinity. Hymn III. Now the third hour is rising, when Christ ascended the cross. Let the mind think nothing insolent; let it direct its affection to prayer.

Who receives Christ in the heart bears a blameless mind; and by diligent prayers, he attains the grace of the Holy Spirit. This is the hour that put an end to the dread lethargy of sin, washed away the kingdom of death, and removed guilt from the age. Hence blessed times began with the grace of Christ; truth filled the churches throughout the whole world with faith. From the lofty summit of triumph, he spoke to his mother: "Behold, mother, your son; behold, mother, your apostle." Teaching the secret of the high mystery, the covenants of the bride were spread forth, lest the sacred birth of the virgin harm the mother's modesty. To whom Jesus gave faith through heavenly miracles; the impious did not believe; he who believed will be saved. We believe in God born, and the birth of the sacred virgin, who took away the sins of the world, sitting at the right hand of the Father. HYMN IV. Come, redeemer of the nations, show the birth of the Virgin; let every age marvel: such a birth befits God. Not from a man's seed, but from a mystical breath, the Word of God became flesh, and the fruit blossomed from the womb.

The womb of the Virgin swells, the barrier of modesty remains, the banners of virtues gleam, God turns in the temple. Proceeding from his chamber, the royal court of modesty, the giant of double substance, so that he may swiftly run the course. His going forth from the Father, his return as far as the Father; his running forth as far as the underworld, his running back to the throne of God. Equal to the eternal Father, to gird himself with the trophy of the flesh, strengthening the weakness of our body with perpetual virtue. Your manger now shines, and the night breathes new light, which no night may interrupt, and which may shine with constant faith. HYMN V. The Most High illuminating the glittering globes of the stars, peace, life, light, truth, Jesus, favor those who pray. Whether by mystic baptism you once hallowed the waters of the Jordan flowing backward on the third day, with the day present. Or whether you marked the Virgin’s birth with a star shining in the sky; and on this day you led the Magi to the adored manger. Or the minister, knowing, drew from the full water jars what he himself had not filled.

The waters, seeing themselves colored, make the rivers drunk; the changed elements are amazed to pass into other uses. Thus, while you divide five loaves for five thousand men, under the teeth of the eaters the food grew in the mouth. The bread multiplied more by its own expenditure: who, seeing these things, will marvel at the perpetual flow of springs? Among the hands of those breaking it, the bread flows forth liquid: the fragments which those who had not broken it untouched creep up on the men. HYMN VI. I will pray to the Lord with my mind, I will pray at the same time with my spirit; lest my voice sing to God, and our sense, led elsewhere, wander fluctuating, forestalled by empty chances. HYMN VII. Splendor of the Father's glory, bringing forth light from light, illuminating the day with the beginnings of new light. And the true sun gliding in, gleaming with perpetual brightness, and the radiance of the Holy Spirit, pour into our senses. With prayers let us also call the Father, the Father of eternal glory, the Father of mighty grace; let him banish slippery guilt, let him shape vigorous actions, let him blunt the teeth of the envious, let him favor harsh circumstances, let him grant the grace of bearing.

Let the mind be governed and ruled, in a chaste and faithful body; let faith burn with heat, let it know no poisons of deceit. And let Christ be our food, and let faith be our heaven; let us gladly drink the sober intoxication of the Spirit. Let this day pass joyfully; let modesty be like the dawn, faith like noonday, and let the mind know no twilight. Let the course of the dawn proceed: in the Father the whole Son, and the whole Father in the Word. HYMN VIII. The eternal gifts of Christ and the victories of the martyrs, let us sing with joyful minds. The princes and leaders of the churches, the triumphant soldiers of the heavenly court, and the true lights of the world. With the terror of the age overcome, and the punishments of the body despised, by the compendium of sacred death they possess a blessed life. Martyrs are given over to fire and to the teeth of beasts; the armed hand of the insane torturer rages with claws. The entrails hang exposed, sacred blood is poured forth, but they remain immovable by the grace of eternal life. The devoted faith of the saints, the unconquered hope of believers, the perfect charity of Christ triumphs over the prince of the world.

In this is the Father's glory, in this the will of the Son, in this the Spirit rejoices; heaven is filled with joys. We ask you now, Redeemer, that you join us, your suppliant servants, to their company, for everlasting ages. Amen. HYMN IX. With limbs refreshed by sleep, having spurned the bed we rise; we, Father, singing, demand that you be present to us. Let the tongue first sing of you, let the ardor of the mind embrace you; so that you, O Holy One, may be the beginning of the ensuing actions. Let darkness yield to light, and night to the day's star; so that the guilt which night brought in may waver by the gift of light. We, the same suppliants, pray that you cut off all harms; lest those singing of you with their mouth praise you in perpetuity. Grant, most pious Father, and only one equal to the Father, with the Paraclete Spirit, reigning through every age. HYMN X. Consort of the Father's light, light itself of light, and day, we break the night by singing; be present to those who ask. Remove the darkness of minds, put to flight the hosts of demons; expel drowsiness, lest it overwhelm those who are sluggish.

So, Christ, grant to all of us who believe; that it may benefit those who pray, what we sing beforehand in psalmody. HYMN XI. O blessed light of the Trinity, and principal unity, now the fiery sun departs, pour light into our hearts. With a morning song of praise, we beseech you in the evening, may our suppliant glory praise you through all the ages. HYMN XII. The gate of Christ becomes passable, filled with abundant grace, and the King passes through, and remains, closed as it was, through the ages. A being of supernal light proceeded from the chamber of the virgin, the bridegroom, redeemer, creator, the giant of his Church. Honor of the mother and joy, immense hope of believers, through the dark cups of death, it dissolves our crimes.