Contents Creator alme siderum
Bright Builder of the Heavenly Poles
Hymni


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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