Contents Christe, qui, splendor et dies
Christ, Thou Who Art the Light and Day
TempusPerAnnum


Another old and venerable hymn for the close of day at Compline. This hymn has 8th century origins and is sometimes attributed to the Venerable Bede.

CHRISTE, qui,
splendor et dies,
noctis tenebras detegis,
lucisque lumen crederis,
lumen beatis praedicans,
CHRIST, thou who art the light and day,
who chasest nightly shades away,
thyself the Light of Light confessed,
and promiser of radiance blest:
Precamur, sancte Domine,
hac nocte nos custodias;
sit nobis in te requies,
quietas horas tribue.
O holy Lord, we pray to thee,
throughout the night our guardian be;
in thee vouchsafe us to repose,
all peaceful till the night shall close.
Somno si dantur oculi,
cor semper ad te vigilet;
tuaque dextra protegas
fideles, qui te diligunt.
O let our eyes due slumber take,
our hearts to thee forever wake:
and let thy right hand from above
shield us who turn to thee in love.
Defensor noster, aspice,
insidiantes reprime,
guberna tuos famulos,
quos sanguine mercatus es.
O strong defender, hear our prayers,
repel our foes and break their snares,
and govern thou thy servants here,
those ransomed with thy life-blood dear.
Sit, Christe, rex piissime,
tibi Patrique gloria,
cum Spiritu Paraclito,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.
Almighty Father, this accord
through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord,
Who with the Holy Ghost and thee
doth reign through all eternity. Amen.

From the Liturgia Horarum, translation by R. F. Littledale (1833-1890)


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