Contents Plasmator hominis, Deus
Maker of Man
TempusPerAnnum


Attributed to Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604). This hymn continues with the theme of Creation present in the Vespers Hymns during the week. Here the work of the sixth day of creation (Friday) chronicles the animals and man (Gen 1, 25, 27). This hymn is traditionally sung at Friday Vespers and is used in the Liturgia Horarum at Vespers for Fridays of the first and third weeks of the Psalter during Ordinary Time. Likewise the hymn is also found in the Roman Breviary for Friday Vespers, but under the title of Hominis superne Conditor.

PLASMATOR hominis, Deus,1
qui cuncta solus ordinans,
humum iubes producere
reptantis et ferae genus:
MAKER of man, who from Thy throne
dost order all things, God alone;
by whose decree the teeming earth
to reptile and to beast gave birth:
Qui magna rerum corpora,
dictu iubentis vivida,
ut serviant per ordinem
subdens dedisti homini:2
The mighty forms that fill the land,
instinct with life at Thy command,
are given subdued to humankind
for service in their rank assigned.
Repelle a servis tuis,
quicquid per immunditiam,3
aut moribus se suggerit,
aut actibus se interserit.
From all Thy servants drive away
whate'er of thought impure to-day
hath been with open action blent,
or mingled with the heart's intent.
Da gaudiorum praemia,
da gratiarum munera:
dissolve litis vincula,
astringe pacis foedera.
In heaven Thine endless joys bestow,
and grant Thy gifts of grace below;
from chains of strife our souls release,
bind fast the gentle bands of peace.
Praesta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
cum Spiritu Paraclito
regnans per omne saeculum.
Grant this, O Father, ever One
with Christ, Thy sole-begotten Son,
Whom, with the Spirit we adore,
one God, both now and evermore.

From the Liturgia Horarum. Translation by John David Chambers (1805-1893).

Changes made by Pope Urban VIII in 1632 to the Roman Breviary:

1 Hominis superne Conditor.
2 Et magna rerum corpora,/ dictu iubentis vivida,/ per temporum certas vices/ obtemperare servulis:
3 Repelle, quod cupidinis/ ciente vi nos impetit.


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