Contents Somno refectis artubus
Our Limbs Refreshed with Slumber Now
TempusPerAnnum


Attributed to St. Ambrose (340-397). In the current Liturgia Horarum, this hymn is used for the Office of the Readings for Monday of the first and third weeks of the Psalter during Ordinary Time. Likewise it is used in the Roman Breviary for Monday Matins during the same period.

SOMNO refectis artubus,
spreto cubili, surgimus:
nobis, Pater, canentibus
adesse te deposcimus.
OUR limbs refreshed with slumber now,
and sloth cast off, in prayer we bow;
and while we sing Thy praises dear,
O Father, be Thou present here.
Te lingua primum concinat,
te mentis ardor ambiat,
ut actuum sequentium
tu, Sancte, sis exordium.
To Thee our earliest morning song,
to Thee our hearts' full powers belong;
and Thou, O Holy One, prevent
each following action and intent.
Cedant tenebrae lumini
et nox diurno sideri,
ut culpa, quam nox intulit,
lucis labascat munere.
As shades at morning flee away,
and night before the star of day;
so each transgression of the night
be purged by Thee, celestial Light!
Precamur iidem supplices
noxas ut omnes amputes,
et ore te canentium
lauderis in perpetuum. 1
Cut off, we pray Thee, each offense,
and every lust of thought and sense;
that by their lips who Thee adore
Thou mayest be praised forevermore.
Praesta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
cum Spiritu Paraclito
regnans per omne saeculum. Amen.
Grant this, O Father ever One
with Christ, Thy sole-begotten Son,
and Holy Ghost, whom all adore,
reigning and blest forevermore. Amen.

From the Liturgia Horarum. Translation by J. M. Neale (1818-1866).

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

1 lauderis in omni tempore


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