Contents Te lucis ante terminum
Before the End of Light
TempusPerAnnum


An old and venerable Ambrosian hymn from the 7th century for the close of day at Compline. This version is the one found in the Monastic Breviary and the Roman Breviary. The current version in the Liturgy of the Hours, which is given below, drops the second verse and replaces it with two other verses.

TE lucis ante terminum,
rerum Creator, poscimus
ut pro tua clementia
sis praesul et custodia.
TO Thee, before the close of day
Creator of the world, we pray
that with Thy wonted favor, Thou
wouldst be our Guard and Keeper now.
Procul recedant somnia
et noctium phantasmata;
hostemque nostrum comprime,
ne polluantur corpora.
From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
from nightly fears and fantasies:
tread under foot our ghostly foe,
that no pollution we may know.
Praesta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
cum Spiritu Paraclito
regnans per omne saeculum.
Amen.
O Father, that we ask be done
through Jesus Christ Thine only Son,
who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
shall live and reign eternally.
Amen.

From the Roman Breviary, translation by J. M. Neale (1818-1866).

The current version of this hymn in the Liturgia Horarum is:

Te lucis ante terminum,/ rerum creator, poscimus,/ ut solita clementia/ sis praesul ad custodiam.
Te corda nostra somnient,/ te per soporem sentiant,/ tuamque semper gloriam/ vicina luce concinant.
Vitam salubrem tribue,/ nostrum calorem refice,/ taetram noctis caliginem/ tua collustret claritas.
Praesta, Pater omnipotens,/ per Iesum Christum Dominum,/ qui tecum in perpetuum/ regnat cum Sancto Spiritu. Amen.


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