Deus creator omnium / O God, Who Made the Universe

Through the Year. Sundays 1 and 3. I Vespers. 

Deus, Creator omnium, polisque rector, vestiens diem decore lumine, noctem soporis gratia.   Artus solutos ut quies reddat laboris usui mentesque fessas allevet luctusque solvat anxios.  Grates peracto iam die et noctis exortu preces, voti reos ut adiuves, hymnum canentes solvimus. Te cordis ima concinant, te vox canora concrepet, te diligat castus amor, te mens adoret sobria.    Ut cum profunda clauserit diem caligo noctium, fides tenebras nesciat et nox fide reluceat. Dormire mentem ne sinas, dormire culpa noverit; castos fides refrigerans somni vaporem temperet. Exuta sensu lubrico te cordis alta somnient, ne hostis invidi dolo pavor quietos suscitet. Christum rogamus et Patrem  Christi Patrisque Spiritum; unum potens in omnia fove precantes, Trinitas. Amen..

O God, who made the universe, And Ruler of the sky, who dress The day with fair and gladsome light, The night with grace of restfulness; May rest our wearied limbs restore Once more to their activity; Relieve the weakness of our minds; From troub'ling sorrow set us free. With grateful prayers we sing a hymn As daylight ends and night begins; Thus we fulfill our vows to you, That you might take away our sins.   To you, may hearts in harmony, To you, their tuneful voices ring; In you may love find pure delight, Your praise the sober spirit sing.    That, when the deepest, darkest night Has closed around and covered day, May faith no doubt or darkness know, And night, by faith, true light display. Do not allow the soul to sleep, But let wrongdoing sleep again; Let faith, which keeps us chaste and cool, In sleep the warmth of sense restrain. Stripped of deception, let the heart At rest profoundly dream of you, Lest terror of the ancient foe Deceive, and evil wake anew. We pray the Father and his Christ, And Spirit, joined in unity, One God, who rules in ev'rything: Tend to us all, O Trinity. Amen.

Copyright 2020 Fr. Thomas Buffer

Fulgentis auctor aetheris / Creator of the Shining Sky

Through the Year. Wednesdays 2 and 4. Lauds. 

Fulgentis auctor aetheris, qui lunam lumen noctibus, solem dierum cursibus certo fundasti tramite   Nox atra iam depellitur, mundi nitor renascitur, novusque iam mentis vigor dulces in actus erigit.  Laudes sonare iam tuas dies relatus admonet, vultus caeli blandior nostra serenat pectora. Vitemus omne lubricum declinet prava spiritus, vitam facta non inquinent, linguam culpa non implicet;    Sed, sol diem dum conficit, fides profunda ferveat, spes ad promissa provocet, Christo coniugat caritas. Praesta, Pater piissime, Patrique compar Unice, cum Spiritu Paraclito regnans per omne saeculum. Amen..

Creator of the shining sky, Who made the lamps to shine on high, And set their ways: the moon for nights, The sun for days, to be their lights. Dark night is driven far away, Earth's splendor is reborn with day; New vigor makes our spirit strong For pleasant labors, all day long.  The day, returning, prompts all men To make your praises sound again. The sky grows clearer; at the sight Our spirits, too, become more light.   All harmful error let us flee, The soul ward off iniquity; No sinful deed our life defile, No guiltiness the tongue beguile.    But, as the sun the new day starts, Let burning faith inflame our hearts; To future gifts let hope incite, And charity to Christ unite. O grant it, Father, only Son, And Holy Spirit with them one: The God we worship and adore, For ever and forevermore. Amen.

Copyright 2021 Fr. Thomas Buffer