Lucis Creator optime.
SOURCE of light and life divine,
Thou didst cause the light to shine;
Thou didst bring Thy sunbeams forth
O'er the new created earth.
Shade of night, and morning ray,
Took from Thee the name of day;
Now again the shades are nigh,
Listen to our suppliant cry.
3 May we ne'er, by guilt oppressed,
Lose the way to endless rest;
May no thoughts impure and vain
Draw our souls to earth again.
4 Rather lift them to the skies,
Where our much-loved treasure lies,
Help us in our daily strife,
Lead us in the way of life.
5 Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit, Three in One!
Praise and glory be to Thee
Now and for eternity. Amen.
St. Ambrose.
7. Chandler. (tr.*)
[Ascension & Whitsuntide.
Jam sol recedit igneus.
Now sinks in night the flaming sun;
O Thou, our everlasting day,
Thrice holy Godhead, Three in One,
Thy brightness to our hearts display :
To Thee we hymn the morning lay,
To Thee our evening vows are given;
Grant us, as here to Thee we pray,
To praise Thee in the courts of heaven.
No shadows there, nor clouds impede
The view with visions of affright:
Nor sun nor moon those mansions need,
The Lamb is their perpetual Light.
O, yet unseen by mortal sight,
May in our souls that scene endure,
That we, through hope of that delight,
May purer grow as Thou art pure.
3 And when the day shall come, that we
Shall know no more, as now, in part
May we unveiled Thy presence see,
Be like, and know Thee as Thou art :
And evermore with voice and heart
Join concert with Thy heavenly host,
And bear, in praising Thee, our part,
Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Bp. R. Mant. (tr.)
GOD the Father, be Thou near,
Save from every harm to-night,
Make us all Thy children dear,
In the darkness be our Light.
2 God the Saviour, be our Peace,
Put away our sins to-night;
Speak the word of full release,
Turn our darkness into light.
3 Holy Spirit, deign to come,
Sanctify us all to-night;
In our hearts prepare Thy home,
Then our darkness shall be light.
4 Holy Trinity, be nigh,
Mystery of love adored!
Help to live, and help to die,
Lighten all our darkness, Lord! Amen.
FATHER! by Thy love and power
Comes again the evening hour:
Light has vanished, labours cease,
Weary creatures rest in peace.
Thou, whose genial dews distil
On the lowliest weed that grows,
Father, guard our couch from ill,
Lull Thy creatures to repose:
We to Thee ourselves resign;
Let our latest thoughts be Thine!
2 Saviour! to Thy Father bear
This our feeble evening prayer—
Thou hast seen how oft to-day
We like sheep have gone astray ;
Worldly thoughts, and thoughts of pride,
Wishes to Thy cross untrue,
Secret faults and undescried,
Meet Thy spirit-piercing view.
Blessed Saviour! yet through Thee
Pray that these may pardoned be.
3 Holy Spirit! breath of balm !
Fall on us in evening's calm:
Yet awhile, before we sleep,
We with Thee will vigil keep :
Lead us on our sins to muse,
Give us truest penitence;
Then the love of God infuse,
Breathing humble confidence ;
Melt our spirits, mould our will,
Soften, strengthen, comfort still!
4 Blessed Trinity, be near
Through the hours of darkness drear,
When the help of man is far,
Ye more clearly present are :
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Watch o'er our defenceless head,
Let Your angels' guardian host
Keep all evil from our bed,
Till the flood of morning rays
Wakes us to a song of praise. Amen.
SUN of my soul, Thou Saviour dear,
It is not night if Thou be near;
O may no earth-born cloud arise
To hide Thee from Thy servant's eyes.
When the soft dews of kindly sleep
My wearied eyelids gently steep,
Be my last thought, how sweet to rest
For ever on my Saviour's breast.
3 Abide with me from morn till eve,
For without Thee I cannot live,
Abide with me when night is nigh,
For without Thee I dare not die.
4 If some poor wandering child of Thine
Have spurned to-day the voice divine,
Now, Lord, the gracious work begin ;
Let him no more lie down in sin.
5 Watch by the sick; enrich the poor
With blessings from Thy boundless store;
Be every mourner's sleep to-night,
Like infant's slumbers, pure and light.
6 Come near and bless us when we wake, Ere through the world our way we take Till in the ocean of Thy love
We lose ourselves in Heaven above.
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