XII

Evening Hymn for Friday

Hominis superne Conditor

FATHER of men, whose sovereign will
Thy works, ordain'd by Thee, fulfil;
Who badest the earth to being bring
Cattle, and beast, and creeping thing;

And, as to life call'd forth by Thee,
Those mighty forms began to be,
Badest them, as time should onward roll,

Obey Thy favour'd man's control :

Do Thou the impulse strong defeat,
If lawless lust our steps beset,
Or thought of inward evil breed,
Or mingle with the outward deed.

Do Thou Thy promised blessings give, Grant us beneath Thy grace to live; Dissension's hateful bands unbind,

And stablish peace with all mankind.

Such favour, Lord, of Thee we pray,
Thy blessing on this closing day,
Sole Sovereign of the heavenly host,
Thee Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

XIII

Morning Hymn for Saturday

Nox et tenebræ et nubila

Lo, night and clouds and darkness wrapp'd
The world in dense array,

The morning dawns, the light breaks forth,
Hence, hence, ye shades, away.

Pierced by the sun's resistless shafts
Disparts the embattled gloom,

And all things, lighten'd by his face,
Their wonted hues resume.

Thee, Christ, our only hope, we seek,

With meek and simple heart,

With prayers and hymns that Thou wilt deign.

Thy daily grace impart :

Dark is the soul, and needs Thy light,

To make her pure and clean;

That light, which shines in heaven, show forth,

And smile with face serene.

So may our minds the radiant beams

Of Thy enlightening know;

So may our hearts by Thee inflamed
With holy transport glow;

So may our tongues, inspired by Thee,
Still sing the Eternal One;

The Father, and the Holy Ghost,

With Thee, begotten Son.

XIV

Evening Hymn for Saturday

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.