Conditor alme siderum


Conditor alme siderum is a seventh-century Latin hymn used during the Christian liturgical season of Advent.
It was formerly ascribed to Saint Ambrose, but there is no contemporaneous evidence to support the attribution. The hymn has been mainly used in the Divine Office at Vespers An English translation by J.M. Neale is the well-known Advent hymn Creator of the Stars of Night.

History

The hymn was rewritten by Pope Urban VIII in 1632, changing it so extensively that only the second line of the original hymn remained unchanged. The revision, which begins Creator alme siderum, in effect makes it a different composition. While not being part of the original text, most versions also include a doxology of some sort, usually appended as verse 6.
J.M. Neale made a translation of the hymn which appeared as "Creator of the Stars of Night" in the first edition of the Hymnal Noted in 1852. The ancient text was restored by the Vatican in the most recent version of the traditional Breviary, where it is indicated for use at Vespers on the First Sunday of Advent.

Text


1 Cónditor alme síderum,
ætérna lux credéntium,
Christe, redémptor ómnium,
exáudi preces súpplicum.
2 Qui cóndolens intéritu
mortis períre sæculum,
salvásti mundum lánguidum,
donans reis remédium.
3 Vergénte mundi véspere,
uti sponsus de thálamo,
egréssus honestíssima
Vírginis matris cláusula.
4 Cuius forti poténtiæ
genu curvántur ómnia;
cæléstia, terréstria
nutu faténtur súbdita.
5 Te, Sancte, fide quæsumus,
ventúre iudex sæculi,
consérva nos in témpore
hostis a telo pérfidi.
6 Sit, Christe, rex piíssime,
tibi Patríque glória
cum Spíritu Paráclito,
in sempitérna sæcula. Amen.


Creator alme siderum,
Aeterna lux credentium
Jesu Redemptor omnium,
Intende votis supplicum.
Qui daemonis ne fraudibus
Periret orbit, impetu
Amoris actus, languidi
Mundi medela factus es.
Commune qui mundi nefas
Ut expiares; ad crucem
E Virginis sacrario
Intacta prodis victima.
Cujus potestas gloriae,
Nomenque cum primum sonat
Et coelites et inferi
Tremente curvantur genu.
Te deprecamur ultimae
Magnum diei Judicem,
Armis supemae gratia;
Defende nos ab hostibus.
Virtus, honor, laus, gloria
Deo Patri cum Filio,
Sancto simul Paraclito,
In saeculorum saecula.


Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people’s everlasting light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear Thy servants when they call.
Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe,
Hast found the medicine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruined race.
Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the bride,
As drew the world to evening-tide;
Proceeding from a virgin shrine,
The spotless victim all divine.
At whose dread name, majestic now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
And things celestial Thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.
O Thou whose coming is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead,
Preserve us, while we dwell below,
From every insult of the foe.
To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Laud, honor, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally.

Footnotes