One of the things that I appreciate about the Monastic
Diurnal, one of the breviaries that I use as a tool in praying in harmony with
Benedictine tradition, is its inclusion of ancient hymns.
The Ales Diei Nuntius
is traditionally sung each Tuesday at Lauds.
Written by Prudentius (348-413) who was born in Saragossa,
Spain, of a wealthy family. After a brilliant public career, he retired from
public life to lead a life of asceticism and devotion to God. It was then that
he composed his poems which have earned him the reputation of being one of the
first great Christian poets of the Latin West.
The winged herald
of the day
Proclaims the
morn’s approaching ray:
And Christ the
Lord our souls excites,
And so to endless
life invites.
Take up thy bed to
each he cries
Who sick or
wrapped in slumber lies
And chase and just
and sober stand
And watch; my
coming is at hand.
With earnest cry,
with tearful care,
Call we the Lord
to hear our prayer:
While
supplications, pure and deep,
Forbids each
chastened heart to sleep.
Do thou, O Christ,
our slumbers wake;
Do thou the chains
of darkness break:
Purge thou our
former sins away,
And in our souls
new light display.
All laud to God
the Father be;
All praise,
eternal Son, to thee;
All glory, as is
ever meet,
To God the Holy
Paraclete.
Amen.
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