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النشر الإلكتروني
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Tu Patris sempiternus es Fi- Et rege eos, et extolle illos

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Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes in Miserere nostri, Domine, mi

gloria Patris.

Iudex crederis esse ventu- Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, rus!

serere nostri;

super nos,

Te.

Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famu- Quemadmodum speravimus in lis subveni,

20

30

Quos pretioso sanguine rede- In Te, Domine, speravi: non

misti.

confundar in aeternum.

The TE DEUM is the most famous non-scriptural hymn of the Western church. It has been in use from the sixth century as a hymn for the Sunday service, before the lesson from the Gospel. The tradition ascribing it to Ambrose and Augustine at the baptism of the latter in 385 A.D. is traced to 859, and is probably to be rejected; but the hymn in its present form goes back to 400-450 A.D. As a Greek version of vss. 1-9 is extant, doubtless the germ of the hymn is Greek. See in general Julian, Dict. 1119 sq. Versions: prose, in Book of Common Prayer 8; metrical, N. Laud. D., 182, 277; In Exc. 170, 173; Meth. H. 10; Bapt. P. B. 169. Original melody in Young 269. Commentary by Kayser 435.

3. The plural of caelum is common in ecclesiastical writers. 5. Isaias viii 2 seraphim stabant et dicebant sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus exercituum, plena est omnis terra gloriae eius. 7. Cic. Fin. 1, 26 e philosophorum choro. 8. Apoc. vii 13 hi, qui amicti sunt stolis albis, qui sunt? of the martyrs. 16. I ad Corinth. xv 55 ubi est, mors, victoria tua? ubi est, mors, stimulus tuus? 23. From Psalm xxviii 9. 27. isto, common for hoc in this Latinity. 31. From Psalm xxxi 1.

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A hymn of the fifth century for martyrs in the style of Ambrose, to whom it was ascribed by his Benedictine editors. In the Roman breviary it has a form- Apostolorum gloriam - for the Apostles, and that for martyrs is somewhat changed.

Metr. tr. in A. & Μ. 272, 257; twenty others. Commentary by Kayser 222. 1. Cf. 19, 20. 5. They went into all lands. 11. compendio, by the simple, short way. 24. S. Ioann. xiv 30 venit enim princeps mundi huius. 26. Ad Philipp. li 8 factus obediens usque ad mortem. 31. Thy unworthy servants.

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This is an Easter hymn, the Roman breviary version of Ad cenam Agni providi, which goes back to the seventh century. The original may be found in Migne's edition of Ambrose, or in Young 193. The hymn was specially used at Baptism on Easter Even, the candidates being dressed in white for the purpose; they were admitted to their first communion on the following Easter day. These robes were worn throughout the Easter octave, and the Sunday after Easter was anciently called Dominica in albis.

Metr. tr. in Episc. H. 118; N. Laud. D. 1075; In Exc. 676; Meth. H. 847; twenty-three translations have been made.

1. Apoc. xix 9 beati, qui ad coenam nuptiarum Agni vocati. See on TE DEUM 8. 3. I ad Corinth. x 2 omnes in Moyse baptizati sunt in nube et in mari. The Red Sea became typical of Baptism. 13. I ad Corinth. v 7 etenim Pascha nostrum immolatus est Christus. itaque epulemur...in azymis sinceritatis. 17. Cf. the O SALUTARIS HOSTIA of Aquinas, p. 69. 21. So in many Easter hymns.

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205,

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Another Easter hymn which was not accepted by the Benedictine editors of Ambrose. The Roman breviary version begins Aurora lucis purpurat: it is in constant use during the Easter season.

Metr. tr. in A. & M. 109; Meth. H. 233; Bapt. P. B. 388; Schaff I 245, 246. 6. I ad Corinth. xv 26, novissima autem inimica destruetur mors: omnia enim subiecit sub pedibus eius. 14. Act. Apost. ii 24 quem Deus suscitavit solutis doloribus inferni. 15. S. Matt. xxviii 6 non est hic: surrexit enim sicut dixit. 17. Here begins a new hymn in the Roman breviary. 23. S. Matt. xxviii 7 ecce praecedit vos in Galilaeam: ibi eum videbitis. 28. The anapest is unusual in the hymns. 33. A third hymn begins here.

Christe, qui lux es et dies,
Noctis tenebras detegis,
Lucisque lumen crederis
Lumen beatum praedicans:

Precamur, sancte Domine,
Defende nos in hac nocte,

V

Sit nobis in te requies,
Quietam noctem tribue,

Ne gravis somnus irruat,
Nec hostis nos surripiat,
5 Nec caro illi consentiens
Nos tibi reos statuat.

10

Oculi somnum capiant, Cor ad te semper vigilet, Dextera tua protegat Famulos qui te diligunt.

Defensor noster, adspice, Insidiantes reprime,

15

Guberna tuos famulos
Quos sanguine mercatus es. 20

Memento nostri, Domine,
In gravi isto corpore :
Qui es defensor animae
Adeste nobis, Domine.

A hymn for Compline, used mainly in Lent.

Metr. tr. in A. & M. 83.

3. Cf. TE DEUM, 19, p. 7. 6. Compline was the bedtime service. 11. illi, Satanae. 14. Cant. Cant. v 2 ego dormio, et cor meum vigilat. 22. "Gravis est sarcina corruptionis," Gregory (Mone).

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A morning hymn, possibly of the fifth century; found in almost all the breviaries and still in use.

Metr. tr. in A. & M. 4; Meth. H. 107; 6. litis means here strife, bickering.

Bapt. P. B. 105. 8. hauriat, sc. visus.

VII

Te lucis ante terminum, Rerum Creator, poscimus

Ut pro tua clementia Sis praesul et custodia.

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