July 21, 2014

Nox et Tenebrae et Nubila

Day is Breaking, Dawn is Bright

Nox et Tenebrae et Nubila is by the Roman poet, Aurelius Prudentius (348-c.413). It is drawn from his work Liber Cathemerinon, comprised of 12 poems that contemplate the canonical hours, and liturgical feast days and seasons.  In 1632, in accordance with revisions made to the hymns of the Divine Office by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644), it was altered and changed to Nox et tenebrae et nubile (1632). Both versions are shown below. It is sung at Wednesday Lauds in the Roman Breviary.

NOX ET TENEBRAE ET NUBILA by Aurelius Prudentius
Listen

1. Nox et tenebrae et nubila,
confusa mundi et turbida,
lux intrat, albescit plus:
Christus venit; discedite.

2. Caligo terrae scinditur
percussa solis spiculo,
rebusque iam color redit
vultu nitentis sideris.

3. Sic nostra mox obscuritas
fraudisque pectus conscium,
ruptis retectum nubibus,
regnante pallescet Deo.

4. Te, Christe, solum novimus,
te mente pura et simplici
rogare curvato genu
flendo et canendo discimus.

5. Intende nostris sensibus
vitamque totam dispice:
sunt multa fucis illita
quae luce purgentur tua.

6. Sit, Christe, rex piisime,
tibi Patrique gloria
cum Spiritu Paraclito,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.


NOX ET TENEBRAE ET NUBILA (1632 Revision)

1. Nox et tenebrae et nubila,
confusa mundi et turbida,
lux intrat, albescit plus:
Christus venit; discedite.

2. Caligo terrae scinditur
percussa solis spiculo,
rebusque iam color redit
vultu nitentis sideris.

3. Sic nostra mox obscuritas
fraudisque pectus conscium,
ruptis retectum nubibus,
regnante pallescet Deo.

4. Te, Christe, solum novimus,
te mente pura et simplici
flendo et canendo quaesumus,
intende nostris sensibus.

5. Sunt multa fucis illita,
quae luce purgentur tua:
tu, vera lux caelestium,
vultu sereno illumina.

6. Sit, Christe, rex piisime,
tibi Patrique gloria
cum Spiritu Paraclito,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Your comments are welcome, but they won't be published immediately. I moderate them first, just to weed out spam etc.

- Thanks