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A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity/Hymns and Sequences/Christmas, at Vespers

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Clarence E. WoodmanEdward Caswall2698448A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity — Christmas, at Vespers1889Ambrose of Milan
11.
CHRISTMAS, AT VESPERS.

JESU, Redemptor omnium,
Quem lucis ante originem
Parem paternæ gloriæ
Pater supremus edidit:

JESU! Redeemer of the world!
Who, ere the earliest dawn of light,
Wast from eternal ages born,
Immense in glory as in might:

Tu lumen et splendor Patris,
Tu spes perennis omnium,
Intende quas fundunt preces
Tui per orbem servuli.

Immortal Hope of all mankind!
In whom the Father's face we see,
Hear Thou the prayers Thy people pour
This day throughout the world to Thee.

Memento, rerum Conditor,
Nostri quod olim corporis,
Sacrata ab alvo Virginis
Nascendo, formam sumpseris.

Remember, O Creator Lord!
That in the Virgin's sacred womb
Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh
Didst our mortality assume.

Testatur hoc præsens dies,
Currens per anni circulum,
Quod solus e sinu Patris
Mundi salus adveneris.

This ever-blest recurring day
Its witness bears that all alone,
From Thy own Father's bosom forth,

To save the world Thou camest down.

Hunc astra, tellus, aequora,
Hunc omne, quod cœlo subest,
Salutis Auctorem novæ
Novo salutat cantico.

O day to which the seas and sky,
And earth and heaven, glad welcome sing;
O day which healed our misery,
And brought on earth Salvation's King!

Et nos, beata quos sacri
Rigavit unda sanguinis,
Natalis ob diem tui
Hymni tributum solvimus.

We too, O Lord, who have been cleansed
In Thy own fount of bloom divine.
Offer the tribute of sweet song
On this blest natal day of Thine.

Jesu, tibi sit gloria,
Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
In sempiterna sæcula.

Amen.

Jesu! born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee;
Praise to the Father infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.

Amen.