William C. Michael

The text of this hymn is ascribed to Prudentius (384-413) and is sung at Lauds on Wednesdays in the Divine Office. The chant below is provided by the monks of the Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux. Nox et tenebrae et nubila,confusa mundi et turbida,lux intrat, albescit polus:Christus venit; discedite. Caligo terrae scinditurpercussa solis spiculo,rebusque iam color reditvultu nitentis sideris. Sic nostra mox obscuritasfraudisque pectus conscium,ruptis retectum nubibus,regnante pallescet Deo. Te, Christe, solum novimus,te mente pura et simplicirogare curvato genuflendo et canendo discimus. Intende nostris sensibusvitamque totam dispice:sunt multa fucis illitaquae luce purgentur tua. Sit, Christe, rex piissime,tibi Patrique gloriacum Spiritu Paraclito,in … Continue

The text of the hymn Caeli Deus Sanctissime is attributed to Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604) and is sung at Vespers on Wednesdays. The chant below is performed by the monks of the Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux. Caeli Deus sanctissime,qui lucidum centrum policandore pingis igneoaugens decori lumine. Quarto die qui flammeamsolis rotam constituens,lunae ministras ordini,vagos recursus siderum, Ut noctibus, vel luminidiremptionis terminum,primordiis et mensiumsignum dares notissimum: Illumina cor hominum,absterge sordes mentium,resolve culpae vinculum,everte moles criminum. Praesta, Pater piissime,Patrique compar Unice,cum Spiritu Paraclitoregnans per omne saeculum. Amen.

The hymn Ales Diei Nuntius is attributed to Prudentius (348-413), and is sung at Lauds (Morning Prayer) on Tuesdays. The chant below is performed by the Benedictine monks of the Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux. To learn more, visit barrouxchant.com. Ales diéi núntiusLucem propínquam prǽcinit;Nos excitátor méntiumJam Christus ad vitam vocat. Auférte, clamat, léctulos,Ægro sopóre désides:Castíque recte as sóbriiVigiláte jam sum próximus. Jesum ciámus vócibus,Flentes, precántes, sóbrii:Inténta supplicátioDormíre cor mundum vetat. Tu, Christe, somnum díscute:Tu rumpe noctis víncula:Tu solve peccátum vetus,Novúmque lumen íngere. Deo Patri sit glória,Eiúsque soli Fílio,Cum Spíritu Paráclito,Et nunc, et in perpétuum. Amen.

The hymn Telluris Ingens Conditor is ascribed to Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604) and is chanted on Tuesdays during Vespers in the Divine Office. The chant below is performed by the monks of the Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux. For more information, visit barrouxchant.com. Telluris ingens Conditor,mundi solum qui eruens,pulsis aquae molestiis,terram dedisti immobilem, Ut germen aptum proferens,fulvis decora floribus,fecunda fructu sisteretpastumque gratum redderet: Mentis perustae vulneramunda virore gratiae,ut facta fletu diluat,motusque pravos atterat, Iussis tuis obtemperet,nullis malis approximet,bonis repleri gaudeat,et mortis actum nesciat. Praesta, Pater piissime,Patrique compar Unice,cum Spiritu Paraclitoregnans per omne saeculum. Amen.

The text of the hymn “Immense Caeli Conditor” is attributed to Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604). The chanting of the hymn below comes from the monks of the Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux, a Benedictine monastery in France. Learn more at barrouxchant.com. Immense caeli Conditor,qui, mixta ne confunderent,aquae fluenta dividens,caelum dedisti limitem, Firmans locum caelestibus,simulque terrae rivulis,ut unda flammas temperet,terrae solum ne dissipet: Infunde nunc, piissime,donum perennis gratiae,fraudis novae ne casibusnos error atterat vetus. Lucem fides inveniat,sic luminis iubar ferat;haec vana cuncta terreat,hanc falsa nulla comprimant. Praesta, Pater piissime,Patrique compar Unice,cum Spiritu Paraclitoregnans per omne saeculum. Amen.

The “Magnificat” or “Canticle of Mary” is the Gospel Canticle recited at Evening Prayer (Vespers). These were the words of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Luke 1:46-55, as translated by St. Jerome in the Latin Vulgate. The chant is provided by the Benedictine monks of the Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux in France. Magnificat anima mea Dominum,et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salvatore meo, Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae. Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes, quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius, Et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum. Fecit potentiam in … Continue

The text of the hymn “Aeterne Rerum Conditor” is attributed to St. Ambrose (340-397). The chanting of the hymn below comes from the monks of the Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux, a Benedictine monastery in France. Learn more at barrouxchant.com. Aeterne rerum conditor,noctem diemque qui regis,et temporum das tempora,ut alleves fastidium; Praeco diei iam sonat,noctis profundae pervigil,nocturna lux viantibusa nocte noctem segregans. Hoc excitatus lucifersolvit polum caligine,hoc omnis erronum chorusvias nocendi deserit. Hoc nauta vires colligitpontique mitescunt freta,hoc ipsa petra ecclesiaecanente culpam diluit. Surgamus ergo strenue!Gallus iacentes excitat,et somnolentos increpat,Gallus negantes arguit. Gallo canente spes redit,aegris salus refunditur,mucro latronis conditur,lapsis fides … Continue

The “Benedictus” or “Song of Zacharias” is the Gospel Canticle recited at Morning Prayer (Lauds). These were the words of Zacharias, the father of St. John the Baptist in Luke 1:68-79, as translated by St. Jerome in the Latin Vulgate. The chant is provided by the Benedictine monks of the Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux in France. Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, quia visitavit, et fecit redemptionem plebis suae: Et erexit cornu salutis nobisin domo David pueri sui. Sicut locutus est per os sanctorum, qui a saeculo sunt, prophetarum eius: Salutem ex inimicis nostris, et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos: Ad … Continue

The hymn “O Lux Beata Trinitas”, chanted by the monks of the Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux at Vespers on Saturday, 10/14/2023. The text is ascribed to St. Ambrose (340-397). O lux beata Trinitas,et principalis Unitas,iam sol recedit igneus,infunde lumen cordibus. Te mane laudum carmine,te deprecemur vespere:te nostra supplex gloriaper cuncta laudet saecula. Deo Patri sit gloria,eiusque soli Filio,cum Spiritu Paraclito,et nunc, et in perpetuum.