Attributed to St. Ambrose (340-397), this hymn is sung at Lauds (Morning Prayer) on Mondays. The chant below is performed by the monks of the Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux. Splendor paternae gloriae,de luce lucem proferens,lux lucis et fons luminis,diem dies illuminans. Verusque sol, illaberemicans nitore perpeti,iubarque Sancti Spiritusinfunde nostris sensibus. Votis vocemus et Patrem,Patrem perennis gloriae,Patrem potentis gratiae,1culpam releget lubricam. Informet actus strenuos,dentem retundat invidi,casus secundet asperos,donet gerendi gratiam. Mentem gubernet et regatcasto, fideli corpore;fides calore ferveat,fraudis venena nesciat. Christusque nobis sit cibus,potusque noster sit fides;laeti bibamus sobriamebrietatem Spiritus. Laetus dies hic transeat;pudor sit ut diluculum,fides velut meridies,crepusculum mens nesciat. … Continue

The following explanation of the works of Plato was written by Thomas Taylor in 1804. “The dialogues of Plato are of various kinds; not only with regard to those different matters, which are the subjects of them; but in respect of the manner also, in which they are composed or framed, and of the form under which they make their appearance to the reader. It will therefore, as I imagine, be not improper, in pursuance of the admonition given us by Plato himself in his dialogue named Phaedrus, and in imitation of the example set us by the antient Platonists, … Continue

AETERNA caeli gloria,beata spes mortalium,celsi Parentis Unice,castaeque proles Virginis: Da dexteram surgentibus,exsurgat et mens sobria.flagrans et in laudem Deigrates rependat debitas. Ortus refulget lucifer,ipsamque lucem nuntiat,cadit caligo noctium,lux sancta nos illuminet. Manensque nostris sensibusnoctem repellat saeculiomnique fine temporispurgata servet pectora. Quaesita iam primum fidesradicet altis sensibus,secunda spes congaudeat,tunc maior exstat caritas. Sit, Christe, rex piissime,tibi Patrique gloria,cum Spiritu Paraclito,in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

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