Creator alme siderum
Advent Vespers Hymn (attr. St. Ambrose)
About This Prayer
"Creator alme siderum" is the Vespers hymn for Advent, attributed to an anonymous 7th-century author (not St. Ambrose as sometimes claimed). Its six stanzas move from creation ("dear Maker of the starry skies") through redemption to eschatology. The fourth stanza's vision of heaven and hell bowing at Jesus's name (Phil 2:10) emphasizes Christ's universal lordship. The hymn's final petition for protection on the Last Day captures Advent's judicial dimension.
Prayer Text
LATINE
Creator alme siderum,
AEterna lux credentium,
Jesu, Redemptor omnium,
Intende votis supplicum.
AEterna lux credentium,
Jesu, Redemptor omnium,
Intende votis supplicum.
Qui daemonis ne fraudibus
Periret orbis, impetu
Amoris actus, languidi
Mundi medela factus es.
Periret orbis, impetu
Amoris actus, languidi
Mundi medela factus es.
Commune qui mundi nefas
Ut expiares, ad crucem
E Virginis sacrario
Intacta prodis victima.
Ut expiares, ad crucem
E Virginis sacrario
Intacta prodis victima.
Cujus potestas gloriae,
Nomenque cum primum sonat,
Et caelites et inferi
Tremente curvantur genu.
Nomenque cum primum sonat,
Et caelites et inferi
Tremente curvantur genu.
Te deprecamur ultimae
Magnum diei Judicem,
Armis supernae gratiae
Defende nos ab hostibus.
Magnum diei Judicem,
Armis supernae gratiae
Defende nos ab hostibus.
Virtus, honor, laus, gloria
Deo Patri cum Filio,
Sancto simul Paraclito,
In saeculorum saecula. Amen.
Deo Patri cum Filio,
Sancto simul Paraclito,
In saeculorum saecula. Amen.
ENGLISH
Dear Maker of the starry skies!
Light of believers evermore!
Jesu, Redeemer of mankind!
Be near us who thine aid implore.
Light of believers evermore!
Jesu, Redeemer of mankind!
Be near us who thine aid implore.
When man was sunk in sin and death,
Lost in the depth of Satan's snare,
Love brought Thee down to cure our ills,
By taking of those ills a share.
Lost in the depth of Satan's snare,
Love brought Thee down to cure our ills,
By taking of those ills a share.
Thou, for the sake of guilty men
Permitting thy pure blood to flow,
Didst issue from thy Virgin shrine
And to the Cross a Victim go.
Permitting thy pure blood to flow,
Didst issue from thy Virgin shrine
And to the Cross a Victim go.
So great the glory of thy might,
If we but chance thy name to sound,
At once all Heaven and Hell unite
In bending low with awe profound.
If we but chance thy name to sound,
At once all Heaven and Hell unite
In bending low with awe profound.
Great Judge of all! in that last day,
When friends shall fail, and foes combine,
Be present then with us, we pray,
To guard us with thy arm divine.
When friends shall fail, and foes combine,
Be present then with us, we pray,
To guard us with thy arm divine.
To God the Father, with the Son,
And Holy Spirit, One and Three,
Be honour, glory, blessing, praise,
All through the long eternity. Amen.
And Holy Spirit, One and Three,
Be honour, glory, blessing, praise,
All through the long eternity. Amen.
Liturgical Notes
NOTA
FONS
Breviarium Romanum (1962)
USUS
Advent Vespers Hymn (attr. St. Ambrose)
HORA
Vespers
TEMPVS
advent
GENVS
Hymn