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| Miniature of Christ in glory from the 'Regia Carmina' (Italy, 14th c.) [British Library, Royal 6 E IX f.4v] |
et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris,
et umbra mortis.
O Morning Star,
splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death.
O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed, [1]
you are “the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star” (Rev 22:16). You are the star that has come out of Israel (Num 24:17), the Savior “prepared for all the world to see,”
a Light to enlighten the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel. (Lk 2:31–32)
Lord, we are “in a dark place”: come rise in our hearts at the dawning of the new Day (2 Pt 1:19). We are in the shadow of death: come and enlighten us, “O Son of God, O Giver of life.”
Thou splendor of the Father’s glory,
who brings forth light from light,
light of light and fount of light,
day that lights up the day.
Thou true Sun, shine forth
blazing with eternal splendor,
and pour forth into our souls
the radiance of the Holy Spirit. [2]
[Here is a setting of O Oriens, sung by Peter Morton (tenor) and the Choir of St John's College Cambridge, conducted by David Hill.]* English translation from the Church of England’s Advent seasonal resource.
[1] Phos hilaron, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 64.
[2] The first two stanzas of Splendor paternae gloriae by Ambrose of Milan (d. 397). The English text is Thomas Merton's loose translation of the Latin:
Splendor paternae gloriae,
de luce lucem proferens,
lux lucis et fons luminis,
diem dies illuminans.
Verusque sol, illabere
micans nitore perpeti,
iubarque Sancti Spiritus
infunde nostris sensibus.
The hymn is most commonly known in English as, “O splendor of God’s glory bright,” after Robert Bridges’ translation.
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