Advent Calendar

[tree_and_leaf]

Conditor alme siderum

Below, the text of the Advent office hymn; excuse the rather dreadful bit by the presenter; dearly as I love the NEH, I think that claiming a rather odd Latin version of the hymn sung by what appears to be the Hogwarts school choir (no toads, though) is inspired by it is pushing things a bit. It’s a nice recording, though, with the additional bonus for Wimsey fans of lots of shots of a beautiful East Anglian church which could almost be Fenchurch St Paul (though I don’t think the angel roof is quite good enough….)

Creator of the stars of night,
thy people's everlasting light,
Jesus, Redeemer, save us all,
hear thou thy servants when they call.

Thou, sorrowing at the helpless cry
of all creation doomed to die,
didst save our lost and guilty race
by healing gifts of heavenly grace.

Thou cam'st, the Bridegroom of the bride,
as drew the world to eventide;
proceeding from a virgin shrine,
the spotless Victim all divine.

At thy great Name, exalted now,
all knees in lowly homage bow;
al things in heaven and earth adore,
and own thee King for evermore.

To thee, O Holy One, we pray,
our Judge in that tremendous day,
ward off, while yet we dwell below,
the weapons of our crafty foe.

To God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, Three in One,
laud, honor, might and glory be
from age to age eternally.

Words: Latin, sixth century;
trans. John Mason Neale, 1851

As a bonus, a rendering of the hymn in English, though the quality is not particularly high.