Conditor Alme Siderum

Conditor 1 page pdf

Was revised as Creator Alme Siderum by Pope Urban’s reforms, but more recent books have gone back to “Conditor” and the Monastic books stayed with Conditor the whole time.

A hymn for Advent Vespers.

More discussion at Hymns and Carols of Christmas

1

Conditor alme siderum
Aeterna lux credentium
Jesu Redemptor omnium
Exaudi preces supplicum

Conditor alme siderum Aeterna lux credentium Jesu Redemptor omnium Exaudi preces supplicum

Creator beloved {of the stars} eternal light {of believers} Jesus Redeemer {of all} {graciously hear} {the prayers} {of the suppliants}

Beloved creator of the stars, eternal light of believers, Jesus, Redeemer of all, graciously hear the prayers of suppliants.

2

Qui condolens interitu
Mortis perire saeculum
Salvasti mundum languidum
Donans reis remedium

Qui condolens interitu Mortis perire saeculum Salvasti mundum languidum Donans reis remedium

who suffering {from ruin} {of death} {to perish} {an age / generation} {thou savest} {the world} {weary / sluggish} giving {the defendant/accused} {remedy / medicine}

who feeling the pain of an age to perish from ruin of death, thou savest the weary world, giving the accused a cure

3

Vergente mundi vespere
Uti sponsus de thalamo,
Egressus honestıssima
Vırginis Matris clausula.

Vergente mundi vespere Uti sponsus de thalamo, Egressus honestıssima Vırginis Matris clausula.*

{to the bending} {of the world} {at evening} {as} bridegroom from {the marriage chamber} {comes out} {most honest} {of the Virgin} Mother {close/conclusion}

As the world turned to evening, as a bridegroom from the marriage chamber, having come forth from the most honorable chamber of the Virgin Mother

  • This clausula is similar to the word casula meaning little house and is taken to refer to the Virgin’s womb - also referring to the closed gate in the prophecy of Ezechiel.

4

Cujus fortis potentiæ
Genu curvantur omnia,
Cælestia, terrestria,
Nutu fatentur subdita.

Cujus fortis potentiæ
Genu curvantur omnia,
Cælestia, terrestria,
Nutu fatentur subdita.

Whose strong power knee {shall bend} {of all} heavenly earthly nod {they confess} subdued

To whose strong power all bend the knee, all heavenly and earthly confess by a nod.

5

Te deprecamur, hagie,
Venture judex sæculi,
Conserva nos in tempore,
Hostis a telo perfidi.

Te deprecamur, hagie,* Venture judex sæculi, Conserva nos in tempore, Hostis a telo perfidi.

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Thee {we entreat} {O Holy One} {to come} judge {of ages} keep us in time enemies from weapons faithless

We entreat Thee, O Holy One, judge of ages to come, keep us in that time safe from the weapons of the perfidious enemy

  • This word hagie must come from the Greek word Hagios or Agios as in the Trisagion - Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One. Pronounced with a hard “g” rather than the soft “gi” of Ecclesiastical Latin.

6

Laus, honor, virtus, gloria
Deo Patri, et Fılio,
Sancto simul Paraclito,
In sæculorum sæcula.

Laus, honor, virtus, gloria Deo Patri, et Fılio, Sancto simul Paraclito, In sæculorum sæcula.

praise honour {virtue / power} glory {to God} {the Father} and {to the Son} {To the holy} likewise Paraclete unto {of ages} ages

Praise, honour, power and glory to God the Father and the Son, likewise to the Holy Paraclete, unto ages of ages.