Sundays and Week Days Sunday Morning DIE, DIERUM PRINCIPE By Charles Coffin, born at Ardennes in 1676; Rector of the University of Paris, 1718; died, 1749. The most of his hymns appeared in the Paris Breviary of 1736. In that service-book this is the hymn for Sunday at Matins. I O day, the chief of days, whose light Sprang from the dark embrace of night, On which our Lord from death’s grim thrall Arose, True Light, to lighten all. II Death trembling heard the mighty Lord, And darkness quick obeyed His word;— O shame on us! our tardy will Is slow His summons to fulfil. III While Nature yet unconscious lies, Come, let us, sons of light, arise, And cheerful raise our matin lay To chase the dark of night away. IV While all the world around is still, Come, and with songs the temple fill, Taught by the saints of bygone days, Whose words were song, whose songs were praise. V Loud trump of Heaven, our languor shake, And bid our slumbering spirits wake; Teach us the nobler life, and give, O Christ, the needed grace to live. VI O Font of love! Our steps attend; Those needed gifts in mercy send; And where Thy word is heard this day, Give Thou the Spirit’s power, we pray. VII To Father and to Son be praise, To Thee, O Holy Ghost, always, Whose presence still the heart inspires With sacred light and glowing fires. O NATA LUX DE LUMINE The oldest text known of this hymn is from a tenth-century MS. It is in the Sarum Breviary (1495), also in that of Aberdeen (1509), which is substantially that of Sarum, and one of the very few surviving service-books of the Pre-Reformation period in Scotland. I O Light that from the light wast born, Redeemer of the world forlorn, In mercy now Thy suppliants spare, Our praise accept, and hear our prayer. II Thou who didst wear our flesh below, To save our souls from endless woe, Of Thy blest Body, Lord, would we Efficient members ever be. III More bright than sun Thine aspect gleamed, As snowdrift white Thy garments seemed, When on the mount Thy glory shone, To faithful witnesses alone. IV There did the seers of old confer With those who Thy disciples were; And Thou on both didst shed abroad The glory of the eternal God. V From heaven the Father’s voice was heard That Thee the eternal Son declared; And faithful hearts now love to own Thy glory, King of heaven, alone.