Keep our hearts in Thy safe keeping, Be Thy flock Thy special care; In Thy fold in mercy tend them, Guard their footsteps everywhere. IV And our souls shall sing triumphant When Thy light our eyes shall see, And the vows we owe are rendered, God, the great Triune, to Thee. Friday Evening NOX ATRA RERUM CONTEGIT This hymn is classed by Duffield under the heading “Ambrosian,” which includes compositions of Gregory and other authors. Mone gives it as probably by St. Gregory. I Dark night has drawn her curtain round, And hid earth’s hues in gloom profound; Now contrite at Thy feet we fall, And make request, Thou Judge of all, II That Thou wouldst hide the guilt of sin, And throughly purge our hearts within— O Christ, dispense Thy grace, we pray, To keep us guiltless day by day. III The awakened conscience, sore oppressed By thought of sin all unconfessed, Yearns in the gloom, to cast her load At Thy blest feet, Redeemer, God. IV Dispel the darkness, Lord, we pray, That in our mind holds dismal sway; Send forth Thy light, and bid us rest In Thy calm peace, for ever blest. Saturday Morning JAM LUCIS ORTO SIDERE Frequently ascribed to Ambrose, but not by his Benedictine editors. A rendering of it by Dr. Neale is one of the morning hymns in “Hymns Ancient and Modern,” “Now that the daylight fills the sky” (No. 4); but the rendering has been considerably altered by the editors. I See in the east the morn arise; Seek, wingèd prayer, the glowing skies; Bring help from Heaven, that all our way Be pleasing to our God this day. II May He restrain from words of sin; For bitter strife give calm within; Veil from our eyes the garish light, That lures the soul to darkest night. III Pure may our inmost heart remain From evil thoughts and fancies vain; And may the curb our flesh control, That drags to earth the aspiring soul. IV So, when the last stray beams of light Shall fade before the return of night, Kept in the path our feet have trod, We shall give glory to our God. V To God the Father, throned in heaven, To Christ, the one begotten Son, And to the Holy Ghost be praise, Now, and while endless ages run. Saturday Evening JAM SOL RECEDIT IGNEUS