Benign Creator of the Stars

For Advent

Words: Conditor alme siderum.

From the Primer, 1619, Translator Unknown.

Source: Orby Shipley, Annus Sanctus: Hymns of the Church for the Ecclesiastical Year. Vol. 1. (London and New York: Burns and Oates, 1884), Appendix p. 3.

Benign Creator of the stars,
Eternal light of faithful eyes,
Christ, whose redemption none debars,
Do not our humble prayers despise.

Who for the state of mankind grieved,
That it by death destroyed should be,
Hast the diseased world relieved,
And given the guilty remedy.

When the evening of the world drew near,
Thou as a bridegroom deigndst to come
Out of thy wedding chamber dear,
Thy Virgin Mother's purest womb.

To the strong force of whose high reign,
All knees are bowed with gesture low ;
Creatures, which earth or heaven contain,
With reverence their subjection show.

O holy Lord, we thee desire,
Whom we expect to judge all faults,
Preserve us as the times require,
From our deceitful foe's assaults.

Praise, honour, strength and glory great
To God, the Father and the Son,
And to the holy Paraclete,
Whilst time lasts and when time is done.

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