Supernal Word, Who Didst Proceed

For Advent

Words: Verbum Supernum Prodiens Nec Patris æterno sinu. From the Salisbury Breviary.

Translation:  John Charles Earle, 1883.

Source: Orby Shipley, Annus Sanctus: Hymns of the Church for the Ecclesiastical Year. Vol. 1. (London and New York: Burns and Oates, 1884), pp. 13-14.

Supernal Word, who didst proceed 
	Forth from the Father, conquering aid, 
Who, in our time of desperate need, 
	A Child of man for men wast made ; 

Shine in our bosoms, shine ; 
Burn up what is not thine ; 
And by thy glorious gospel chase 
Far hence all spirits foul and base. 

So when, as judge, thine eye 
Our secrets shall descry, 
And nothing shall pass by, 
And thou wilt ill for ill 
And good for good in measure strict fulfil, 

We may not for our wilful sin 
The just rewards of evil win, 
But at the very fount of joy 
Our virgin-hearts in praise employ. 

To God the Father and the Son 
	Our songs with one accord we raise ; 
And to the Holy Spirit, one 
	With them, be ever equal praise. 

Note from Shipley:

Verbum Supernum Prodiens Nec Patris æterno sinu. Revised from Verbum supernum prodiens a Patre [with notes]. Gregorian Matins Breviary Hymn.

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