Bright Maker of the Starry Poles

For Advent

Words: Creator alme siderum. Revised from Conditor alme siderum

Translation: Anonymous, From the Evening Office of the Church, 1710. Based on the Primer of 1685, with alterations after the Primer of 1706, and both revised.

Source: Orby Shipley, Annus Sanctus: Hymns of the Church for the Ecclesiastical Year. Vol. 1. (London and New York: Burns and Oates, 1884), pp. 3-4.

Bright Maker of the starry poles, 
Eternal light of faithful souls, 
Christ, man's deliverer, espouse 
Our cause and hear our humble vows. 

	Who, lest the frauds of hell's black king 
Should mankind to destruction bring, 
Didst, by an act of generous love, 
The fainting world's physician prove. 

	Who, that thou mightst our ransom pay 
And wash the stains of sin away, 
Wouldst from a Virgin's womb proceed, 
And on the cross a victim bleed. 

	Whose glorious power, whose saving name 
No sooner any voice can frame, 
But heaven and earth and hell agree 
To honour them with trembling knee. 

	Thee, of the last accounting day 
The sovereign judge, we humbly pray, 
Of heavenly grace such plenty send, 
As may thy Church from foes defend. 

	Let endless times aloud proclaim 
The glory, power, praise and name 
Of God, the Father and the Son 
And Holy Spirit, Three in One. 

Note from Shipley: 

Hymn 1. Creator alme siderum. Revised from Conditor alme siderum. Ambrosian Vespers Breviary Hymn. Bright Maker of the starry poles. From the Evening Office of the Church, 1710. Based on the Primer of 1685, with alterations after the Primer of 1706, and both revised.

Editor's Note: Compare: Bright Builder of the Heavenly Poles (Britt) and Bright Builder of the Heavenly Poles (Shipley).

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