Hymn to St. Ambrose at Lauds
Lokrantz identifies this meter as iambic dimeter.
Ambrose of Milan ( c. 339 – 4 April 397) was a theologian and statesman who served as Bishop of Milan from 374 to 397. He expressed himself prominently as a public figure, fiercely promoting Roman Christianity against Arianism and paganism. His preachings, his actions and his literary works, in addition to his innovative musical hymnography, made him one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century. He was serving as the Roman governor of Aemilia-Liguria in Milan when he was unexpectedly made Bishop of Milan in 374 by popular acclamation.
The feast of the holy bishop of Milan was certainly celebrated at Fonte Avellana. Many of the themes here emerge from the the famous life written by Paulinus, in particular the resurrection of the young Pansophius which took place in Florence, a city that Ambrose had visited by accepting the invitation that had come to him from some of the faithful, while was in Faenza. Peter Damian this may have composed this for the monastery of S. Ambrogio in Rancbio which already existed around the year one thousand. The hymn has had a notable reception in the Monte Cassino liturgical books.
1.
Ambrosi, sidus aureum
Orbis illustrans ambitum,
Tu nostris lumen mentibus
Sacris infunde precibus.
Ambrose, golden star
Illuminating the circuit of the globe,
With your holy prayers pour
Light into our souls.
2.
Tu verbi vibrans iaculum
Ut flumen sternis Arrium.
Fugas errorum tenebras,
Ut mera cluat veritas.
You lay Arius low
As flat as a river
You put to flight the darkness of errors,
So that the pure truth may prevail.
3.
Clangor tubae terribilis,
Coruscas et prodigiis:
Quem deflet mater mortuum,
Reddis vitae Pansophium.
O you terrible sound of the horn that begins the battle,
May you also shine with reports of prophecy:
You brandish even portents:
You return that Pansophius to light
Who the mother of the dead boy mourns.
4.
Tuae vocis imperium
Pavescit agmen daemonum.
Flent spiritus nequissimi
Solutum ius hospitii.
The throng of demons begins to fear
The command of your voice.
The most wicked spirits weep
The lost law of hospitality.
5.
Qua vi procellas meriti,
Experiuntur aemuli;
Qui te laedunt vel detrahunt,
[Ultore Deo] pereunt.
Because of this power of your merit,
Your rivals experience storms;
Those who injure or slander you,
Perish with God avenging.
6.
Sit patri laus ingenito…
Let there be praise to the unborn father…
