Rector potens, verax Deus

O God of truth, O Lord of might

The Hymns of the Breviary and Missal

Rector potens, verax Deus,
Qui temperas rerum vices,
Splendore mane illuminas,
Et ignibus meridiem:
Exstingue flammas litium,
Aufer calorem noxium,
Confer salutem corporum,
Veramque pacem cordium.
Præsta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito
Regnans per omne sæculum.

O God of truth, O Lord of might
Who orderest time and change aright,
Who send’st the early morning ray,
And lightest the glow of perfect day:
Extinguish Thou each sinful fire,
And banish every ill desire;
And while Thou keep’st the body whole,
Shed forth Thy peace upon the soul.
Almighty Father, hear our cry,
Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord most High,
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
Doth live and reign eternally.

Author: Possibly by St. Ambrose (340-397). Meter: Iambic dimeter. Translation By J. M. Neale. There are about twenty translations. Liturgical Use: Hymn for Sext daily throughout the year. Sext was said at noon. The great heat of the noonday sun is compared to the heat of the passions which we beseech God to extinguish. We implore Him also to grant us health of body and peace of soul. Read the separate articles on this hymn and on Sext in the Cath. Encycl.

“O mighty Ruler, truthful God, who dost regulate the changes of things, with splendor dost Thou light up the morning, and with burning heat the noonday,” Verax Deus: Est autem Deus verax: omnis autem homo mendax, sicut scriptum est (Rom. 3, 4). Splendore: “Splendor” is here the beauteous, beneficent light of the morning, in contradistinction to the sweltering heat of midday.
“Extinguish Thou the flames of strife, remove harmful heat, grant health of body and true peace of heart.” Litium: Noli contendere verbis (II Tim. 2, 14). Calorem Noxium: evil desires. Pacem cordium: Paoem relinquo vobis, pacem meam do vobis; non quomodo mundus dat, ego do vobis. Non turbetur cor vestrum, neque formidet (John 14, 27).