Nocte surgentes

Now, from the slumbers of the night arising

The Hymns of the Breviary and Missal

Nocte surgentes vigilemus omnes,
Semper in psalmis meditemur, atque
Voce concordi Domino canamus
Dulciter hymnos.
Ut pio Regi pariter canentes,
Cum suis sanctis mereamur aulam
Ingredi cœli, simul et perennem
Ducere vitam.
Præstet hoc nobis Deitas beata
Patris, ac Nati, pariterque sancti
Spiritus, cujus resonat per omnem
Gloria mundum.

Now, from the slumbers of the night arising,
Chant we the holy psalmody of David,
Hymns to our Master, with a voice concordant,
Sweetly intoning.
So may our Monarch pitifully hear us,
That we may merit with His Saints to enter
Mansions eternal, therewithal possessing
Joy beatific.
This be our portion, God forever blessed,
Father eternal, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Whose is the glory, which through all creation
Ever resoundeth.

Author: St. Gregory the Great (560-604). Meter: Sapphic and Adonic. Translation a cento from The Hymner, in the meter of the original. The translation has been altered to adapt it to the Roman Breviary Text. There are about twenty translations. Liturgical Use: Hymn from the third Sunday after Pentecost till the Sunday nearest the Calends of October. This is the companion hymn of Ecce jam noctis, No. 10.

“Rising by night, let us all keep watch and ever devote our minds to psalmody, and with harmonious voices let us sing sweet hymns to the Lord.” Psalmis: The Psalms constitute the principal part of the Divine Office. They are so arranged in the Psalter that the 150 Psalms are said each week.
“That singing to the loving King, together with His Saints, we may merit to enter the royal court of heaven, and with them enjoy eternal life.”
“May the Blessed Deity of the Father, Son, and likewise of the Holy Spirit, whose glory resounds throughout the whole world, grant us this.”