Aurora soli prævia

O Rosy dawn!

The Hymns of the Breviary and Missal

Aurora soli prævia
Felix salutis nuntia,
In noctis umbra plebs tua
Te, Virgo, supplex invocat.
Torrens nefastis fluctibus
Cunctos trahens voragine,
Leni residit æquore
Cum transit Area fœderis.
Dum torret arescens humus,
Tu rore sola spargeris;
Tellure circum rorida,
Intacta sola permanes.
Fatale virus evomens
Attollit anguis verticem;
At tu draconis turgidum
Invicta conteris caput.
Mater benigna, respice
Fletus precesque supplicum,
Et dimicantes tartari
Victrix tuere ab hostibus.
Jesu, tibi si gloria
Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre, et almo Spititu
In sempiternal sæcula.

O Rosy dawn! that dost proclaim
Salvation’s happy day,
To thee, O Virgin, ‘mid night’s shades,
Thy people humbly pray.
The torrent, that engulfs all those
Within its whirlpool drawn,
Rests calm as o’er its softened wave
The ark of God is borne.
While earth is parched with scorching heat,
Alone thou art bedewed;
With dew o’erspread the earth around,
And thou untouched art viewed.
The serpent rears his head aloft
Disgorging poisoned spleen;
But thou his proud, inflated head
Dost crush with power as Queen.
O loving Mother, hear our prayer,
As suppliant we cry;
Protect us in our strife with hell
Who dost its power defy.
O Jesu, born of Virgin bright,
All glory be to Thee,
With Father and with Paraclete,
Through all eternity.

Author: Unknown. Meter: Iambic dimeter. Translation by the Benedictines of Stanbrook. There are two translations. Liturgical Use: Hymn for Lauds. See the note on the preceding hymn.

“O dawn that goeth before the sun, joyous herald of our salvation, thy people, O Virgin, suppliantly invoke thee amid the shades of night.” Mary was the dawn that preceded the rising Sun of Justice.
“The torrent with its inauspicious waves which draws all men into the whirlpool, subsides into a placid sea while the Ark of the Covenant is passing.” Arca fœderis, Ark of the Covenant (Litany); for an explanation of this title of our Blessed Lady, see the last paragraph of the article on Ark, in the Cath. Encycl. The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object the Israelites possessed, and it was the material symbol of the Divine presence (cf. Exod. 25,10-22; Josue 3-4).
“When the dry earth is parched, thou alone art besprinkled with dew; when the earth on every side is wet with dew, thou alone dost remain untouched” (cf. Judges 6, 37).
“The serpent vomiting forth his fatal poison lifts his head, but thou unconquered (Maid) dost crush the swollen head of the dragon.” (Cf. Gen. 3, 4-15).
“O loving Mother, behold the tears and prayers of thy suppliants, and victoriously defend those in battle with the hosts of hell.”