Poems, Volume 1

5. A HYMN FOR THE LIGHTINGOF THE LAMp

HYMNS Holy prophets will satisfy his hunger At the banquet made ready for the just men Who are reaping the Lord's eternal harvest.22 Nought is sweeter to taste nor more delightful, 29 Nothing gives greater joy to man in bondage, 95 Than the sacred precepts of seers and prophets.23 With this nourishment, though the haughty tyrant May condemn us to death with cruel judgement, Though the lions, unfed, may rush upon us, Ever confessing our faith in God the Father, 100 One in Thee, Christ our Lord, we will proclaim Him, And will carry Thy cross with love unshaken.24 22. The Apostles and other laborers in the vineyard of the Lord. Cf. Matt. 9.37-38. 23. Cf. Ps. 118. 103-104. 24. Cf. Luke 14.27. 5. A HYMN FOR THE LIGHTING OF THE LAMpI o Christ, heavenly King, Author of shining light, Thou that rulest our days, fixing the seasons due,2 Dark night steals on the world, gone is the glowing sun; Give Thy glorious light back to Thy faithful flock.s 1. Hymnus ad incensum lucernae. Commentators diller on the 30 AURELIUS PRUDENTIUS CLEMENS interpretation of this hymn. Some contend that Prudentius had in mind the daily evening office celebrated in the churches and monasteries and designated by such names as hora incensi (Ambrose, De virginibus 3.4.18), sacrificium vespertinum Gerome, Epistles 107.9), vespertina sollemnitas (Cassian, De coenobiorum institutis 2.4), hora lucernarii, lucernarium, hora lucernae (S. Silvae peregrinatio 27.7, 32.2, 39.4, CSEL 39). Ildefonso Schuster (Liber Sacramentorum, Vol. 2, p. 247, English trans., London 1925) says that this hymn alone would suffice to prove that Prudentius intended the hymns of the Cathemerinon to be used at the daily liturgical prayer of the Church. Arevalus, who entitles the poem Hymnus de novo lumine paschalis sabbati, gives lengthy evidence to prove that it commemorates the Easter vigil, with the blessing of the new fire and the paschal candle. Cf. PL 59.677-684. Lesleus, in his edition of the Mozarabic Missal (PL 85.68-69 and 437-446), indicates parallels between passages in the poem and the rites and prayers for the Easter vigil, and concludes that Prudentius wrote the hymn in praise of the paschal candle. The poet in this hymn develops themes found in the praeconium paschale attributed to St. Augustine (PL 72.268), for instance the invocation of Christ as the source of light, the flight of the Israelites from Egypt and their miraculous passage of the Red Sea, guided by the pillar of fire, the return of Christ as conqueror from hell to shed His light on mankind, and the offering of the paschal candle to God. Nocturnal vigils held on special feasts and anniversaries of martyrs as well as at Easter began in the evening with the lucernarium and lasted until Mass the next morning, which was celebrated before sunrise. Cf. S. Silviae peregrinatio 27.7; Jerome, Contra Vigilantium 9. Prudentius may have intended this hymn for the evening office and these special vigils on other days as well as that of Holy Saturday. Stanzas I, 7, 35, and 38-41 are used in the Mozarabic Breviary for Vespers of the first Sunday after the Octave of Epiphany. 2. Cf. Tertullian, Apology 18.2; Cyprian, De oratione Dominica 35. See also the Preface, Ab initio noctis sanctae paschae, of the Missale Gothicum (PL. 72.268). 3. Cf. Horace, Odes 4.5.5. HYMNS ~l Though Thou paintest the sky, throne of Thy regal ~~t 5 With innumerable stars circling the lunar lamp, Thou dost teach us to seek light from the solid rock, Spark that springs from the flint when it is struck by stee1.4 Lest man ever forget that his one hope of light On the body of Christ has its foundation sure,5 10 He desired to be called stone of the Comer firm,6 Whence we kindle the flame lighting our little fires. This we nourish in lamps dripping with dewy oil,7 Or dry torches are lit from the celestial fire;8 We make candles with wicks dipped in the flowery wax, 15 From which honey was pressed, hidden in yellow combs. Bright the glittering flame, whether a hollow urn Feeds the oil to the wick thirsting for nutriment, Or the resin of pine bums on the flaring torch, Or coarse fiber of flax drinks up...