A Latin hymn in rhythmic prose sung or recited at Matins?

Answer 1

Catholic AnswerThe Hymn that has been sung at the end of Matins (on Sunday and major Feasts) for nearly 1,500 years (that we have documentation on) has been the Te Deum Laudamus. It is commonly called the "Ambrosian hymn" but now it is believed to have been written by St. Niketas in the fourth century.

Here is the Hymn in Latin, and in an English translation:

TE DEUM laudamus: te Dominum confitemur.

Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur.

Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi Caeli et universae Potestates;

Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim incessabili voce proclamant:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.

Pleni sunt caeli et terra maiestatis gloriae tuae.

Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus,

Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus,

Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus.

Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur Ecclesia,

Patrem immensae maiestatis:

Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium;

Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum.

Tu Rex gloriae, Christe.

Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius.

Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, non horruisti Virginis uterum.

Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum.

Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, in gloria Patris.

Iudex crederis esse venturus.

Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni: quos pretioso sanguine redemisti.

Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari.

V. Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae.

R. Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.

V. Per singulos dies benedicimus te.

R. Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum saeculi.

V. Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire.

R. Miserere nostri, Domine, miserere nostri.

V. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te.

R. In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum.

　

and in English

　

O GOD, we praise Thee: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.

Everlasting Father, all the earth doth worship Thee.

To Thee all the Angels, the Heavens and all the Powers,

all the Cherubim and Seraphim, unceasingly proclaim:

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!

Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy glory.

The glorious choir of the Apostles,

the wonderful company of Prophets,

the white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee.

Holy Church throughout the world doth acknowledge Thee:

the Father of infinite Majesty;

Thy adorable, true and only Son;

and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

O Christ, Thou art the King of glory!

Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.

Thou, having taken it upon Thyself to deliver man, didst not disdain the Virgin's womb.

Thou overcame the sting of death and hast opened to believers the Kingdom of Heaven.

Thou sitest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.

We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge.

We beseech Thee, therefore, to help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.

Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints in everlasting glory.

V. Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thine inheritance!

R. Govern them, and raise them up forever.

V. Every day we thank Thee.

R. And we praise Thy Name forever, yea, forever and ever.

V.. O Lord, deign to keep us from sin this day.

R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

V. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have hoped in Thee.

R. O Lord, in Thee I have hoped; let me never be put to shame.
The latin Hymn sung at matins is Te Deum