Conditor alme siderum is a seventh century Latin hymn used during the Christian season of Advent.^[1] It has been ascribed to St Ambrose in the past, but there is no contemporaneous evidence to support the attribution. The hymn has been mainly used in the Divine Office at Vespers^[2]

History of the hymn

The hymn was extensively rewritten by Pope Urban VIII in 1632, in a revision which was so extensive that it left only one line of the original hymn unchanged. The revised hymn begins Creator alme siderum and it is in effect a different hymn.^[3] Most versions of this hymn include a doxology of some sort, usually appended as verse 6. However, it was not a part of the original hymn. J.M. Neale made a translation of the hymn which appeared as Creator of the Stars of Night in the first edition of the Hymnal Noted in 1852.^[4] The ancient text was restored by the Vatican in the most recent version of the traditional Breviary, where it is indicated for use at Vespers, the first Sunday of Advent.^[5]

The two different versions of this hymn are often confused. The translations of Conditor alme siderum included in Wikisource (Conditor alme siderum) are actually translations of Creator alme siderum.

Conditor alme siderum

1 Cónditor alme síderum,
  ætérna lux credéntium,
  Christe, redémptor ómnium,
  exáudi preces súpplicum.

2 Qui cóndolens intéritu
  mortis períre sæculum,
  salvásti mundum lánguidum,
  donans reis remédium.

3 Vergénte mundi véspere,
  uti sponsus de thálamo,
  egréssus honestíssima
  Vírginis matris cláusula.

4 Cuius forti poténtiæ
  genu curvántur ómnia;
  cæléstia, terréstria
  nutu faténtur súbdita.

5 Te, Sancte, fide quæsumus,
  ventúre iudex sæculi,
  consérva nos in témpore
  hostis a telo pérfidi.

6 Sit, Christe, rex piíssime,
  tibi Patríque glória
  cum Spíritu Paráclito,
  in sempitérna sæcula. Amen.^[5]

Creator alme siderum

 Creator alme siderum,
 Aeterna lux credentium
 Jesu Redemptor omnium,
 Intende votis supplicum.

 Qui daemonis ne fraudibus
 Periret orbit, impetu
 Amoris actus, languidi
 Mundi medela fatus es.

 Commune qui mundi nefas
 Ut expiares; ad crucem
 E Virginis sacrario
 Intacta prodis victima.

 Cujus poteatas gloriae,
 Nomenque cum primum
 Et coelites et inferi
 Tremente curvantur genu.

 Te deprecamur ultima?
 Magnum diei Judicem,
 Armis supemae gratia;
 Defende nos ab hostibus.

 Virtus, honor, laus, gloria
 Deo Patri cum Filio,
 Sancto simul Paraclito,
 In seeculorum saecula.^[6]

Creator of the Stars of Night

 Creator of the stars of night,
 Thy people’s everlasting light,
 Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
 And hear Thy servants when they call.

 Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
 Should doom to death a universe,
 Hast found the medicine, full of grace,
 To save and heal a ruined race.

 Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the bride,
 As drew the world to evening-tide;
 Proceeding from a virgin shrine,
 The spotless victim all divine.

 At whose dread name, majestic now,
 All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
 And things celestial Thee shall own,
 And things terrestrial, Lord alone.

 O Thou whose coming is with dread
 To judge and doom the quick and dead,
 Preserve us, while we dwell below,
 From every insult of the foe.

 To God the Father, God the Son,
 And God the Spirit, Three in One,
 Laud, honor, might, and glory be
 From age to age eternally.^[7]