MIRACULOUS MIRACLES™

Prayer — Prayers to the Angels

Te splendor et virtus Patris

Hymn to St. Michael (Te splendor et virtus Patris)

by Rabanus Maurus (attr.), revised under Urban VIII; English by Edward Caswall

The Vesper hymn of Michaelmas, revised by Urban VIII from a hymn of Rabanus Maurus: Michael bears the standard, casts the dragon to hell, and we follow him against the Prince of Pride. With its antiphon and collect.

The Prayer · Multiple Versions
Latin · Original
Te splendor et virtus Patris,
Te vita, Iesu, cordium,
Ab ore qui pendent tuo,
Laudamus inter Angelos.

Tibi mille densa millium
Ducum corona militat:
Sed explicat victor crucem
Michael salutis signifer.

Draconis hic dirum caput
In ima pellit tartara,
Ducemque cum rebellibus
Caelesti ab arce fulminat.

Contra ducem superbiae
Sequamur hunc nos Principem,
Ut detur ex Agni throno
Nobis corona gloriae.

Patri, simulque Filio,
Tibique, Sancte Spiritus,
Sicut fuit, sit iugiter
Saeclum per omne gloria. Amen.

Ant. Princeps gloriosissime, Michael Archangele, esto memor nostri: hic et ubique semper precare pro nobis Filium Dei.

V. In conspectu angelorum psallam tibi, Deus meus.
R. Adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum, et confitebor nomini tuo.

Oremus.
Deus, qui miro ordine angelorum ministeria hominumque dispensas: concede propitius, ut a quibus tibi ministrantibus in caelo semper assistitur, ab his in terra vita nostra muniatur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
English
O Jesus! life-spring of the soul!
The Father's Power and Glory bright!
Thee with the Angels we extol;
From Thee they draw their life and light.

Thy thousand, thousand hosts are spread,
Embattled o'er the azure sky;
But Michael bears thy standard dread,
And lifts the mighty Cross on high.

He in that sign the rebel powers
Did with their Dragon Prince expel;
And hurled them from the heaven's high towers,
Down like a thunderbolt to hell.

Grant us with Michael still, O Lord,
Against the Prince of Pride to fight;
So may a crown be our reward,
Before the Lamb's pure throne of light.

To God the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, all glory be;
With Thee, O blessed Paraclete,
Henceforth through all eternity. Amen.

Ant. Most glorious Prince, Michael the Archangel, be mindful of us: pray for us always, both here and everywhere, to the Son of God.

V. In the sight of the Angels I will sing psalms to Thee, O my God.
R. I will adore at thy holy temple, and will confess to thy name.

Let us pray.
O God, who disposest the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order; mercifully grant that those who ever stand before Thee, ministering to Thee in heaven, may themselves also protect our life here upon earth. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
When the Prayer is Said

Vespers of 29 September; in temptation; at the hour of death.

History & Background

The hymn Tibi, Christe, splendor Patris is ascribed to Rabanus Maurus, abbot of Fulda and archbishop of Mainz (d. 856). When Urban VIII had the Breviary hymns recast in classical metre in 1632 it became Te splendor et virtus Patris, and in that form it is sung at Vespers of the Dedication of St. Michael on 29 September.

Pius VII granted an indulgence of two hundred days to all who say the hymn with its antiphon, versicle and collect 'to obtain his powerful assistance in the assaults of temptation, in life and at the hour of death' (rescript of 6 May 1817). The Raccolta prints it at the head of its prayers to the holy angels.

The English is Edward Caswall's translation as the Raccolta gives it; the antiphon Princeps gloriosissime and the collect Deus qui miro ordine are those of the feast.

Indulgences Attached

Two hundred days, once a day; plenary once a month — Pius VII, 6 May 1817 (Raccolta, 1910, no. 289).

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