Splendour of the Father's Glory

Splendour of the Father's glory,
Bringing forth light from light.
Day illuminating daylight,
With new beginnings of new light;
True Sun come down,
Sparkling with unfailing gleams,
With the radiance of the spirit,
Come fill us in our every sense.
And in prayer we call upon the Father,
That Father of unending glory,
Father of all-mastering grace.
Lord set aside our sinful guilt
And teach us eagerness of deed;
Restrain the biting teeth of foes,
Prosper us in times of grief,
Grant the grace to bring us through.
Guide and rule our inmost mind,
In a chaste and faithful heart.
May our faith grow hot again,
Far from poison's foul pretence.
Let Christ himself be our food,
And faith our cup to drink;
Let us drain it deep in joy,
The sober drunkenness of Spirit.
Let this day be spent rejoicing.
Let shame be as the dimmest dawn,
And faith like midday sun;
Our minds ever ignorant of dusk.
The chariot of the rising sun sets forth,
The rising sun appears complete:
The Son complete within the Father,
The Father complete within the Word.

-- St. Ambrose of Milan,
4th century