Eternal Lord, the world who made,
Who rules the day and night's dark shade
And sets the time to hours, that we
May never faint or weary be.
Hark to the herald of the morn
Who vigil through the dark has borne,
To travelers in the dark a light
That separates the night from night.
The daystar hears and at his call
Loosens the sky from night's black thrall,
While roaming brigands at his word
The mischief leave and sheath their sword....
So let us rise in eager haste;
The cock forbids us life to waste.
He stirs the sluggards and doth show
Those who refuse the wrong they do....
O Jesus, aid us where we stray,
Look down and set us on our way.
Beneath thy gaze our faltering cease
And in our tears guilt turns to peace.
Shine on our senses with thy light
And from our minds put sleep to flight.
Let us our first songs raise to thee
And all our hymns be praise to thee.
F.A. Wright, Fathers of the Church, 1928, cited by Walter J. Black, Lives of the Saints (c)1953 by Walter J. Black, Inc., (c)1954 by John J. Crawley & Co.