Dum aurora finem daret

General information

Last responsory from the Matins for St. Cecilia

Settings by composers

• Pierre Bonhomme SSAATTTBB
• Francisco Guerrero SATB
• Jacob Handl SAATTB (includes second part)
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina SATB

Text and translations

Latin text Dum aurora finem daret, Caecilia exclamavit dicens: Eia, milites Christi, abjicite opera tenebrarum et induimini arma lucis. (Cæcilia, valedicens fratribus et exhortans eos, ait: Eia, milites Christi, abjicite opera tenebrarum et induimini arma lucis.)

English translation As dawn was fading into day, Cecilia cried: 'Arise, soldiers of Christ, Cast away the works of darkness And put on the armour of light'. Bidding the brothers farewell, and encouraging them, Cecilia said: "Huzza, soldiers of Christ, cast away the works of darkness and don the armour of light".