Our Morning Offering – 26 January – St Polycarp (69-155) Martyr, Bishop of Smyrna (Asia Minor), Apostolic Father
Deus, Tuorum Militum
O God of Those Who Fought Thy Fight
Unknown Author
(6th Century)
O God, of those who fought Thy fight,
Portion and Prize and Crown of Light,
Break every bond of sin and shame
As now we praise Thy Martyr’s name.
He recked not of the world’s allure
But sin and pomp of sin forswore:
Knew all their gall and passed them by
And reached the throne prepared on high.
Bravely the course of pain he ran
And bore his torments, as a man,
For love of Thee his blood outpoured
And thus obtained the great reward.
With humble voice and suppliant word
We pray Thee, therefore, Holy Lord,
While we Thy Martyr’s Feast-day keep,
Forgive Thy loved and erring sheep.
All honour, laud and glory be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee,
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.
Amen
An Ambrosian Hymn historically assigned for Matins and Vespers for the Common of a Martyr in the Roman Breviary. It dates probably from the s6th Century and is attributed to the unknown Author of Rex gGoriose Martyrum and Jesu, Redemptor Omnium.
The Hymn exists in a longer version of eight strophes and a shorter one, of four, which is probably earlier.
AnaStpaul 