Dum nocte pulsa lucifer

The golden start of morn

The Hymns of the Breviary and Missal

Dum nocte pulsa lucifer
Diem propinquam nuntiat,
Nobis refert Venantius
Lucis beatæ munera.
Nam criminum caliginem,
Stygisque noctem depulit,
Veroque cives lumine
Divinitatis imbuit.
Aquis sacri baptismatis
Lustravit ille patriam:
Quos tinxit unda milites,
In astra misit Martyres.
Nunc Angelorum particeps,
Adesto votis supplicum:
Procul repelle crimina,
Tuumque lumen ingere.
Sit laus Patri, sit Filio,
Tibique sancte Spiritus:
Da per preces Venantii
Beata nobis gaudia.

The golden start of morn
Is climbing in the sky;
The birthday of Venantius
Awakes the Church to joy.
His native land in depths
Of pagan darkness lay;
He o’er her guilty regions poured
The light of heavenly day.
Her in baptismal streams
Of grace he purified;
E’en those who came to take his life,
With him as Martyrs died.
With the Angels now he shares
Those joys which never cease;
Look down on us, O Spirit blest,
And send us gifts of peace.
Praise to the Father, Son,
And, Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Oh, grant us through Thy Martyr’s prayer
A blest eternity.

Author: Unknown, 17^th cent. Meter: Iambic dimeter. Translation by Father Caswall. There are three translations. Liturgical Use: Hymn for Lauds on the Feast of St. Venantius.

“When (the darkness having been dispelled) the morning star heralds in the approaching day, Venantius brings us the gifts of blessed light.” There is reference here to the ancient custom of saying Lauds at daybreak. Light is a symbol of Christ.
“For he drove away the darkness of sin and the night of hell, and he made his fellow citizens acquainted with the true light of the Godhead.”
“With the waters of holy Baptism he purified his native land: the soldiers whom he baptized with water he sent as martyrs to heaven.” Tingo 3, to wet, moisten; in late Latin used in the sense of “to baptize.”
“Now being a companion of the Angels, give ear to the prayers of thy suppliants; banish afar what is sinful, and pour out upon us thy light.”