Legifer prudens venerande doctor
| Legifer prudens, venerande doctor, qui nites celsis meritis per orbem, denuo comple, Benedicte, mundum lumine Christi. |
O wise and learned Benedict, Whose law and merits shine so bright, We beg you now, throughout the world, To flood our hearts with Christ's own light. |
| Floruit per te novus atque miro gentium nexu sociatus ordo; iuribus sacris tua vox subegit dulciter omnes. |
Through you there flowered on the earth A great new order, unified; Your voice has sweetly bowed all men, And men your precepts sanctified. |
| Liberos Iesu pariterque servos regula magna statuisti alumnos, quos amor fotus precibus revinxit et labor unus. |
Both slaves of Christ and freemen, too, Your rule made students set apart, For prayer has fostered love in them And common work has won their heart. |
| Iamque fraterne, duce te, laborent, mutuo certent populi favore, gaudeant pacis refovere semper dona beatae. |
Now may they put each other first And labor all as brethren true, With you as guide, to live in joy And gifts of blessed peace renew. |
| Claritas Patri genitaeque Proli, Flamini Sancto decus atque cultus, gratia quorum tibi tanta laudis gloria lucet. |
All glory to the Father blest, And to his Son, all worship be, And to the Spirit, fitting praise, Whose glory shines eternally. |
This translation appears in the Hymnal for the Hours, by Rev. Samuel Weber, O.S.B.