During early Christian monasticism, the development of the Divine Office was based on Psalm 119:164 where it is said “Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous ordinances.” From there, seven times in the day were dedicated to psalmody, various prayers, and hymns. Within these communities, an eighth Hour called the Night Vigil served as a compilation of prayers from Compline, Vespers, Matins, and the First Hour. While Western Christianity eventually moved towards a breviary of only seven offices, both Oriental and Eastern Orthodox traditions continued its celebration.
The hymn Mediae Noctis Tempus Est, or “Hymn for the Night Vigil”, is a hymn found in the 8th century Antiphonary of Bangor. This hymn, among its other associated liturgical elements, indicates that the Night Vigil was still celebrated in early medieval Ireland before adopting Roman practices that eschewed its inclusion. The English and original Irish translation is provided here, to which the former was translated by Fr. Daniel Joseph Donahoe. The Irish version will be included in the second edition of the Portús na hÉireann, along with a complete Irish translation of each hour. I encourage any who are gifted composers to reach out for the possibility setting this hymn to music, granted that all rights are reserved.
Iomann don Bhigil Oíche
Tugann an meán oíche sollúnta rabhadh dúinn
Le haird a thabhairt ar fhocal an Fháidh
Agus ár nguth a ardú i nguí agus i moladh
Chun ár dTIARNA beo a bheannú.
Can moltaí leis an Athair,
Can moltaí don Mhac,
Can moltaí don Spiorad Naoimh,
An Triúr beannaithe mar Aonán.
Thug uair an mheán oíche seo sceimhle
Go talamh na hÉigipte truacánta;
Leis an bhfear agus leis an mbeithíoch a tháinig aingeal an bháis
Agus mharaigh sé an duine ba shine a rugadh.
Ach an áit a raibh an fhuil scaipthe
Ar dhoras an fhir chóir,
Bhí fios ag an aingeal ar an gcomhartha naofa,
Agus d'imigh thar an teaghais.
Glórach, glórach a bhí mairgneach na hÉigipte
Faoin bhfearg dhiaga;
Ach chan Iosrael sailm áthais,
Cosanta ag an gcomhartha.
Mar sin, bíodh gliondar orainn muintir Iosrael,
A THIARNA, ionat;
Sábháilte ag fuil Chríost, an tUan,
Diúltaímid don namhaid.
Agus ar uair an mheán oíche,
Mar a léirigh an Soiscéal,
Tiocfaidh an fear nuaphósta i nglóir
Ó ríchathaoir shíoraí na bhFlaitheas.
Agus á ardú suas chun casadh air,
Canfaidh na Maighdeana críonna,
Soilsithe ag a lampaí lonracha,
Téigh chun tosaigh agus cruinnigh ar a Rí.
Ach bhí siad ina gcodladh
Agus tiocfaidh siad air, áfach, rómhall
A lampaí neamhchóirithe, agus buailfidh siad cnag
Go leitheadach leis an ngeata dúnta
Lig dúinn i mbigilí stuama
Éirigh suas le moladh a thabhairt agus le guí,
Agus a bheith réidh nuair a thagann Íosa.
Chun freastal air ar an mbealach.
Ag meán oíche sa phríosún
An bhfaca Pól agus Silas
Na geimheal á bpléascadh, agus iad ag moladh Críost,
Cé a tháinig chun iad a scaoileadh saor.
As ár bpríosún domhanda
Molaimid dhuit, a Chríost ár dTIARNA;
Ó, bris bannaí an pheaca dúinn.
A chromann ar a fhocal,
Agus tabhair dúinn, a Rí Beannaithe,
Go mféidir go mb'fhiú sinn
Chun páirt a ghlacadh le do chóir réaltacha
I síormholadh.
Hymn for the Night Vigil
Mediae Noctis Tempus est
The solemn midnight warns us
To heed the prophet’s word,
And lift our voice in prayer and praise
To greet our living LORD.
Sing praises to the Father,
Sing praises to the Son,
Sing praises to the Holy Ghost,
The blessed Three in One.
This midnight hour brought terror
To Egypt’s land forlorn;
To man and beast death’s angel came
And slew the eldest born.
But where the blood was sprinkled
Upon the just man’s door,
The angel knew the sacred sign,
And passed that dwelling o’er.
Loud, loud was Egypt’s wailing
Beneath the wrath divine;
But Israel sang in psalms of joy,
Protected by the sign.
So we, thy people Israel,
Rejoice, O LORD, in thee;
Saved by the blood of Christ the Lamb,
We spurn the enemy.
And at the hour of midnight,
As by the Gospel shown,
The Bride-groom will in glory come
From Heaven’s eternal throne.
And rising up to meet him,
Will the wise Virgins sing,
And lighted by their shining lamps,
Go forth to meet their King.
But they that have been sleeping
Will find, alas, too late,
Their lamps untrimmed, and vainly knock
Against the closed gate.
Let us in sober vigils
Rise up to praise and pray,
And ready be when Jesus comes
To meet him on the way.
At midnight in the prison
Did Paul and Silas see
The shackles burst, while praising Christ,
Who came to set them free.
Out of our worldly prison
We praise thee, Christ our LORD;
O break the bonds of sin for us
Who lean upon thy word,
And grant us, King All-holy,
That we may worthy be
To join with thy celestial choirs
In praise eternally.