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Quem terra, pontus, sidera

1 min

The God whom earth, and sea, and sky

Adore, and laud, and magnify,

Who o'er their threefold fabric reigns,

The Virgin's spotless womb contains.

The God, whose will by moon and sun

And all things in due course is done,

Is borne upon a maiden's breast,

By fullest heavenly grace possest.

How blest that mother, in whose shrine

The great artificer divine,

Whose hand contains the earth and sky,

Vouchsafed, as in his ark, to lie.

Blest, in the message Gabriel brought;

Blest, by the work the Spirit wrought;

From whom the great desire of earth

Took human flesh and human birth.

All honour, laud, and glory be,

O Jesu, Virgin-born to thee;

All glory, as is ever meet,

To Father and to Paraclete.

Amen.

Quem terra, pontus, sídera

Colunt, adórant, praedicant,

Trinam regéntem máchinam,

Claustrum Maríae báiulat.

Cui luna, sol, et ómnia

Desérviunt per témpora,

Perfúsa caeli grátia,

Gestant puéllae víscera.

Beáta Mater múnere,

Cuius supérnus ártifex

Mundum pugíllo cóntinens,

Ventris sub arca clausus est.

Beáta caeli núntio,

Foecúnda sancto Spíritu,

Desiderátus géntibus,

Cuius per alvum fusus est.

Iesu, tibi sit glória,

Qui natus es de Vírgine,

Cum Patre, et almo Spíritu

In sempitérna saécula.

Amen.

About this prayer

*Whom earth and sea and stars adore* — the Matins hymn of Our Lady: the womb of Mary bears the One who rules the threefold world.

History

Attributed to Venantius Fortunatus (sixth century). The hymn *O gloriosa virginum* is its continuation.

*Breviarium Romanum*, via [Divinum Officium](https://www.divinumofficium.com)

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