V.
Ad coenam Agni providi.(Ad regias Agni.) | An ancient hymn, older possibly than Ambrose or Hilary. |
| Aeterna Christi unmera nos. | A mediaeval patchwork. |
| Aeterna coeli gloria. | An Abcedary of later date. |
| Agathae sanctae virginis. | Found at Milan among Ambrosian hymns. |
| Almi prophetae progenies. | Time of Ennodius, sixth century. |
| Amore Christi nobilis. | Versification of Ambrose on the Incarnation, cap. 3. |
| A solis ortus cardine, Ad usque. | “An Abcedary arranged by Sedulius.”—Neale. |
| Aurora jam spargit polum. | “Incognitus auctor.”—Cassander. |
| Bellator armis inclytus. | “Ein altes Lied.”—Mone. |
| Ex more docti mystico.—Gregory. | |
| Fit porta Christi pervia. | Part of A solis ortus.—Sedulius. |
| Jam Christus astra ascenderat. | —Gregory. |
| Lucis creator optime. | —Gregory. |
Here, then, we have what may be called substantially the earliest hymn-book of the Latin Church. Of course there were other hymns which were very soon separated and properly assigned, but not until the fifteenth century was any intelligent analysis attempted, and it is even now—as can be easily seen—a matter not of dogmatic certainty, but of scholarly authority and inherent probability. It may not be improper to add, however, that in these hymns we find some of the purest and most pious of praises. The honor of the Virgin Mother and of the saints has not yet been attempted. The martyrs, Stephen and Agnes and Agatha, are alone mentioned, if we except an occasional and somewhat doubtful tribute to others. These are hymns of worship and of prayer—of adoration and of fellowship.
As a handful of grain from a great granary, here are four versions of hymns counted as among Ambrose’s best: