«A SOLIS ORTUS CARDINE». — Hymn of the Roman Breviary for the Lauds of the Christmas feast. Its author is Sedulius, a Latin poet of the 5th century. It is the celebration of the birth of the Redeemer, rendered in a very elegant form. In lofty tones the poet extols the divine maternity of the Virgin, the Annunciation of the Archangel Gabriel, the Visitation to St. Elizabeth, the birth in the manger, and the joyful announcement of the angels to the shepherds. The lively inspiration is entirely pervaded by the mystery of the Incarnation, and the clear vein develops the theme almost in the form of a gentle pastoral song. Other strophes of the hymn are sung at Vespers of Epiphany.
Bibl.: C. Albin, *La poésie du Bréviaire*, I. Lyon n.d., p. 125; G. G. Belli, *Inni del Breviario romano tradotti*, Rome 1856, pp. 118–119; L. Venturi, *Gli inni della Chiesa tradotti e commentati*, 3rd ed. Florence, 1880, p. 160; S. Colombo, *La poésie chrétienne antica*, Rome 1910, pp. 156–161; G. Bossi, *Gli inni del Breviario romano. Versione ritmica*, Rome 1919, p. 77; U. Morica, *Storia della letteratura latina cristiana*, III, Turin 1932, p. 58. Silverio Mattei