«AETERNA COELI GLORIA». – Hymn of the Roman Breviary at Lauds on ferial Fridays. Composed by an ancient imitator of St. Augustine, the hymn was originally alphabetical; but in a later reworking, some of the alphabetical letters disappeared or were altered. The subject is treated with a gentle effusion of feeling; the poet addresses Jesus Christ, Son of the Almighty and of the Virgin, glory of heaven and hope of mortals (stanza 1), and begs Him to be the light of our souls, driving away every doubt and every fault, as the sun drives away darkness (stanzas 2–4); and to dwell within us, increasing faith, strengthening hope, and enlivening love (stanza 5).
BIBL.: G. M. Dreves and C. Blume, Analecta hymnica, 51 (1908), pp. 32–34; S. G. Pimont, Les Hymnes de Bréviaire romain, I, Paris 1874, pp. 87; L. Venturi, Gli Inni della Chiesa trionfante e commentati, 3rd ed., Florence 1880, pp. 76–80; C. Albin, La poésie du Bréviaire, Lyons n.d., pp. 384–87; A. Mirra, Gli Inni del Breviario romano per i Licei filosofici e per il clero, Naples 1947, pp. 75–76.