«AURORA CAELUM PURPURAT». — Hymn from the Breviary for Lauds during Eastertide, found in 9th-century manuscripts. From its strophes, which unfold in festive and exultant tones, there emanates all the joy of the new dawn, namely that of Christ’s Resurrection. Death has been vanquished, and the words of Paul—«Ubi est mors victoria tua?»—animate the poet’s inspiration. The night of sin has passed, the time of penance is now complete, and just as the dawn heralds the day, so too does the risen and death-conquering Christ become the principle of new life. No more tears, no more ashes and sackcloth, but exultation and joy. Few hymns are better attuned to the mystery they celebrate than this one.
BIBL.: G. G. Belli, Inni del Breviario romano tradotti, Roma 1886, pp. 162-63; L. Venturi, Gli inni della Chiesa, tradotti e commentati, 3ª ed., Firenze 1886, p. 230; S. G. Pimont, Les hommes du Breviario romain, Paris 1884, pp. 101-105; U. Chevalier, Repertorium hymnologicum, Louvain 1889-97, nos. 1622-1644; C. Albin, La poésie du Breviaire, I, Lyon n.d., p. 182; G. Bossi, Gli inni del Breviario romano, versione ritmica, Roma 1919, p. 23; A. Mirra, Gli inni del Breviario romano, Napoli 1947, p. 118.