« IAM CHRISTUS ASTRA ASCENDERAT ». — This is the hymn of Matins for the feast of Pentecost, of Ambrosian origin.
The descent of the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire upon the Apostles gathered in prayer with Maria S.ma is narrated at length by s. Luca in chap. 2 of the Acts. The poet draws inspiration from this account and gives particular prominence to the descent of the Spirit and to the action of s. Pietro, who, first of all, speaks a language unheard among the humble fishermen of Galilee, and is heard by each one in his own language.
BIBL.: G. G. Belli, Gli inni del Breviario tradotti, Rome 1856, pp. 178–79; V. Terreno, Gli inni dell'Ufficio divino, Mondovì 1932, pp. 142–43; A. Mirra, Gli inni del Breviario romano, Naples 1947, pp. 125–26. Silverio Mattei