« RECTOR POTENS VERAX DEUS ». — Hymn of the hour of sext, composed by s. Ambrogio.
The hour of sext corresponds to our noon. The heat of the hour recalls to the A. the heats of sensual concupiscence exploited by the meridian demon (Ps. 90, 6). Against these the poet invokes divine action, so that it may dampen their power.
BIBL.: G. S. Pimont, Les hymnes du Bréviaire romain, I, Parigi 1874, pp. 106–10; C. Albin, La poésie du Bréviaire, Lione s. a., pp. 25, 27; V. Terreno, Gli iuni dell'Ufficio divino, Mondovì 1932, pp. 42–43. Silverio Mattei