Father Who the Light this Day
Father, who the light this day
Father Who the Light this Day is a hymn text by Latin hymn, attributed to Ambrose of Milan (1500) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by John Chandler. Found in ELH 14, lw 4, tlh 8.
The hymn reflects Lutheran theology of God's sustaining power in creation and the daily renewal of divine grace. It emphasizes human dependence on God while celebrating the ordered beauty of creation.
History & Background
This ancient Latin evening hymn attributed to St. Ambrose dates to the early Christian tradition and reflects the patristic understanding of light as divine. John Chandler's 1837 English translation made it accessible to English-speaking Lutheran congregations.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 14
- Lutheran Worship — 4
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 8
Translation
Bulletin Note
Attributed to St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 340–397), this Latin hymn anchors the Christian tradition of evening prayer in both creation theology and eschatological hope. Its steady long-meter tune reinforces the ordered beauty it celebrates.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Law-Gospel dialectic: it confesses our darkness and weakness (Law) while celebrating God's gracious, sustaining light in creation and redemption (Gospel).
Background Research
Julia Anne Elliott, née Marshall (1809–1841), daughter of the Leeds flax industrialist John Marshall, born at Hallsteads near Ullswater. Worshipping at St Mary's, Brighton in 1827, she met the Rev. Henry Venn Elliott, brother of Charlotte Elliott ('Just as I am'), and married him in 1833; Charlotte became devoted to her. She published Poems (1832) and contributed hymns anonymously to her husband's Psalms and Hymns (1835), with her initials added only in 1839. She died of scarlet fever on 3 November 1841, just after her fifth child's birth. Her best-known hymn, 'Hail, thou bright and sacred morn', a Trinitarian Sunday-morning hymn, which Brownlie called her one good hymn, widely used in the US. TLH's 'Father, who the light this day' is probably a cento or altered form of the same Sunday hymn (Trinitarian structure: Father of light, Son risen, Spirit descended), so compare. TLH 12 (How) follows the same plan.
Sources: Wikipedia 'Julia Anne Elliott'.
Overview
A Sunday hymn by Julia Anne Elliott, wife of the English hymnal editor Henry Venn Elliott. It sees three great works of God on the first day of the week: on the first day the Father created light (st. 1); on the first day the Son broke the tomb's prison (st. 2); on Pentecost, a Sunday, the Spirit was sent (st. 3). Each stanza turns the event into prayer: make us children of light; raise us from sin; cleanse, illumine and sanctify us. A small catechism of why Christians worship on Sunday.
Central theme: Sunday as the day of creation's light, Christ's resurrection and the Spirit's coming, renewed in us through worship
Structure
Three six-line stanzas (7.7.7.7.7.7). Father: light (1) — Son: resurrection (2) — Spirit: Pentecost (3).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: 'works of night,' 'slumbering souls,' 'sin and gloom,' 'bonds' (1-2). Gospel: light, resurrection, freedom, the Spirit's gifts (1-3).
Confessional Connections
The Third Commandment: 'we should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word' (SC). Sunday is kept not by Mosaic law but for the Word (AC XXVIII.57-60; LC I.83-86). The Trinitarian structure follows the Creed. 'Rise from sin and live to Thee' — baptismal dying and rising (Rom 6:4; SC IV). The Spirit 'cleanses, illumines, sanctifies' (SC Third Article: 'enlightened… sanctified').
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Opening of Sunday worship; Trinity Sunday; general.
Historical Notes
Elliott (d. 1841) contributed hymns to her husband's Psalms and Hymns (1835).
About the Tune
FRED TIL BOD (Ludvig M. Lindeman, 1871).
Scripture References
Gen 1:3-5 2 Cor 4:6 Ps 84:10 Rom 13:12 Eph 5:8 1 Thess 5:5 Matt 28:1 John 20:1 Eph 5:14 Rom 6:4-11 Acts 2:1-4 John 16:7-13 Titus 3:5 1 Cor 6:11
Stanza by Stanza
Father, who created light out of darkness on this day, shine on us now, we pray, as we wait in your courts. Draw us away from the works of night and make us children of light.
Gen 1:3 (TLH's text): 'Let there be light' — on the first day. 'God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts' (2 Cor 4:6). 'Cast off the works of darkness' (Rom 13:12); 'children of light' (Eph 5:8; 1 Thess 5:5).
- Scripture
- Gen 1:3-5, 2 Cor 4:6, Rom 13:12, Eph 5:8, 1 Thess 5:5
- Imagery & language
- First day's light; works of night; children of light.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — darkness; Gospel — light.
- Connection to previous
- Father: light.
Savior, who on this day broke the dark prison of the tomb, tell our sleeping souls to wake; shine through all their sin and gloom; let us, set free from our chains, rise from sin and live for you.
The resurrection 'on the first day of the week' (Matt 28:1; John 20:1). 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you' (Eph 5:14). 'Just as Christ was raised… we too might walk in newness of life' (Rom 6:4).
- Scripture
- Matt 28:1, John 20:1, Eph 5:14, Rom 6:4-11
- Imagery & language
- Tomb's prison; slumbering souls; rising.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — sin and bonds; Gospel — resurrection life.
- Connection to previous
- Son: resurrection.
Blessed Spirit, Comforter, sent on this day from Christ on high, Lord, give us your gifts: cleanse, enlighten, sanctify. Pour out all your fullness; lead us to God's truth.
Pentecost, a Sunday (Acts 2:1-4), the Spirit sent by the ascended Christ (John 16:7). 'Washed… sanctified… justified… by the Spirit' (1 Cor 6:11). 'He will guide you into all the truth' (John 16:13).
- Scripture
- Acts 2:1-4, John 16:7-13, 1 Cor 6:11, Titus 3:5
- Imagery & language
- Pentecost; cleanse, illumine, sanctify.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Spirit's gifts.
- Connection to previous
- Spirit: Pentecost.
Themes
God's creative power Light and darkness Daily dependence on God Divine providence Morning prayer