Here is a little sentimental experiment late on a Friday night. In a moment of reflection I was reminded of another moment many years ago that ended in me finding and reading a moving passage.
The passage began in this way:
“To restore man, who had been laid low by sin, to the heights of divine glory, the Word of the eternal Father, though containing all things within His immensity, willed to become small.”
In the remembering I decided to make this little album:
Our newest Augustinus Vox album is a new instrumental project called From Milan to Ostia: Instrumental Meditations.
The album traces Saint Augustine’s journey immediately after his baptism in Milan in 387 A.D. That moment was one of joy, release, and new beginning. Augustine later remembered it this way:
“And we were baptized, and our anxiety about our former life fled away. In those days I could not get enough of the wonderful sweetness I felt as I considered the depth of your plan for the salvation of the human race.”
But the joy of baptism was not the end of the story.
After Milan, Augustine traveled south with his mother Monica toward Ostia, the port city of Rome. They intended to sail back to Africa. Instead, Ostia became the place of one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking scenes in the Confessions.
Augustine writes:
“There, far from the crowds, after the weariness of our long journey, we were regaining strength for the voyage ahead.”
That “voyage ahead” was supposed to be the trip home. But for Monica, unexpectedly, it became the journey into the next life.
Before her death, Monica told Augustine:
“My God has granted me this far more fully, because I now see you as his servant, despising earthly happiness. What am I doing here?”
That line became one of the emotional centers of the album. Monica had prayed for Augustine for years. She had followed him, wept for him, pleaded for him, and hoped for him. And now, after seeing him baptized and turned toward God, her deepest earthly hope had been fulfilled.
This album is meant to sit inside that space: the quiet after baptism, the road south through Italy, the rest at Ostia, the window overlooking the garden, and the farewell Augustine would never forget.
Because the album is instrumental, there are no lyrics telling the listener what to think. Instead, the music tries to meditate on the movement of the story itself: joy, pilgrimage, rest, memory, and loss.
Tracklist
1. After the Water
The album opens in the stillness after baptism. The old anxiety has fled, and Augustine stands at the beginning of a new life.
2. Farewell to Milan
A reflective departure from the city of baptism, Ambrose, and new faith. Joy is still present, but the road is already calling.
3. The Little Company
Augustine does not travel alone. This track imagines the small circle of family and companions moving together after the great turning point.
4. Southward Through Italy
The journey begins to stretch across the land. The music follows the movement from Milan toward Rome, carrying both hope and fatigue.
5. Psalms for the Journey
Augustine remembered the sweetness of God’s salvation after baptism. This track imagines prayer, song, and meditation accompanying the road.
6. The Port of Rome
Ostia appears as the threshold between lands, seas, and lives. It is a place of waiting, rest, and preparation for the voyage ahead.
7. Window of Ascent
At Ostia, Augustine and Monica share a moment of spiritual vision at a window overlooking a garden. This track meditates on that quiet ascent of the soul.
8. Earthly Hopes Fulfilled
Monica has seen what she longed to see: Augustine as God’s servant, no longer clinging to earthly happiness. Her deepest hope has been answered.
9. Before the Tears
Before Augustine’s grief breaks open, there is a sacred stillness. This track lingers in the space just before farewell becomes unavoidable.
10. The Unfinished Voyage
The planned voyage to Africa remains unfinished for Monica. Her journey turns beyond this life, leaving Augustine with memory, grief, and hope.
From Milan to Ostia is not only a journey across Italy.
It is a journey from water to farewell, from earthly hope to eternal longing, from the joy of baptism to the mystery of the voyage beyond.
And we were baptized, and our anxiety about our former life fled away.
In those days I could not get enough of the wonderful sweetness I felt as I considered the depth of your plan for the salvation of the human race.
We were asking what place would be best for us to serve you, and together we were returning to Africa.
And while we were at Ostia on the Tiber, my mother died. I pass over much because I am hurrying.
There [at Ostia on the Tiber], far from the crowds, after the weariness of our long journey, we were regaining strength for the voyage ahead.
Here we have a few quotations from Book 9 of the Confessions which instruct us on where our journey with Augustine will next take us. We will move from the city of Milan in northern Italy to the south towards the port of Rome referred to as Ostia. Augustine does not tell us much about the trip but it would have been a much longer journey than from our previous journey from the countryside of Cassiciacum to Milan. That earlier trip might have taken at most 3 days time where the trip to Ostia we expect may have taken about a month.
It is fascinating to me that many of the places mentioned by Augustine still exist today as we have a modern day Milan, Rome and Ostia. You can even plan a trip if you wish to copy the journey yourself today on Google Maps though admittedly google couldn’t find me a way there from Des Moines lol.
If however I start from Milan and plan a trip to Rome then Ostia I can get some sense of their potential journey.
This is not to say of course that modern roads correspond to where ancient roads would have taken Augustine and his little company. In fact we know something of the roads of that time and more than likely the journey was not nearly as direct as a car trip would be today. For certain it would not be a mere 7-8 hours but as mentioned about a month’s long journey.
Imagine what that might have looked like for our little band of travelers. Augustine at age 33, his mother Monica at age 56, Augustine’s teenage son Adeodatus, his brother Navigius, Evodius, possibly even Alypius and perhaps a few unnamed persons. We know this was likely the company due to clues in the text of Confessions Book 9 which explicitly mentioned those names and reference friends and household at the time of Monicas death and immediately prior.
The text doesn’t tell us too much of the journey so we will let our mind imagine a bit. What it does tell us however is that as they left they were experiencing a joy at their recent baptism and that ahead of them is a long tiresome journey that resulted in a pause at Ostia followed by an unexpected time of grieving due to the untimely death of Monica.
In fact Augustine relates that prior to her death Monica actually spoke to him in a kind of foreshadowing way about how all her aims in life were fulfilled in seeing those she cared about come to know Christ. He recalls that she put it this way:
My son, as far as I am concerned, I no longer take delight in anything in this life. What I am still doing here, and why I am still here, I do not know, for every hope I had in this world is now used up.
There was only one reason I wanted to remain a little longer in this life: so that before I died I might see you as a Catholic Christian. My God has granted me this far more fully, because I now see you as his servant, despising earthly happiness.
What am I doing here?
Soon after saying this Monica will become ill and die and pass into glory.
So in considering where we go next on our journey I plan to do another instrumental album. It will take us on this journey from the spiritual heights experienced at Milan on a journey to Ostia on the Tiber. We will stop before Monica’s death but will look to foreshadow it. After this we will move into another lyric album specifically on Monica and Augustine’s remembrance of her.
In doing a little fun imagining with the A.I. I was able to come up with a pretty cool map of the journey. It started with a first draft and quickly moved into our 80s vibe. Here they are for your enjoyment.
First Draft
Second draft 80s rock edition
To see more about where we have come from and where we are going you can listen to Confessions Book 9 yourself here:
The publish button has been hit on our newest album:
Piano Sessions
You can click the album cover above to begin listening to the album on Suno without any ads. I expect the album will soon arive to Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Amazon and other stores.
It has been under construction for quite some time. Longer than any album I’ve worked on previously for sure. The album is really a celebration of the journey so far with Augustine and Augustinus Vox. I had hoped to release it on my birthday last week on April 19 but normal human festivities prevailed for which I’m greatful as there were some additonal changes and testing I made even in the last week.
One of the major late changes was a decision to modify the opening song of the album. I originally intended to begin the album with a Piano version of the opening song from our Soliloquies album called Opening Prayer. This was the shape of the album for quite some time but in a moment of recollection I began to recall an older song I’d made back in some early experiments with Against the Skeptics called To My Friend Romanianus. I couldn’t get away from the song and it became the opener Receive this Song. I found it to be a sort of dedication to any who might venture along this journey with me. 🙂
History of the Opener: Receive This Song
Some time after that album was released I was experimenting further with the ideas after releasing On Order. I decided it might be a neat experiment to try to do draft albums for each book of Contra Academicos that was more faithful to the text of the work and call it something like Contra Academicos: The Complete Journey.
[Disclaimer: If you want to listen to it you can do so by clicking here but be warned unlike our published albums this has little to no QA. I call it a draft album.]
The idea was forming that perhaps a good way to learn Augustine was to work with his ideas in a variety of degrees. First a lighter album and then onto something a bit more dense. Learning topics of theology and philosophy are hard for me and I find the music a helpful way to engage with the ideas and appropriate them. Regardless that draft album was pretty cool on the listen through enough I sent it to a friend. I continue to work with Contra Academicos to this day and have an idea that it might make a pretty entertaining stage play were it infused with a bit of 80s rock and humor.
More on Piano Sessions
So how did we get from 80s rock to Piano? Well, I enjoy a variety of music styles and I enjoyed the idea of Vox and band making me an album for my birthday to celebrate all the work we’ve put into the project. You’ll find in Piano Sessions many covers of some of my favorite songs that we’ve created over the last year as well as a few new original songs which I also call Piano Sessions Version because they all originate from an 80s rock version. Some have little echoes of their source as a rock ballad which is quite surprising at times. Additionally there are a few unique ones in there that are sure to be favorites of someone out there.
An Overview of the Originals
Receive This Song
Recive This Song as mentioned is the opener to the album. The song is drawn from the opening of Contra Academicos where Augustine writes to his patron and friend Romanianus.
Light-Giver of the Dawn
This is the second original song on the album that comes at the end the first half of the album. It comes from an ancient hymn attributed to Hilary of Poitiers.
Orabo
Orabo is actually a hymn fragment attributed to Saint Ambrose. In our Ambrosian Hymns album this song is what is behind Heart and Spirit. The term Orabo means “I will pray” which is how that hymn fragment begins. Orabo was first published in it’s rock form on Suno and on YouTube. You can listen below. A fantastic Instrumental!
I Will Pray (Orabo Interlude)
This song comes as a short interlude. It is a cover of our instrumental Orabo above but with the lyrics of the hymn fragment I quite enjoyed.
And finally…
The First and the Last
This song is probably my favorite on the album and I always can’t wait to get to it. It originated from our exploration of the works of Ambrose. Specifically it came out of experiments with Ambrose’s Hexameron.
Well all this to say hope you enjoy this new album. I know I sure do.
Recently out of curiosity I logged into my distributor account and pulled down a report of every Augustinus Vox song and the number of times it has been played. This report does not include Spotify where nearly half of all listens come in so I also pulled a separate Spotify report to get those numbers.
I sent both reports into the “A.I. overlord” and I inquired about top 10 tracks by number of plays. It responded back with the top 10 tracks which quite surprised me because a song was listed first I did not expect. Here is the list.
1. The Living Law 2. Shadow of a Doubt 3. The Handing Over 4. Canticle of the Creatures 5. The Order of Love (Instrumental) 6. Grief and Gratitude 7. The Light Beyond the Tomb – Piano Sessions Version 8. Nothing for Certain 9. Heart and Mind 10. The Question of Joy
Upon checking further it seems that someone recently utilized The Living Law within some kind of social media short or ad and this caused it to jump up to the number one spot.
On seeing this I begin a journey to recall what that song was about and how it came to be. One memory that is very distinct is that the idea for the song occurred to me over a lunch break and that it was a song inspired by Augustine’s Retractions where he comments on and critiques his past works. At the time I had been working and thinking about the Immortality of the Soul album for several weeks and had essentially finished the album. I was in what I call the QA stage where I listen over and over and then make micro adjustments to songs and sometimes regenerate a song entirely when I like the tune but dislike aspects of how it sounds or way lyrics are sung. In this phase I explored Augustine’s retractions and he had this to say about the work:
After the books of the Soliloquies, once I had returned from the countryside near Milan, I wrote a book called On the Immortality of the Soul. I had intended it to serve as a kind of reminder for finishing the Soliloquies, which had been left incomplete. But somehow, against my wishes, it got into people’s hands, and so it is counted among my works. At the very beginning, the force and brevity of its chain of arguments make it so obscure that it tires even my own attention when it is read, and I can hardly understand it myself.
Then, because I was thinking of nothing but human souls, I said in one argument in that same book, “There cannot be any discipline in that which learns nothing.” And elsewhere I said, “Knowledge embraces nothing except what belongs to some discipline.” It did not occur to me that God does not learn disciplines, and yet has knowledge of all things, including foreknowledge of future events. Something similar appears where I said, “No being has life together with reason except the soul.” But life without reason certainly cannot be denied of God, since in him there is both the highest life and the highest reason. And I also said earlier, “That which is understood is always of this kind,” even though the mind too is understood, and yet it is not always of this kind. Again, when I said that the mind cannot be separated from eternal reason because it is not joined to it spatially, I certainly would not have said that if I had already been so trained in the Holy Scriptures as to remember what is written: “Your sins separate you from God.” From this it is clear that even things joined not by place but in an incorporeal way can still be said to be separated.
I also cannot recall what I meant when I said, “If the soul is without a body, it is not in this world.” For are the souls of the dead not without bodies? Or are they not in this world? As though the lower regions are not part of this world. But since I used being “without a body” in a positive sense, perhaps by “body” I meant bodily afflictions. If that is what I meant, then I used the word far too strangely. This too was said rashly: that bodily form is given by the soul from the highest essence, and that a body exists, to whatever degree it exists, through the soul. Therefore, the body subsists through the soul, and exists by the very fact that it is animated, whether universally, as in the world, or particularly, as in each individual living thing within the world. All of this was said altogether too rashly.
This book begins: “If there is such a thing as discipline anywhere…”
In the above quote we see Augustine’s awareness that some of what he shared in the work was shared in ignorance of the Scriptures. This idea prompted me to explore a song that incorporated scripture and his later corrections. The song came together quickly and here it is!
Our new album is officially out and beginning it’s journey to a streaming platform near you. We call it Ambrosian Catechesis, Vol. 2: The Light of Mystery. Our aim here is to journey with Augustine into the post-baptism instruction he may have received from Ambrose.
We draw on several sources for this album, chiefly a work referred to as On the Mysteries (listen to the entire work translated into English). This is a work of Ambrose where he explains to those newly baptized what they have recently experienced. It is a work filled with biblical imagery and explanation.
One example is Ambrose’s description of a practice where before baptism, the phrase Ephphatha was spoken over the person. This phrase comes from the Gospels and is a well known phrase Jesus spoke over a deaf man before healing. Ambrose describes it this way:
So open your ears, and take in the good fragrance of eternal life, breathed into you through the gift of the sacraments. This is what we signaled to you when, celebrating the mystery of the opening, we said: “Ephphatha”—which means “Be opened”—so that each person coming to grace would know what he was being asked, and would remember what he should answer.
Christ celebrated this mystery in the Gospel, as we read, when he healed a man who could not speak and could not hear. But he touched the man’s mouth, because he was healing both a man who could not speak and a man himself. In the one case, so that his mouth would be opened by the sound of the voice poured into it; in the other, because that kind of touch was fitting for a man, but not fitting for a woman.
Here Ambrose touches on the practice of saying Ephphatha as celebrating the mystery of the opening. It is meant then to symbolize both the act of God in bringing the person to baptism and as preparation for the act itself. It is a wonderful phrase that symbolizes God’s act of healing the human heart.
Ambrose himself held a view of baptism in which baptism is a real saving mystery in which God forgives sins, grants new life, joins the believer to Christ, and brings the person into the life of the Church. This is a view both similar and quite different than the view many Christians hold today. On the one hand a Roman Catholic for example would find much to agree with in the practice and the way it is described, seeing in the descriptions echoes of their own experience in the church. On the other hand an Evangelical would find this view of baptism to be stronger than the typical evangelical view that baptism is a symbol of an inward reality and perhaps be challenged by the ancient understanding to consider a different view. Regardless both view baptism on a basic level as marking a change that God has worked in bringing a lost person to Himself. And so we celebrate with Ambrose this mystery and consider that wonderful working of God in the heart.
Another interesting aspect of the quote above is the last sentence regarding the touch being fitting for a man and not a woman. This is not meant to say the practice of saying Ephphatha was not done over both genders. Rather here Ambrose is speaking to a real cultural reality of Jesus day in which to perform a healing in the manner of touching the tongue would have been inappropriate had the man not been a man. So think of it like a kind of side comment about the culture and time not as a indication that men received a different version of the rite than a women. Phrases like this can be a little jarring a times when reading ancient writers and they remind us of the gap in time and culture as I would doubt that a modern teacher would have said the same in that manner. One aspect this phrase brings out though is the very personal nature of the healing Jesus performs for the individual and this is something we know all to well across gender differences. When the Lord moves to heal us he does so at the most personal level. What a cool Lord!
All this to say we begin our new album with a song inspired from this mystery in the hope we all might experience as well as remember that healing. Ephphatha friends!
An album inspired by Ambrose’s post-baptism sacramental catechesis, reimagined as a luminous 1980s rock journey through baptism, Eucharist, Spirit, and new life.
Below are the full lyrics for all 12 tracks from Ambrosian Catechesis, Vol. 2: The Light of Mystery by Augustinus Vox, including “Ephphatha,” “Buried with Him,” “The Bread of Angels,” “New Creation,” and “The Dove Descends.
Not just the surface The unseen Not just the sound Believe
Ephphatha Be opened
Ears awake Heart awake Do not forget
Ephphatha Be opened Ephphatha Be opened
Buried with Him
You stepped into the water That looked like any other stream Stone and shadow common earth Nothing more than it had seemed But heaven leaned into the moment Though your eyes could only see What is touched by grace eternal Is not what it appears to be
Do not trust the surface only Do not weigh it by the sight What is seen is passing shadow What is unseen breathes with life
You were buried with Him In the deep where sin grows still You were buried with Him In the silence of His will Dead to the world that fades and lies Raised to God to endless light You were buried with Him And you rose to life that night
You confessed the name of Father You confessed the Son made known You confessed the living Spirit Hold the order you were shown Not the water did the healing Not the river not the tide But the grace that moved beneath it When the cross stood at your side
Remember what your voice has spoken Remember what your heart has sworn Faith has shaped you in that descent And a new self has been born
You were buried with Him Where the old self met its end You were buried with Him Where the grave became a womb again Dead to sin its weight undone Raised to God forever free You were buried with Him And you rose to eternity
Seven times the river called And nothing changed within Until obedience met mercy And grace did what water never did So do not doubt what touched you there Do not call that moment thin What God has sealed in mystery No power can unbegin
You were buried with Him Not in symbol not in name But in truth that breaks the darkness In resurrection flame Dead to the world its empty breath Alive to God His victory Believe this now with steady heart These waters were not empty
Were not empty
The Oil of Strength
You rose from out the waters And you came before the throne Not in weakness not in silence But as one the Lord has known Then the oil upon your forehead Spoke a promise clear and sure You are marked for life and courage You are chosen and secure
Like the oil on Aaron’s beard Flowing down with holy fire Grace was poured upon your calling Lifting heart and soul much higher
This is the oil of strength The sign upon your head You are crowned with living mercy With the life the Spirit said This is the oil of strength You are sealed and set apart Made a royal priest forever With His name upon your heart
Eyes that see must lead the body Wisdom rises from the head So the blessing finds its purpose Where the Spirit’s light is spread Not for rest but for the journey Not for ease but faithful stand Every soul anointed now For the work of God’s own hand
Drawn by love that calls your name Drawn by fragrance from the King Every heart renewed in courage Feels the strength this oil brings
This is the oil of strength The sign upon your head You are crowned with living mercy With the life the Spirit said This is the oil of strength You are sealed and set apart Made a royal priest forever With His name upon your heart
Draw us after You we answered Running in Your risen light Breathing in the scent of life That turns the darkness into sight What was poured is not forgotten What was given will remain Strength to stand and strength to serve In the glory of His name
This is the oil of strength Not a memory not a sign But a living gift of power Grace that claims this life as mine This is the oil of strength You are armed with holy fire
Note: Song ends after the above lyrics but originally it was intended to end with following:
Sent to walk as risen people Sent to lift the world up higher
The Bread of Angels
I held it in my hands so ordinary A common loaf beneath the candlelight But heaven leans in close when the words are spoken And the earth remembers why it has a voice
Not my words no not my breath A higher Word that wakes the dust The same command that carved out oceans Now turns the simple into trust
Before the Word it’s bread in my sight After the Word it’s holy life He spoke the stars He spoke the seas He speaks this gift inside of me No fear of blood no shock of night But ransom hidden blazing bright The Bread of Angels heaven’s sign The living Body mine to find
He said receive and what He says becomes it A promise stronger than my doubt can be If all creation rose when He commanded Then let my heart rise up and learn to see
Not my reason no not my proof But faithful Witness sure and true If He declares it I will answer Amen so let it carry through
Before the Word it’s bread in my sight After the Word it’s holy life He spoke the stars He spoke the seas He speaks this gift inside of me No fear of blood no shock of night But ransom hidden blazing bright The Bread of Angels heaven’s sign The living Body mine to find
I was old an empty name A tired creation bent in shame But when He speaks He makes me new A new creation breaking through The altar glows the table stands The covenant in open hands And in that Word the world is changed And I am changed
Before the Word it’s bread in my sight After the Word it’s holy life He spoke the stars He spoke the seas He speaks this gift inside of me No fear of blood no shock of night But ransom hidden blazing bright The Bread of Angels heaven’s sign The living Body mine to find
Amen amen The Word has spoken so I live Amen amen The Bread of Angels I receive
New Creation
I came worn thin by borrowed names A fragile heart a debt of shame Born with riches lost the gold Trading glory for the cold
But He did not leave me there He met me at the font and flame Where dying ends the reign of death And rising calls me by a Name
I was old but now I’m new A new creation breaking through What was dust now learns to breathe What was bound is finally free Daily Bread eternal flame He feeds my life He seals my name I was old but now I’m new New creation made in You
Not once a year not distant light But living fire here tonight If I still fall He still remains The medicine for all my pain
Each time I come with empty hands Each time His mercy meets my need Not memory alone but life Renewed in what I now receive
I was old but now I’m new A new creation breaking through What was dust now learns to breathe What was bound is finally free Daily Bread eternal flame He feeds my life He seals my name I was old but now I’m new New creation made in You
If I am wounded here is cure If I am weak this makes me sure If I still stumble in the night This Bread restores my strength to fight He said today and still He says My mercy does not age or fade If Christ is risen every day Then every day I rise again
I was old but now I’m new A new creation breaking through What was dust now learns to breathe What was bound is finally free Daily Bread eternal flame He feeds my life He seals my name I was old but now I’m new New creation made in You
Today He feeds me today I live Today I rise in what I receive Today today New creation Amen
Our Father
Out of the water out of the night I rise with a borrowed breath No longer bound to the dust below No longer marked by death I speak a name I could not claim Before the light broke through Not distant throne not hidden fire But Father calling me too
Not fear not silence Not a stranger’s door I stand as one reborn
Our Father High above yet nearer than my breath Your kingdom come Your will be done Here in this fragile flesh Give us the bread that does not fade Forgive what we became Lead us through the trial of night Deliver us by name
Daily hunger daily need But not for dust alone A living bread a deeper fire A life no grave has known I learned this prayer beside the font Where mercy learned my face Where every debt was washed away By undeserved grace
I do not ask as one outside But as a child who knows
Our Father High above yet nearer than my breath Your kingdom come Your will be done Here in this fragile flesh Give us the bread that does not fade Forgive what we became Lead us through the trial of night Deliver us by name
Not from stone but from the table Not from fear but from the Son Every word a mark of promise You have made us one If You clothe the fields with glory If You hear the smallest cry How much more will You sustain us As we walk this newborn life
Our Father Let Your mercy shape our days Your kingdom come Your will be done In love that never strays We are not lost we are not alone We speak because we’re known Our Father Hear the voice of those You’ve claimed as Your own
Our Father
The Red Sea
Night fell hard on our escape Iron thunder at our heels Water towering like a gate Panic was the only thing we’d feel
We cried out shaking out of breath Still tasting Egypt in our lungs Then Moses raised the staff of God And the deep learned a new song
Cloud ahead fire behind You were with us in the fear Not by blade and not by might By Your promise drawing near
Through the sea You carried me Out of chains into the free What was shadow now is true What was figure now is new Down I go old life erased Up I rise remade by grace Through the sea at break of dawn I am Yours and fear is gone
Walls of water left and right A narrow road Your hand designed Every step became a prayer Every heartbeat learned to trust Your light
The cloud came close and covered us The fire burned our doubt away Where it looked like we would die You made a way You made a way
Not a tale that faded out Not a wonder trapped in time This same crossing marks us still When we meet the water’s line
Through the sea You carried me Out of chains into the free What was shadow now is true What was figure now is new Down I go old life erased Up I rise remade by grace Through the sea at break of dawn I am Yours and fear is gone
The sea didn’t take the people It took the ones who hunted us The wave that judged the tyrant’s pride Became our rescue bloodless just
Water and Spirit cover me Make my ending be my start I die there with the old demand I rise here with a living heart
Through the sea You carried me Out of death into the free Not to drown beneath the night But to rise into the light Down I go old life erased Up I rise remade by grace Through the sea at break of dawn I am Yours and fear is gone
You still speak seas open wide Freedom’s born on the other side
The Jordan Opens
I came with dust on my hands With old names on my skin Looking for a river deep enough To drown what I’ve been I thought the cure was farther off Some brighter foreign stream But mercy waits in humble water Like waking from a dream
Not every water heals the heart Not every wave makes clean But grace can take a common thing And make it more than seen
Open Jordan open wide Let the old life pass inside Not just element not just rain But mercy spoken into name Down I go and up I rise Newborn fire behind my eyes When the river meets the Word The Jordan opens
Naaman walked in wounded pride Is this the whole of it Seven steps into ordinary To unmake the counterfeit And I know that voice in me That bargains doubts delays But healing isn’t in the distance It’s in obedience’s blaze
Not every water carries light Not every plunge is peace But when the Christ steps into it The chains begin to cease
Open Jordan open wide Let the old life pass inside Not just element not just rain But mercy spoken into name Down I go and up I rise Newborn fire behind my eyes When the river meets the Word The Jordan opens
He did not need the washing Yet He entered for my sake First into the flowing darkness So the waters wake Then the Dove a sign of gentleness Descending without fear And the Father’s pleasure thundered Love made crystal clear Trinitas in one bright moment Light within the flood He sanctifies the river And calls my pulse His own blood
Open Jordan open wide Let the old life pass inside Not just element not just rain But mercy spoken into name Down I go and up I rise Newborn fire behind my eyes When the river meets the Word The Jordan opens When the river meets the Word The Jordan opens
Open open open
Signaculum
Remember the seal Keep what you received The Father marked me The Son confirmed me The Spirit lives within A pledge that will not fade
Wisdom Understanding Counsel Strength Knowledge Piety Holy Fear
Remember the seal
Wisdom Understanding Counsel Strength Knowledge Piety Holy Fear
Guard the gift Hold to the vow Do not forget What God has done
Wisdom Understanding Counsel Strength Knowledge Piety Holy Fear
Remember the seal Keep what you received
The Dove Descends
Not counted with the all things that serve Not numbered among the works of hands He moves above the waters still Unmeasured free and uncommanded Not sent like tools from place to place Yet present where the faithful are A breath that cannot be confined A fire that leaves the heart a star
The world can’t see Him The world can’t name Him But grace arrives like dawn
O Dove descending Seal of the living God Mark of the promise Burn away the fog Write Your light within me Where no thief can tread Make my heart Your temple Wake what looked like dead O Spirit holy Freedom Stay and do not cease Where You are there is liberty Where You are there is peace
Not merely water on the skin But hidden signing in the soul A sacred imprint in the chest A pledge that makes the shattered whole The finger of the living God Unbinds the serpent’s ancient claim The darkness yields the idols fall And fear forgets its former name
Not lesser not divided One working with the Father’s will One glory undiminished One love that sanctifies us still
O Dove descending Seal of the living God Mark of the promise Burn away the fog Write Your light within me Where no thief can tread Make my heart Your temple Wake what looked like dead O Spirit holy Freedom Stay and do not cease Where You are there is liberty Where You are there is peace
Not a servant among all But over all yet near to me Not broken into pieces Yet poured out endlessly Not borrowed fire not passing wind You search the depths You know what’s true And what You sanctify endures A new creation made in You
O Dove descending Seal of the living God Sign of adoption Calling me beloved Keep Your mark upon me Till the final day Let my life confess You Light that will not fade O Spirit holy Freedom Stay and do not cease Where You are there is liberty Where You are there is peace
Guard the Door
Night leans close to the chamber wall A hand is near but I will not give all Not every voice may cross this place Not every word may wear His face
I learned to keep the threshold still To wait for more than passing thrill A quieter fire a deeper sound The kind that turns the whole heart round
Guard the window Guard the flame Let no stranger Rename the Name
Guard the door Keep the chamber for the Word Closed to the noise But open when He’s heard Sealed with mercy Marked by holy fire Guard the door Keep the hidden heart higher
Hortus conclusus hidden and bright A wellspring covered from the wasting night Not locked by fear not sealed by pride But kept for Christ to dwell inside
Wash the feet and guard the way Do not let the old dust stay What has been opened by His grace Let nothing common now deface
Guard the speaking Guard the eyes Keep them clear For truer light
Guard the door Keep the chamber for the Word Closed to the noise But open when He’s heard Sealed with mercy Marked by holy fire Guard the door Keep the hidden heart higher
When He knocks Rise up quickly When He calls Do not delay He does not love The careless slumber He loves the soul That makes Him stay
Myrrh will fall from opened hands Grace will breathe through guarded lands And what was once a restless room Becomes a living place for Him
Guard the door Keep the chamber for the Word Closed to the noise But open when He’s heard Sealed with mercy Marked by holy fire Guard the door Keep the hidden heart higher
Be still Be sealed Be ready For the Word
Choose the Kingdom
I remember the questions in the quiet light I remember my voice in the holy night Not in the shadows not in the grave Written among the living bold and brave I said no to the old chains clinging to my name I said no to the glitter that burns like flame
I won’t bargain with the dark I won’t wear its borrowed crown I’m not drifting anymore I’m turning now
I choose the Kingdom I choose the King I turn to the sunrise I let the new life begin I renounce the lie I release the dream that destroys I choose the Kingdom With my mouth with my heart with my voice
Water on my skin but more than water there Grace in the unseen fire in the air Not just a symbol not just a sign A living work that rewrites my time The old self sinking the new self raised A clean yes spoken and heaven praised
I won’t look back to Egypt I won’t fear the waves The path is open through the deep And I am saved
I choose the Kingdom I choose the King I turn to the sunrise I let the new life begin I renounce the lie I release the dream that destroys I choose the Kingdom With my mouth with my heart with my voice
Seal me with wisdom Teach me to see Understanding Wake up in me Counsel and strength now Steadying me Knowledge and piety Rooted in me Holy fear guard me Keep me in awe Help me preserve What I received in Your law
Set Your seal on my heart Like a fire that can’t be drowned No flood can silence love No river takes it down
I choose the Kingdom I choose the King I turn to the sunrise I let the new life begin I renounce the lie I release the dream that destroys I choose the Kingdom With my mouth with my heart with my voice
I’m turned to the morning I’m done with the night I choose the Kingdom And I will keep the light
I was headed to my lunch break today and as I was meandering through cubicle world for a bit of respite, I happened to notice a notification on my phone. This notice told me that a monetary reward related to my music was awaiting me. That was unexpected because I don’t know I have ever seen such a notice before. Given the way these things work the notice was a least a month delayed.
Curious, I logged in to my distributor account and discovered to my surprise that in January someone had decided that they wanted to purchased one of the albums. That was a surprise and I want to say thank you to whoever you are. You have the honor of being the very first non-robot to purchase an Augustinus Vox album. It was a special blessing to me and the entire robot band. I wanted to memorialize the moment in thankfulness so I decided to create this post.
After the events of the day and some good times with a few family members I returned back home and to that memory of thankfulness. I then began to wonder whether I had saved the original prompt translations I did of the Ambrosian Hymns as I was working on the album because it seemed to me a fitting extra to revisit and honor the occassion. Fortunately being the digital packrat that I sometimes am, it appears I did indeed save them.
One thing you will notice below as you compare each hymn against its corresponding Vox track is that Hymn 6 in the album is quite different in creation and method than the rest. It was somewhat an experiment that I decided to keep. It seemed to me a rock intermission. It resulted from recognizing Hymn 6 as a fragment and then getting an idea to create a sparse heavy rock hymn song with the language in a higher register basically making it a bit more metaphorical. I also experimented with another version I call Orabo which is an instrumental track. That phrase in latin means I will pray and you can find it as the first word of the hymn in latin. You can listen to Orabo here.
So dear reader, I present the Ambrosian Hymns as I originally prompt translated them from wikisource. Enjoy!
God bless you!
Ambrose Hymns
HYMN I – Eternal Maker of All
Eternal Maker of all things, You rule the night and day, Setting the rhythm of time itself To ease the weariness of our hearts.
Now the herald of the day cries out— The watchman who keeps vigil through the deep night, A light for travelers in the dark, Separating one night from the next.
At this call the morning star rises, Lifting the veil of shadow from the sky; And the whole company of darkness and error Abandons its path of harm.
The sailor regains his strength, And the waves of the sea grow calm. Even the Rock of the Church, at the rooster’s crow, Sings and is cleansed of guilt.
So let us rise with energy! The rooster calls those who lie asleep, Chides the drowsy, And rebukes those who deny.
At the rooster’s cry, hope returns; The sick are restored to health, The robber’s sword is sheathed, And the fallen recover faith.
Jesus, look upon the weak And by Your gaze make us whole again. When You look upon us, our sin falls away, And tears wash guilt away.
Shine Your light upon our senses, Drive out the sleep of our minds; Let our first voice each morning be Yours, And our prayers rise to You.
HYMN II – Creator of All
God, Creator of all things, Ruler of heaven, You clothe the day in glorious light And bless the night with the gift of rest.
Grant that quiet may renew our weary limbs And make them ready for work again; Let our tired minds be eased, And our anxious griefs dissolved.
Now that the day is done, we give You thanks; As night begins, we offer prayer: That by our vows You would help the guilty And receive our hymn of praise.
Let the depths of our hearts sing to You, Let our clear voices ring for You; Let holy love be our delight, And a disciplined mind our worship.
When the deep darkness closes the day, May faith remain untouched by night, And may the night itself shine With the light of faith.
Do not let our minds sleep in sin; Let only guilt grow weary and die. Keep us, O faithful Guardian, And temper the heat of sleep.
When our senses are stripped of wandering thought, Let our hearts dream of You; And may no deceit of the jealous enemy Disturb our quiet rest.
Let us pray to Christ and to the Father, And to the Spirit of both— One power through all things, O Trinity, shelter us who pray.
HYMN III – The Third Hour
Now the third hour rises— The hour when Christ was lifted to the cross. Let no proud thought arise within us; Let our hearts be turned to prayer.
Whoever welcomes Christ within the heart Holds a mind free from harm, And through faithful prayer Is made worthy of the Holy Spirit.
This is the hour when the long night of sin ended, When the reign of death was washed away, When guilt, ancient as time, was lifted.
From this hour began the blessed days Of grace through Christ: Faith filled the world, And truth established the Church in every land.
From His lofty throne of triumph He spoke to His mother: “Woman, here is your son.” And to the disciple: “Here is your mother.”
By this, He revealed a holy mystery— A covenant beyond human marriage, That the Virgin’s sacred birth Would not diminish a mother’s honor.
He proved His truth with heavenly signs, Though unbelievers refused to see. But whoever believes will be saved.
We believe that God was born, The child of the holy Virgin, Who bore the world’s sins And now sits at the Father’s right hand.
HYMN IV – Come, Redeemer of the Nations
Come, Redeemer of the nations, Show the miracle of the Virgin’s birth! Let all the world stand in awe: Such a birth is fitting for God.
Not by the seed of man, But by a divine breath, The Word of God became flesh, And the fruit of the womb blossomed.
The Virgin’s womb swells, Yet her purity remains untouched. The banners of virtue shine, For God dwells in His temple.
He comes forth from His royal chamber, From the sacred hall of virginity, A giant of twofold nature, Eager to run His course.
His coming is from the Father, And His return is to the Father; His descent reaches even to the dead, And His ascent returns to the throne of God.
Equal to the eternal Father, He girds Himself with human weakness, Strengthening our frail flesh With everlasting power.
The manger now shines bright, And the night breathes new light, A light no darkness can extinguish— Faith’s light that never fades.
HYMN V – The Light of the Most High
O Most High, who lights the shining stars, You are peace, life, light, and truth. Jesus, show Your favor to all who pray.
When, by the mystery of baptism, You turned back the flowing Jordan, You made that water sacred By Your own presence.
When the star of heaven marked The Virgin’s holy birth, You led the Magi by its light To kneel before Your manger.
At Cana’s feast, when jars were filled with water, You gave it the taste of wine. The servant drank and knew That what he poured was not his own doing.
The water blushed with color, The streams themselves seemed drunk with joy; The very elements stood amazed To see themselves transformed for higher use.
So too, when You broke the five loaves To feed five thousand men, The food increased in every hand; Those who shared it saw it multiply.
The bread grew greater by being given, Like an endless fountain flowing; Even what was left uneaten Became a sign of overflowing grace.
HYMN VI – Prayer in Spirit and Mind
I will pray with my mind, And I will pray with my spirit; Let not my voice alone sing to God While my thoughts drift elsewhere, Carried away by restless cares Or the vanities of chance.
HYMN VII – Radiance of the Father’s Glory
Splendor of the Father’s glory, Light from light eternal, You brighten each new dawn And illuminate one day with the next.
True Sun, come into our hearts, Shining with unending light; Let the beam of the Holy Spirit Glow within our minds.
Let us call upon the Father— The Father of everlasting glory, The Father of mighty grace— To remove the stain of sin.
May He shape our actions with strength, Blunt the teeth of envy, Turn our misfortunes to good, And grant the grace to persevere.
Let faith govern our minds and bodies, Pure and steadfast; Let it burn with holy warmth And know nothing of deceit.
May Christ be our food, And faith our drink; Let us joyfully taste The sober intoxication of the Spirit.
Let this day pass in gladness: Chastity like the morning light, Faith like the noon, And our minds free of twilight gloom.
As dawn advances its course, May the full morning rise— The Son wholly in the Father, And the Father wholly in the Word.
HYMN VIII – Eternal Gifts of Christ
Let us sing with joyful hearts Of Christ’s eternal gifts And the victories of His martyrs— Our worthy songs of praise.
They are the princes of the Church, Triumphant leaders in battle, Soldiers of heaven’s court, True lights of the world.
They conquered the terrors of this age, Despised the torments of the body, And by the short struggle of holy death Gained everlasting life.
They are thrown to flames, To the jaws of beasts; The torturer’s cruel hands Tear their flesh apart.
Their holy blood is poured out, Yet they remain unshaken— Sustained by the grace Of eternal life.
The faith of the saints is steadfast, The hope of believers unbroken, The love of Christ perfected— And the ruler of this world is defeated.
In them shines the Father’s glory, In them the will of the Son, In them rejoices the Spirit; Heaven is filled with joy.
Redeemer, we pray, Join us, Your servants who now plead, To the fellowship of these saints, Forever and ever. Amen.
HYMN IX – Morning Prayer
Rested from sleep, we rise from bed, Turning from the couch of rest. We ask You, Father, To be present as we sing.
Let our tongues begin with You, Let our hearts burn with love for You, That You, Holy One, May be the source of all we do.
Let darkness give way to light, And night to the star of day, That the guilt brought by the night May fade away in morning’s gift.
We pray, humbly, That You cut off every sin, So that those who sing Your praise May praise You forever.
Grant this, most loving Father, And You, the Only Son, His equal, With the comforting Spirit, Reigning through all ages.
HYMN X – Companion of the Father’s Light
You share the Father’s light, Light of light, day of day— We break the night with song, Asking You to be near.
Dispel the darkness of our minds, Scatter the armies of demons; Drive away our sleepiness Lest sloth overwhelm us.
So, Christ, grant to all who believe, That our prayers may bear fruit And that our songs of praise May profit those who sing.
HYMN XI – O Blessed Light, O Trinity
O blessed Light, O Holy Trinity, One God of sovereign unity, Now the fiery sun departs— Pour Your light into our hearts.
We praise You in the morning song, We pray to You at evening’s close; Our humble glory lifts to You Through every age forever.
HYMN XII – The Gate of Grace
The gate of Christ stands open— Filled with overflowing grace. The King Himself has passed through And remains, though the door is sealed forever.
From the court of heaven’s light The Bridegroom came forth, Redeemer and Creator, The mighty Champion of His Church.
Honor of His mother, joy of the faithful, Boundless hope of those who believe, He drank the dark cup of death To wash away our sins.
P.S. if you happened to hang around this far then now you get my apology for the pronunciation of cana and wound in the album. I left those errors in the album because I had already grown so attached to the songs in worship I couldn’t bear to throw them away and I knew what Vox meant to sing because I had the lyrics. My mind was able to make up the difference but I can never unhear the errors 😂. At some point if I make an alive version I might fix them like George Lucas tinkering with the the original trilogy. Lol
A random reading sparked a new idea for a song. I happened across an article on Saint Francis of Assisi and it referenced his hymn which goes by several names such as Canticle of the Creatures and Canticle of the Sun. Hope you enjoy it!
How we made it
I was able to locate an original language edition of the hymn here:
From here I essentially gave it the Saint Ambrose hymn treatment.
First we translated it as follows:
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord, all praise is Yours, all glory and honor and every blessing. To You alone, Most High, they belong, and no human being is worthy even to speak Your name.
Praised be You, my Lord, through all Your creatures, especially through Brother Sun, who brings the day and gives us light. He is beautiful and radiant with great splendor, and he bears the likeness of You, Most High.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in heaven You formed them bright, precious, and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind, and through the air, the clouds, calm and storm, and every kind of weather by which You sustain Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, who is very useful and humble, precious and pure.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom You light the night; he is beautiful and joyful, strong and powerful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and produces many fruits, with colorful flowers and living herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of You and who endure sickness and suffering. Blessed are those who endure in peace, for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our sister, Bodily Death, from whom no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin; blessed are those whom death finds within Your holy will, for the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord, give thanks and serve Him with great humility.
Next step was to make it uniquely AUGUSTINUS VOX so VOX stepped up and gave us a few editions of the lyrics but ultimately we settled on this:
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord above, All praise and glory belong to Your love; Honor and blessing rise endlessly, No human voice is worthy of Thee.
Yet still creation lifts its song, And calls our silent hearts along.
All praise be Yours, O Lord most high, Let earth and heaven glorify; With every voice and every breath, Your praise resounds through life and death. All praise be Yours, let all things sing, Creation gathered to its King; From sky to sea, from dust set free, All life proclaims Your majesty.
Praised through Brother Sun’s bright flame, Day awakens in Your name; Radiant splendor fills the sky, Bearing Your own likeness high. Praised through Sister Moon and stars, Shining through the silent dark; Precious lights in heaven’s height, Gentle guardians of the night.
The turning skies declare Your love, All things sustained by grace above.
All praise be Yours, O Lord most high, Let earth and heaven glorify; With every voice and every breath, Your praise resounds through life and death. All praise be Yours, let all things sing, Creation gathered to its King; From sky to sea, from dust set free, All life proclaims Your majesty.
Praised through Brother Wind and air, Cloud and storm and weather fair; Every breath and shifting day Carries life along its way. Praised through Sister Water clear, Humble, precious, ever near; Pure and gentle, flowing free, Gift of quiet charity.
Praised through Brother Fire’s light, Warming hearts and guarding night; Joyful, strong, and bright with flame, Dancing sparks that speak Your name. Praised through Mother Earth who feeds, Flower and fruit and living seeds; All who walk upon her face Rest within sustaining grace.
Through dust and flame Your goodness shown, No living thing stands here alone.
All praise be Yours, O Lord most high, Let earth and heaven glorify; With every voice and every breath, Your praise resounds through life and death. All praise be Yours, let all things sing, Creation gathered to its King; From sky to sea, from dust set free, All life proclaims Your majesty.
Blessed those who choose to forgive, Who suffer still and learn to live; Peace shall be their crown one day, Held within Your gentle way.
Praised through Sister Death at last, None may flee her shadow cast; Blessed those found within Your will, Whom the second death cannot kill.
All praise be Yours, O Lord most high, Let earth and heaven glorify; Through life and death Your mercies ring, Eternal hope our voices bring. All praise be Yours, let all things sing, Creation gathered to its King; With humble hearts and voices raised, Forever shall Your Name be praised.
Praise and bless the Lord above, Serve Him still in humble love; All creation, great and small, Give Him thanks — the Lord of all.
All praise be Yours, O Lord most high, Let earth and heaven glorify; With every voice and every breath, Your praise resounds through life and death. All praise be Yours, let all things sing, Creation gathered to its King; From sky to sea, from dust set free, All life proclaims Your majesty.
All praise be Yours, O Lord most high, Let earth and heaven glorify; With every voice and every breath, Your praise resounds through life and death. All praise be Yours, let all things sing, Creation gathered to its King; From sky to sea, from dust set free, All life proclaims Your majesty.
It took a bit of working with the tool as the song is really long so the tool kept cutting things off and reordering portions but we got it eventually.
From here I began to work with images and settled on this one which you can use on your desktop or phone.
