Veni Redemptor gentium

Veni Redemptor gentium. Ambrose of Milan* (339/340-397). This Christmas hymn is sometimes prefixed by ‘Intende, qui regis Israel’*. First mentioned in Augustine*'s Sermon 372, it is universally accepted as the work of Ambrose (Daniel, Thesaurus Hymnologicus IV. 4-6 (1845) also mentions other sources confirming the authorship). ‘Intende qui regis Israel’ is found in the Old Hymnal and the Frankish Hymnal (see ‘Medieval hymns and hymnals’*) as a Christmas hymn. In the New Hymnal it generally began ‘Veni Redemptor gentium’ (Milfull, Hymns of the Anglo-Saxon Church, p. 202). The precise liturgical assignment varied. For example, in the Winchester Hymnal it was sung at Matins at Christmas...