# CXXV: Matins—Monday explained — Verses on Various Occasions

> Chapter companion for Verses on Various Occasions by John Henry Newman.

## What happens

A morning hymn of awakening and supplication, calling upon the Lord to cleanse the soul from the sins of the night and to guide the day's actions in holiness, with praise directed to the Trinity.

## Themes in this chapter

### Faith and Doubt

The hymn expresses confident faith in God's cleansing and guidance, contrasting the darkness of night with the renewal of light.

### Sin and Redemption

The prayer asks for cleansing from sins that crept in during the night, seeking redemption and purity for the day ahead.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who rises from sleep and leads the prayer.

### Lord

Addressed as the Father who looks upon suppliants and cleanses the soul.

### Father, Son, and Paraclete

Invoked as the triune God to whom all worship is due.

## Key lines

> Sleep has refresh’d our limbs, we spring From off our bed, and rise;

After restful sleep, we wake and get up from bed.

_Describes the physical act of waking and rising._

> Cleanse Thou the gloom, and bid the light Its healing beams renew;

Purify the darkness and let the light bring its restorative rays again.

_A plea for spiritual cleansing and renewal at dawn._

> The sins, which have crept in with night, With night shall vanish too.

The sins that entered during the night will disappear along with the night.

_Asserts that nocturnal sins are dispelled by the morning's grace._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters/cxxv-matins-monday
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters