# CXXXI: Lauds—Sunday explained — Verses on Various Occasions

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

## What happens

A hymn celebrating the dawn and the crowing of the rooster as a call to repentance and renewal of faith, invoking the mercy of Christ and the Trinity.

## Themes in this chapter

### Sin and Redemption

The hymn calls sinners to repentance, referencing Peter's tears and asking Christ to melt offenses into penitential grace.

### Nature and the Divine

The rooster's crow and the morning star are depicted as divine instruments that signal repentance and renewal.

## Character check-ins

### Christ

Addressed as 'Jesu, Master!' and implored to turn His healing face upon sinners.

### Peter

Referenced in the line 'Once it wrought a great repenting, In that flood of Peter's tears.'

### Father, Son, and Paraclete

Mentioned in the closing doxology: 'To the Father and the Son, And the Spirit, who in Heaven Ever witness, Three and One.'

## Key lines

> Framer of the earth and sky, Ruler of the day and night, With a glad variety, Tempering all, and making light

God, who created the universe and governs time, brings joyful balance and illumination to all things.

_Opening lines establish God's sovereignty over creation and the cycle of day and night._

> Once it wrought a great repenting, In that flood of Peter's tears.

The rooster's crow once moved Peter to weep bitterly over his denial of Christ, leading to his repentance.

_Reference to Peter's remorse after the cock crowed, as recounted in the Gospels._

> Jesu, Master! when we sin, Turn on us Thy healing face; It will melt the offence within Into penitential grace

Lord Jesus, when we fall into sin, look upon us with mercy, and Your gaze will transform our guilt into sorrow and forgiveness.

_A prayer for Christ's forgiving presence to inspire true repentance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters/cxxxi-lauds-sunday
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters