The Catholic Prayer Book and Manual of Meditations/Dies Irae
THE SEQUENCE FOR THE DEAD.
| The day of wrath, that dreadful day, | Dies irae, dies illa, |
| Shall the whole world in ashes lay, | Solvet saeculum in favilla, |
| As David and the Sibyl say. | Teste David cum Sibylla. |
| What horror must invade the mind, | Quantus tremor est futurus, |
| When the approaching Judge shall find | Quando Judex est venturus, |
| Few venial faults in all mankind! | Cuncta stricte discussurus! |
| The last loud trumpet's wond'rous sound | Tuba mirum spargens sonum |
| Shall through the rending tombs rebound, | Per sepulchra regionum, |
| And wake the nations under ground. | Coget omnes ante thronum. |
| Nature and death shall with surprise | Mors stupebit, et natura, |
| Behold the trembling sinner rise, | Cum resurget creatura, |
| To view his Judge with conscious eyes. | Judicanti responsura. |
| Then shall, with universal fear, | Liber scriptus proferetur, |
| The seven-sealed judgment book appear, | In quo totum continetur, |
| To scan the whole of life's career. | Unde mundus judicetur. |
| The Judge ascends his awful throne, | Judex ergo cum sedebit, |
| Each secret sin shall here be known. | Quidquid latet, apparebit. |
| All must their shame confess their own. | Nil inultum remanebit. |
| Ah, wretched! what shall I then say, | Quid sum, miser! tunc dicturus, |
| What patron find, my fears t'allay, | Quem patronum rogaturus, |
| When even the just shall dread that day? | Cum vix justus sit securus? |
| Thou mighty, formidable King! | Rex tremendæ majestatis! |
| Of mercy uuexhausted spring! | Qui salvandos salvas gratis! |
| Save me! O save! and comfort bring. | Salva me fons pietatis. |
| Remember what my ransom cost; | Recordare Jesu pie, |
| Let not my dear-bought soul be lost. | Quod sum causa tuæ viæ; |
| In storms of guilty terrors tost. | Ne me perdas illa die. |
| In search of me why feel such pain; | Quærens me, sedisti lassus: |
| Why on thy cross such pangs sustain, | Redemisti, crucem passus, |
| If now those sufferings must be vain? | Tantus labor non sit casus. |
| Avenging Judge, whom all obey, | Juste Judex ultionis, |
| Cancel my debt, too great to pay, | Donum fac remissionis |
| Before the sad accounting day. | Ante diem rationis. |
| O'erwhelmed, oppressed with doubts and fears, | Ingemisco tanquam reus, |
| Their load my soul in anguish bears: | Culpa rubet vultus meus, |
| I sigh, I weep—accept my tears. | Supplicanti parce, Deus. |
| Thou, who wert moved at Mary’s grief, | Qui Mariam absolvisti, |
| Who didst absolve the dying thief, | Et latronem exaudisti, |
| Dost bid me hope, O grant relief. | Mihi quoque spem dedisti. |
| Reject not my unworthy prayer, | Preces meæ non sunt dignæ, |
| Preserve me from the dangerous snare, | Sed tu bonus fac beninge, |
| Which death and gaping hell prepare. | Ne perenni cremer igne. |
| Give my immortal soul a place | Inter oves locum præsta, |
| Among thy chosen right-hand race. | Et ab hædis me sequestra, |
| The sons of God and heirs of grace. | Statuens in parte dextra. |
| From that insatiate abyss, | Confutatis maledictis, |
| Where flames devour and serpents hiss, | Flammis acribus addictis, |
| Deliver me, and raise to bliss. | Voca me cum benedictis. |
| Prostrate my contrite heart I rend, | Oro supplex et acclinis, |
| My God, my father, and my friend, | Cor contritum quasi cinis, |