Dies Iræ
The Dies Iræ is the traditional sequence of the Mass of the Dead and the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (November 2), attributed to Thomas of Celano (13th c.), companion of St Francis. A powerful text on the Last Judgement. Although no longer obligatory in the current liturgy, it is preserved as a devotional hymn for meditation on the Last Things; it may still be sung in Requiem Masses in the extraordinary form and at Vespers of the last week of Ordinary Time.
Day of wrath, that day,
shall the world to ashes turn,
as David and the Sibyl say.
What dread there shall be
when the Judge shall come
strictly to discuss all things.
The trumpet, scattering a wondrous sound
through the graves of all lands,
shall summon all before the throne.
Death shall be aghast, and nature,
when the creature shall rise again
to answer the Judge.
A written book shall be brought,
in which all is contained,
whence the world shall be judged.
When the Judge therefore shall sit,
whatever lies hidden shall appear:
nothing shall remain unpunished.
What shall I, a wretch, say then?
To which patron shall I have recourse,
when scarcely the just are safe?
King of tremendous majesty,
who freely save those who are saved,
save me, O fount of mercy.
Remember, sweet Jesus,
that I am the cause of your journey;
do not lose me on that day.
Seeking me, you sat down weary;
you redeemed me by suffering the Cross:
let not such toil be lost.
Just Judge of vengeance,
grant the gift of remission
before the day of reckoning.
I groan as one guilty,
my face blushes for my sin;
spare, O God, the suppliant.
You who absolved Mary
and heeded the thief,
have given me hope as well.
My prayers are not worthy;
but you who are good, kindly grant
that I burn not in the eternal fire.
Set me among the sheep,
separate me from the goats,
placing me at your right hand.
When the wicked are confounded,
condemned to devouring flames,
call me with the blessed.
I pray, suppliant and bowed down,
with a heart contrite as ashes;
have care for my end.
That day shall be a day of tears,
when from the dust shall rise
the guilty man to be judged.
Spare him, then, O God.
Merciful Lord Jesus,
grant them eternal rest. Amen.
In Latin
Dies iræ, dies illa,
solvet sæclum in favilla,
teste David cum Sibylla.
Quantus tremor est futurus,
quando Iudex est venturus,
cuncta stricte discussurus!
Tuba, mirum spargens sonum
per sepulcra regionum,
coget omnes ante thronum.
Mors stupebit et natura,
cum resurget creatura,
iudicanti responsura.
Liber scriptus proferetur,
in quo totum continetur,
unde mundus iudicetur.
Iudex ergo cum sedebit,
quidquid latet apparebit:
nil inultum remanebit.
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
Quem patronum rogaturus,
cum vix iustus sit securus?
Rex tremendæ maiestatis,
qui salvandos salvas gratis,
salva me, fons pietatis.
Recordare, Iesu pie,
quod sum causa tuæ viæ:
ne me perdas illa die.
Quærens me, sedisti lassus:
redemisti Crucem passus:
tantus labor non sit cassus.
Iuste Iudex ultionis,
donum fac remissionis
ante diem rationis.
Ingemisco, tamquam reus:
culpa rubet vultus meus:
supplicanti parce, Deus.
Qui Mariam absolvisti,
et latronem exaudisti,
mihi quoque spem dedisti.
Preces meæ non sunt dignæ:
sed tu bonus fac benigne,
ne perenni cremer igne.
Inter oves locum præsta,
et ab hædis me sequestra,
statuens in parte dextra.
Confutatis maledictis,
flammis acribus addictis,
voca me cum benedictis.
Oro supplex et acclinis,
cor contritum quasi cinis:
gere curam mei finis.
Lacrimosa dies illa,
qua resurget ex favilla
iudicandus homo reus.
Huic ergo parce, Deus.
Pie Iesu Domine,
dona eis requiem. Amen.