Dies iræ, dies illa
Solvet sæclum in favílla:
Teste David cum Sibýlla.
Quantus tremor est futúrus,
Quando judex est ventúrus,
Cuncta stricte discussúrus!
Tuba mirum spargens sonum
Per sepúlcra regiónum,
Coget omnes ante thronum.
Mors stupébit et natúra,
Cum resúrget creatúra,
Judicánti responsúra.
Liber scriptus proferétur,
In quo totum continétur,
Unde mundus judicétur.
Judex ergo cum sedébit,
Quidquid latet, apparébit:
Nil inúltum remanébit.
Quid sum miser tunc dictúrus?
Quem patrónum rogatúrus,
Cum vix justus sit secúrus?
Rex treméndæ majestátis,
Qui salvándos salvas gratis,
Salva me, fons pietátis.
Recordáre, Jesu pie,
Quod sum causa tuæ viæ:
Ne me perdas illa die.
Quærens me, sedísti lassus:
Redemísti Crucem passus:
Tantus labor non sit cassus.
Juste judex ultiónis,
Donum fac remissiónis
Ante diem ratiónis.
Ingemísco, tamquam reus:
Culpa rubet vultus meus:
Supplicánti parce, Deus.
Qui Maríam absolvísti,
Et latrónem exaudísti,
Mihi quoque spem dedísti.
Preces meæ non sunt dignæ:
Sed tu bonus fac benígne,
Ne perénni cremer igne.
Inter oves locum præsta,
Et ab hœdis me sequéstra,
Státuens in parte dextra.
Confutátis maledíctis,
Flammis ácribus addíctis:
Voca me cum benedíctis.
Oro supplex et acclínis,
Cor contrítum quasi cinis:
Gere curam mei finis.
Lacrimósa dies illa,
Qua resúrget ex favílla
Judicándus homo reus.
Huic ergo parce, Deus:
Pie Jesu Dómine,
Dona eis réquiem.
Amen.
May be omitted at Daily Mass
Dreaded day, that day of ire,
When the world shall melt in fire, Told by Sibyl and David’s lyre.
Fright men’s hearts shall rudely shift, As the Judge through gleaming rift Comes each soul to closely sift.
Then, the trumpet’s shrill refrain, Piercing tombs by hill and plain, Souls to judgment shall arraign.
Death and nature stand aghast,
As the bodies rising fast,
Hie to hear the sentence passed.
Then, before Him shall be placed, That whereon the verdict’s based, Book wherein each deed is traced.
When the Judge His seat shall gain, All that’s hidden shall be plain, Nothing shall unjudged remain.
Wretched man, what can I plead?
Whom to ask to intercede,
When the just much mercy need?
You, O awe-inspiring Lord,
Saving e’en when unimplored,
Save me, mercy’s fount adored.
O sweet Jesus, mindful be,
That You came on earth for me:
Cast me not from You this day.
Seeking me Your strength was spent Ransoming Your limbs were rent:
Is this toil to no intent?
You, awarding pains condign,
Mercy’s ear to me incline,
Ere the reckoning You assign.
I, felon-like, my lot bewail,
Suffused cheeks my shame unveil:
God! O let my prayer prevail.
Mary’s soul You fashioned white, And did to heaven the thief invite;
Hope in me these now excite.
Prayers of mine in vain ascend:
You are good and will forefend, In quenchless fire my life to end.
When the cursed by shame oppressed, Enter flames at Your behest, Call me then to join the blessed.
Place amid Your sheep accord,
Keep me from the tainted horde, Set me in Your sight, O Lord.
Prostrate, suppliant, now no more Unrepenting, as of yore, Save me dying, I implore.
Mournful day that day of sighs, When from dust shall man arise, Stained with guilt his doom to know, Mercy, Lord, on him bestow.
Jesus, kind! Your souls release, Led them thence to realms of peace.
Amen.