A Sunday Thought About All Souls Day

Today, November 2nd, is All Soul's Day - sort of. Actually, the celebration of the Feast of All Souls has been pushed forward into Monday, November 3rd, because it falls on a Sunday. Remember, the Feast of All Saints (yesterday) was declared not to be a Holy Day of Obligation (something we addressed in our post last Sunday). So it gets a little confusing this year, but let's put that all aside and focus on All Souls.

Back in the "good old days," Holy Mother Church urged us all to meditate from time to time on the "Four Last Things": Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell. (For some reason, you don't hear much about this any more.) Notice that, in Her wisdom Death, came first. So given that it's All Souls - today, tomorrow, whatever - let's just drill right down to what may be the greatest meditation on Death ever: the Dies Irae.

In the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, the Dies Irae was sung (or spoken, if not singer was available) at every funeral Mass. I remember serving as an altar boy at many a funeral Mass so I'm probably a bit more familiar with this deeply moving chant than the average Joe Catholic. It was sung before the Gospel. It's not part of the Novus Ordo, or Ordinary Form of the funeral Mass.

I suspect many, if not most, Catholics today have never heard the Dies Irae chant sung, probably have no idea what the Dies Irae is. But whether you do or don't know it, what could be more appropriate for All Souls Day, given the importance of our meditating on Death. Just listen to this profoundly moving chant, and follow the words. We've pasted a translation below so that the depth and beauty of the words won't escape you this All Souls Day.

DIES irae, dies illa,
solvet saeculum in favilla,
teste David cum Sibylla.

Day of wrath and doom impending,
David’s word with Sibyl’s blending,
Heaven and earth in ashes ending.

Quantus tremor est futurus,
quando iudex est venturus,
cuncta stricte discussurus!

O what fear man’s bosom rendeth,
When from heaven the Judge descendeth,
On whose sentence all dependeth.

Tuba mirum spargens sonum
per sepulcra regionum,
coget omnes ante thronum.

Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth,
Through earth’s sepulchers it ringeth,
All before the throne it bringeth.

Mors stupebit et natura,
cum resurget creatura,
iudicanti responsura.

Death is struck, and nature quaking,
All creation is awaking,
To its Judge an answer making.

Liber scriptus proferetur,
in quo totum continetur,
unde mundus iudicetur.

Lo, the book exactly worded,
Wherein all hath been recorded,
Thence shall judgment be awarded.

Iudex ergo cum sedebit,
quidquid latet apparebit:
nil inultum remanebit.

When the Judge His seat attaineth,
And each hidden deed arraigneth,
Nothing unavenged remaineth.

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
quem patronum rogaturus?
cum vix iustus sit securus.

What shall I, frail man, be pleading?
Who for me be interceding
When the just are mercy needing?

Rex tremendae maiestatis,
qui salvandos salvas gratis,
salva me, fons pietatis.

King of majesty tremendous,
Who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity, then befriend us.

Recordare Iesu pie,
quod sum causa tuae viae:
ne me perdas illa die.

Think, kind Jesus, my salvation
Caused Thy wondrous Incarnation,
Leave me not to reprobation.

Quarens me, sedisti lassus:
redemisti crucem passus:
tantus labor non sit cassus.

Faint and weary Thou hast sought me,
On the Cross of suffering bought me,
Shall such grace be vainly brought me?

Iuste iudex ultionis,
donum fac remissionis,
ante diem rationis.

Righteous Judge, for sin’s pollution
Grant Thy gift of absolution,
Ere that day of retribution.

Ingemisco, tamquam reus:
culpa rubet vultus meus:
supplicanti parce Deus.

Guilty now I pour my moaning,
All my shame with anguish owning,
Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning.

Qui Mariam absolvisti,
et latronem exaudisti,
mihi quoque spem dedisti.

Through the sinful woman shriven,
Through the dying thief forgiven,
Thou to me a hope hast given.

Preces meae non sunt dignae:
sed tu bonus fac benigne,
ne perenni cremer igne.

Worthless are my prayers and sighing,
Yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
Rescue me from fires undying.

Inter oves locum praesta,
et ab haedis me sequestra,
statuens in parte dextera.

With Thy sheep a place provide me,
From the goats afar divide me,
To Thy right hand do Thou guide me.

Confutatis maledictis,
flammis acribus addictis.
voca me cum benedictis.

When the wicked are confounded,
Doomed to flames of woe unbounded,
Call me with Thy Saints surrounded.

Oro supplex et acclinis,
cor contritum quasi cinis:
gere curam mei finis.

Low I kneel with heart’s submission,
See, like ashes, my contrition,
Help me in my last condition.

Lacrimosa dies illa,
qua resurget ex favilla.
iudicandus homo reus:
huic ergo parce Deus.

Ah! That day of tears and mourning,
From the dust of earth returning,
Man for judgment must prepare him,
Spare, O God, in mercy spare him.

Pie Iesu Domine,
dona eis requiem. Amen.

Lord, all-pitying, Jesus blest,
Grant them Thine eternal rest. Amen.