Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)

The Dies Irae, written by a monk named Thomas of Celano in the 13th century was the center piece of the Roman Catholic requiem mass for centuries. Monks chanted the Dies Irae to mourn the passing of their fellows and the haunting sound coming from the abby would tell the people that one of the brothers had passed on. In the 18th century Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart took the timeless verse of Thomas and put it to music; one of the most famous choral pieces ever written... his Requiem. This was Mozart's final piece; he died in 1791 with the work unfinished. Many of you would recognize this piece instantly as it was featured in the soundtrack of "The Hunt for Red October". Here are the words. The translation (in italics) is not literal but was taken from a later choral work in English.

	Dies irae, dies illa, solvet saeclum in favilla, teste David cum Sybilla.	Day of wrath! On that day Heaven and earth shall melt away David and the Sibyl say
	Quantus tremor est futurus, quando judex est venturus, cuncta stricte discussurus.	Fright men’s hearts rudely rends, when from heaven the Judge descends on whose sentence each depends.
	Tuba mirim spargens sonum, per sepulchra regionum, coget omnes ante thronum.	Wondrous sound the trumpet flings, Through earth's sepulchres it rings, All before the throne it brings.
	Mors stubebit et natura, cum resurget creatura, judicanti reponsura.	Death and nature hesitating, All creation resurrecting, To its Judge an answer making.
	Liber scriptus proferetur, in quo totum continetur, unde mundus judicetur.	Before Him the Book, exactly worded wherein each deed is recorded whence the world is rewarded.
	Judex ergo cum sedebit, quidquid latet apparebit, nil ilnultum remanebit.	When the Judge His seat shall gain, all that’s hidden shall be plain, nothing unavenged remain.
	Quid sum miser tunc dicturus, quem patronum rogaturus, cum vix justus sit securus?	Wretched man, what can I plead, whom to ask to intercede, when the just much mercy need?
	Rex tremendae majestatis, qui salvandos salvas gratis, salva me, fons pietatis,	Majestic King tremendous Who free salvation grants us, Font of mercy, save us.
	Recordare Jesu pie, quod sum causa tuae viae, ne me perdas illa die.	Jesus, holy in recollection Caused by wondrous incarnation; On that day save me from destruction.
	Quaerens me sedisti lassus, redemisti crucem passus, tantus labor non sit causus.	Faint and weary You sought me, On the cross of suffering redeemed me; Shall such grace be vainly brought me?
	Juste judex ultinonis, donum fac remissionis ante diem rationis.	Righteous Judge avenging Grant thy gift all-forgiving, Before the day of reckoning.
	Ingemisco tanquam 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;	By whom Mariam was forgiven; and the thief's appeal did listen; And to me a hope now 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 dextra;	With thy favoured sheep O place me, Nor among the goats abase me; But to thy right hand upraise me!
	Confutatis maledictis, flammis acribus addictis, voca me cum benedictis.	While 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-submission; See, like ashes, my contrition; Help me in my last condition.
	Lacrimosa dies illa, qua resurget ex favilla	Ah, that day of tears and mourning! From the dust of earth returning,
	judicandus homo reus huic ergo parce, Deus.	Man for judgment must prepare him; Spare, O God, in mercy spare him
	Pie Jesu domine, dona eis requiem.	Lord, all-pitying, Jesu blest, Grant us thine eternal rest!

	Thomas of Celano 1200-1255(?)