requiem

Sung portions of the Requiem Mass

• Introit:

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Te decet hymnus Deus, in Sion, et tibi reddetur votum in Ierusalem. Exaudi orationem meam; ad te omnis caro veniet.

"Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and may everlasting light shine upon them. A hymn becometh thee, O God, in Zion, and unto thee a vow shall be repaid in Jerusalem. Hear my prayer; unto thee all flesh shall come."

• Kyrie eleison:

Kyrie eleison; Christe eleison; Kyrie eleison. (From the Greek: Κυριε ελεησον; Χριστε ελεησον; Κυριε ελεησον).

"Lord have mercy on us; Christ, have mercy on us; Lord, have mercy on us."

• Gradual:

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine; In memoria æterna erit iustus ab auditione mala non timebit.

"Grant them eternal rest, O Lord. He shall be justified in everlasting memory, and shall not fear evil reports."

• Tract:

Absolve Domine animas omnium fidelium defunctorum ab omno vinculo delictorum et gratia tua illis succurente mereantur evadere iudicium ultionis, et lucis æterne beatitudine perfrui.

"Forgive, O Lord, the souls of all the faithful departed from all the chains of their sins and may they deserve to avoid the judgment of revenge by your fostering grace, and enjoy the everlasting blessedness of light."

• Sequence: Dies iræ, dies illa (See Dies Iræ for full text)

• Offertory:

Domine, Iesu Christe, Rex gloriæ, libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de poenis inferni et de profundo lacu. Libera eas de ore leonis, ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum; sed signifer sanctus Michael repræsentet eas in lucem sanctam, quam olim Abrahæ promisisti et semini eius.

"Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, free the souls of all the faithful departed from infernal punishment and the deep pit. Free them from the mouth of the lion; do not let Tartarus swallow them, nor let them fall into darkness; but may the sign-bearer, St Michael, lead them into the holy light which you promised to Abraham and his seed."

Hostias et preces tibi, Domine, laudis offerimus; tu suscipe pro animabus illis, quarum hodie memoriam facimus. Fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam. Quam olim Abrahæ promisisti et semini eius.

"O Lord, we offer you sacrifices and prayers in praise; accept them on behalf of the souls whom we remember today. Make them pass over from death to life, as you promised Abraham and his seed."

• Sanctus:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Domine Deus Sabaoth; pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua.

("Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts; Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory").

Hosanna in excelsis.

"Hosanna in the highest".

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord).

Hosanna in excelsis. (reprise)

• Agnus Dei:

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem,

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem,

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem sempiternam.

"Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant them rest, ... grant them rest eternal.".

• Communion:

Lux æterna luceat eis, Domine, cum sanctis tuis in æternum, quia pius es. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine; et lux perpetua luceat eis.

"May everlasting light shine upon them, O Lord, with thy saints in eternity, for thou art merciful. Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and may everlasting light shine upon them."

Additional texts

These are Latin texts sometimes included as movements in musical settings of the Requiem, although they are not formally part of the Mass liturgy itself:

• "Libera me" (from the Absolution)

Libera me, Domine, de morte æterna, in die illa tremenda, quando coeli movendi sunt et terra. Dum veneris iudicare sæculum per ignem. Tremens factus sum ego et timeo, dum discussio venerit atque ventura ira. Dies iræ, dies illa, calamitatis et miseriæ, dies magna et amara valde. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis.

"Free me from eternal death upon that terrible day when heaven and earth shall be moved, when thou comest to judge the world with fire. I am afraid and trembling, on account of the coming judgment and wrath. That day is a day of wrath, of disaster and misery, a great and very bitter day. Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and may everlasting light shine upon them."

• "In paradisum" (from the burial service)

In paradisum deducant te Angeli; in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Ierusalem. Chorus angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.

"May angels lead you into Paradise; may the martyrs receive you at your coming and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. May a choir of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, who once was poor, may you have eternal rest."

• "Pie Jesu"

Pie Iesu Domine, dona eis requiem. Dona eis requiem sempiternam.

"O sweet Lord Jesus, grant them rest; grant them everlasting rest.")

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