For A Sunday Morning ... Ancient Music of the Catholic Church

Sheet music in the middle ages certainly surpassed what we have now!

PANIS ANGELICUS

St. Philips Boys Choir of the United Kingdom

  
The voices of the boys are piercingly sweet in this rendition of a song familiar to most Catholics who remember the Latin Mass.  Written by St. Thomas Aquinas, it speaks of the sacred Eucharist.  This version is of only the first half, but these boys sang so beautifully I had to choose it.  (The second half is the same music.)  Here is the original Latin with English translation:

Panis angelicus fit panis hominum; Dat panis coelicus figuris terminum: O res mirabilis! Manducat Dominum Pauper, servus et humilis. Te trina Deitas unaque poscimus: Sic nos tu visita, sicut te colimus; Per tuas semitas duc nos quo tendimus, Ad lucem quam inhabitas. Amen.

The angelic bread becomes the bread of men; The heavenly bread ends all prefigurations: What wonder! The Lord is eaten by a poor and humble servant. Triune God, We beg of you: visit us, just as we worship you. By your ways, lead us where we are heading, to the light in which you dwell. Amen.

DIES IRAE

                                                 The Monks of the Abbey of Notre Dame

The Dies Irae is set partly to to a tune of Berlioz which will be familiar to many. The text was written approximately 1260 A.D. by what is now believed to be an anonymous Franciscan monk.  It is a song shrouded in the history of our Church, and is definitely middle-ages-frightening compared to our modern-era religious music.  In that way, it reminds me of some of the old Appalachian songs such as "O Death", songs that speak frankly of a fear of offending God which we don't see much anymore.  Dies Irae speaks of the second coming of Christ and the final judgment.  At least as Christians, we know what to do to prepare for the end of times, and we know that the hope of all is in the forgiveness and mercy of Christ.  Sobering this song may be, but I am drawn to it because it is just plain gorgeous!

The original Latin is shown in the video.  Here is the English translation:

THAT day of wrath, that dreadful day,
shall heaven and earth in ashes lay,
as David and the Sybil say.

What horror must invade the mind
when the approaching Judge shall find
and sift the deeds of all mankind!

The mighty trumpet’s wondrous tone
shall rend each tomb’s sepulchral stone
and summon all before the Throne.

Now death and nature with surprise
behold the trembling sinners rise
to meet the Judge’s searching eyes.

Then shall with universal dread
the Book of Consciences be read
to judge the lives of all the dead.

For now before the Judge severe
all hidden things must plain appear;
no crime can pass unpunished here.

O what shall I, so guilty plead?
and who for me will intercede?
when even Saints shall comfort need?

O King of dreadful majesty!
grace and mercy You grant free;
as Fount of Kindness, save me!

Recall, dear Jesus, for my sake
you did our suffering nature take
then do not now my soul forsake!

In weariness You sought for me,

and suffering upon the tree!
let not in vain such labor be.

O Judge of justice, hear, I pray,
for pity take my sins away
before the dreadful reckoning day.

You gracious face, O Lord, I seek;
deep shame and grief are on my cheek;
in sighs and tears my sorrows speak.

You Who did Mary’s guilt unbind,
and mercy for the robber find,
have filled with hope my anxious mind.

How worthless are my prayers I know,
yet, Lord forbid that I should go
into the fires of endless woe.

Divorced from the accursed band,
o make me with Your sheep to stand,
as child of grace, at Your right Hand.

When the doomed can no more flee
from the fires of misery
with the chosen call me.

Before You, humbled, Lord, I lie,
my heart like ashes, crushed and dry,
assist me when I die.

Full of tears and full of dread
is that day that wakes the dead,
calling all, with solemn blast
to be judged for all their past.

Lord, have mercy, Jesus blest,
grant them all Your Light and Rest. Amen.