Missa Defunctorum

Last night's Requiem Mass afforded the opportunity to pray for family, friends and mentors who have passed on.

Dies iræ, dies illa,
Solvet sæclum in favílla:
Teste David cum Sibýlla.

Quantus tremor est fúturus,
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.

Iudex ergo cum sedébit,
Quidquid latet apparébit:
Nil inultum remanébit.

Quid sum miser tunc dictúrus?

         Day of wrath, O day of mourning,
         Lo, the world in ashes burning —
         Seer and Sibyl gave the warning.

         O what fear man's bosom rendeth,
         When from Heaven the Judge descendeth,
         On whose sentence all dependeth!

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

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

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

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

         What shall I, frail man, be pleading?