Ordo Musicae

MISSA PRO DEFUNCTIS

Mass for All the Faithful Departed
 A Word of Explanation
If this is the first time you have attended a chanted Mass, please take a moment to glance over
this page. It will make it much easier to follow the Liturgy, freeing your intellect from the
frustration of mad page-turning and leaving it open for prayer instead.
There are four very rough categories of chants at Mass, equally applicable to the Ordinary and
the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite:
1. The parts of the Mass sung by the priest alone, such as the Collect and post-Communion
prayer.
2. The parts are sung in alternation between priest and congregation. In this booklet, responses
are marked ‘R’. Where musical notation is not provided, simply imitate the priest’s tone when
responding.
3. Ordinary: The parts sung by the congregation. These include the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus
and Agnus Dei. The Gloria and Credo are not sung at a Mass for the Dead. The remaining three
Ordinary chants have been included in this booklet. Please sing them if you are able.
4. Propers: The chants that are different for every Mass, and are sung by the choir alone. Text
and translations for each Proper are included below.
A Sung Mass happens at several levels at once. Don’t try to pay attention to all of them, but pick
one as your focus. Many find it easiest at first to meditate on the sung texts. If you want to
follow what is happening in the sanctuary, pick up your coat and sit closer to it, or you will miss
almost everything! Most importantly, don’t expect to understand the Mass entirely after tonight.
Christ is like any other person: it takes time and sacrifice to come to know and love Him.
At this Mass for the Dead, you will notice the use of black vestments, the absence of organ
music, and many other reminders of sin, judgment and ordinary human sorrow at the loss of life.
But if you listen closely, you will also hear songs of joy and even triumph, reflecting our
confident Christian hope in the life to come.
God bless you, and may you die a little this evening!
Sancte Gregori, Ora Pro Nobis
Subveníte Sancti Déi, occúrrite Angeli Dómini: Suscipiéntes ánimam éjus: Offeréntes éam
in conspectu Altíssimi. v. Suscípiat te Chrístus, qui vocávit te: et in sínum Abrahae Angeli
dedúcant te: Suscipiéntes ánimam éjus: Offeréntes éam in conspectu Altíssimi. v. Requiem
aetérnam dóna éi Dómine: et lux perpétua lúceat éi. Offeréntes éam in conspectu Altissimi.
Come to his assistance, O you saints of God, go forth to meet him, O you Angels of the
Lord; receive his soul and present it in the sight of the Most High. v. May Christ, who
called you, receive you, and may the Angels lead you into the bosom of Abraham. Receive
his soul and present it in the sight of the Most High. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and may perpetual light shine upon them. Receive his soul and present it in the sight of the
Most High.

MASS OF THE CATECHUMENS

Introit: 4 Esd 2: 34, 35; Ps 64: 2, 3
Requiem aetérnam dóna éis Dómine: et lux perpétua lúceat éis.
Ps. Te décet hýmnus Déus in Síon, et tíbi reddétur vótum in Jerúsalem: exáudi oratiónem
méam, ad te ómnis cáro véniet.
Beatus quem elegisti et assumpsisti: inhabitabit in atriis tuis. Replebimur in bonis domus
tuae; sanctum est templum tuum, mirabile in aequitate.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them.
Ps. It is fitting, O God, to sing a hymn unto you on Mount Zion; and our vows shall be
carried out for you in Jerusalem. O hear my prayer: all flesh shall come to thee.
Blessed is he whom thou hast chosen and taken to thee: he shall dwell in thy courts. We
shall be filled with the good things of thy house; holy is thy temple, Wonderful in justice.
Kyrie: Kyrie ad libitum III
Collect:

P. Oremus... P. Let us pray...

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful: grant unto the souls of Thy servants
the remission of all their sins: that through devout supplications, they may obtain the
pardon which they have desired. Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, God, through all the ages of ages.
R. Amen.

Epistle: 1 Cor. 15: 51-57

Lectio Epistolae beati Pauli Apostoli ad Corinthios.
Reading from St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
Brethren: Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall all indeed rise again: but we shall not all
be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet
shall sound and the dead shall rise again incorruptible. And we shall be changed. For this
corruptible must put on incorruption: and this mortal must put on immortality. And when
this mortal hath put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death where is thy
sting? Now the sting of death is sin: and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God,
who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be ye steadfast and unmoveable: always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Gradual: 4 Esd 2: 34, 35, v. Ps. 111: 7
Requiem aetérnam dóna éis Dómine: et lux perpétua lúceat éis.
v. In memória aetérna érit jústus: ab auditióne mála non timébit.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them.
v. The righteous shall be remembered forever; he shall never fear evil tidings.
Tract:
Absólve, Dómine, animas ómnium fidélium defunctórum ab ómni vinculo delictórum.
v. Et grátia túa íllis succurrénte, mereántur evadere judícium ultiónis.
v. Et lúcis aetérnae beatitúdine pérfrui.
Deliver, O Lord, the souls of all the departed faithful from all bondage of their sins.
v. And by your sustaining grace, may they partake in the happiness of eternal light.
Sequence:
Dies írae, díes ílla, Day of wrath, that day,
Sólvet saéclum in favílla: When the ages will dissolve into glowing ashes,
Téste Dávid cum Sibýlla. As David and the Sibyll bore witness.
Quántus tremor est futurus, What a tremor is to be,
Quando júdex est ventúrus, When the judge is to come,
Cúncta stricte discussúrus! Briskly shattering every tomb.
Túba mírum spárgens sónum The trumpet pours out an awesome blast
Per sepúlcra regiónum, Through the sepulchres of every land,
Cóget ómnes ante thrónum. Calling all before the throne.
Mors stupébit et natúra, Death and Nature will be stunned
Cum resúrget creatúra, When the creature arises,
Judicánti responsúra. Responding to the One who will judge.
Líber scríptus proferétur, The written book will be brought forth,
In quo tótum continétur, In which all is contained,
Unde múndus judicétur. From whence the world is to be judged.
Júdex ergo cum sedébit,
Quídquid látet apparébit:
Nil inúltum remanébit.
Quid sum míser tunc dictúrus?
Quem patrónum rogatúrus?
Cum vix jústus sit securus.
Rex treméndae majestátis,
Qui salvándos sálvas gratis,
Sálva me, fons pietátis.
Recordáre Jésu píe,
Quod sum cáusa túae víae:
Ne me pérdas ílla díe.
Quaérens me, sedísti lássus:
Redemísti crúcem pássus:
Tántus lábor non sit cássus.
Júste júdex ultiónis,
Dónum fac remissiónis,
Ante díem ratiónis.
Ingemísco, tamquam réus:
Cúlpa rúbet vúltus méus:
Supplicánti párce Déus.
Qui Maríam absolvisti,
Et latrónem exaudísti,
Míhi quoque spem dedísti.
Préces méae non sunt dígnae:
Sed tu bonus fac benígne,
Ne perénni crémer igne.
Therefore when the Judge takes his seat,
Whatever is hidden will appear.
Nothing unavenged will remain.
What am I, the wretch, to say,
What patron to invoke
When scarcely the just shall be secure?
King of tremendous majesty,
Who freely saves those to be saved,
Save me, fountain of mercy.
Remember, kind Jesus,
That I am the reason for your journey:
Do not lose me on that day.
Seeking me, you have sat down weary.
Suffering on the Cross, you have redeemed me.
Let not such a labour be in vain.
Just judge of retribution,
Give the gift of remission
Before the day of reckoning.
I groan, as one accused.
My face is flushed with guilt.
Spare the suppliant, O God.
You who absolved Mary,
And favourably heard the thief,
You have also given me hope.
My prayers are not worthy,
But deal kindly, You who are Good,
Lest I burn in everlasting fire.
Inter óves locum praésta, Offer a place among the sheep,
Et ab haédis me sequéstra, And hold me apart from the goats,
Státuens in párte déxtra. Placing me on the right hand.
Confutátis maledíctis, When the accursed are silenced,
Flammis ácribus addíctis, Given up to the bitter flames,
Vóca me cum benedíctis. Call me with the blessed.
Oro súpplex et acclínis, Kneeling and bowed down I pray,
Cor contrítum quasi cínis: My heart contrite as ashes:
Gére cúram méi finis. Care for me at the end.
Lacrimósa dies ílla, That sorrowful day,
Qua resúrget ex favílla. on which will arise from the glowing ashes,
Judicándus hómo réus: Man accused, to be judged:
Húic ergo párce Déus. Spare him, then, O God.
Píe Jésu Dómine, Kind Lord Jesus,
dóna éis requiem. grant them rest.
Amen. Amen.
Gospel: John 5: 25-29
Dominus vobíscum. The Lord be with you.
R. Et cum spíritu tuo. R. And with thy spirit.
Sequentia sancti Evangelii The continuation of the Holy Gospel
secundum Joánnem. according to St. John
R. Gloria tibi Dómine. R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
At that time Jesus said to the multitude of the Jews: “Amen, Amen, I say unto you, that the
hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they
that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself, so he hath given to the Son also
to have life in himself. And he hath given him the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of
God. And they that have done good things shall come forth unto the resurrection of life:
but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgement (unto the resurrection of
judgement...That is, condemnation).
P. Orémus. P. Let us pray.
MASS OF THE FAITHFUL
Offertory Chant:
Domine Jésu Chríste, Rex glóriae, líbera animas ómnium fidélium defunctórum de poénis
inférni, et de profúndo lácu: líbera éas de óre leónis, ne absórbeat éas tártarus, ne cádant in
obscúrum: sed signifier sánctus Michael repraeséntet éas in lúcem sánctam: Quam olim
Abrahae promisísti, et sémini éjus.
v. Hóstias et préces tíbi Dómine láudis offérimus: tu súscipe pro animábus íllis, quárum
hódie memoriam fácimus: fac éas, Dómine, de mórte transire ad vítam. Quam olim
Abrahae promisísti, et sémini éjus.

O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, deliver the souls of all the faithful departed from the
sufferings of hell and from the deep pit; deliver them from the mouth of the lion, may they
not be swallowed up by hell, may they not fall into darkness; but may Saint Michael, the
standardbearer, present them in holy light as you promised long ago to Abraham and his
descendants.
v. We offer our sacrifices and our prayers to you, O Lord; receive them for the souls that
we are remembering today; O Lord, make them pass from death into life as you promised
long ago to Abraham and his descendants.
Secret:
Mercifully look down, we beseech Thee, O Lord, upon the sacrifice which we offer Thee
for the souls of Thy servants, that, to those on whom Thou didst confer the merit of
Christian faith, Thou mayst also grant its reward. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son
our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,

P. Per ómnia saecula saeculórum. P. Through all the ages of ages.

R. Amen. R. Amen.

Preface Dialogue:
Preface:
Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutáre..., aetérne Deus, per Christum Dóminum
nostrum.
In quo nobis spes beátae resurrectiónis effúlsit: ut quos contrístat certa moriéndi condítio,
eósdem consolétur future immortalitátis promíssio. Tuis enim fidélibus, Dómine, vita
mutátur, non tóllitur: et dissolute terréstris hujus incolátus domo, aetérna in caelis
habitation comparator. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archángelis, cum Thronis et
Dominatiónibus, cumque omni militia caeléstis exércitus, hymnum glóriae tuae cánimus,
sine fine dicéntes:
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all
places, give thanks to Thee, holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God, through Christ our
Lord, in Whom the hope of a blessed resurrection has shone upon us: so that those who
are saddened by the certainty of dying might be comforted by the promise of immortality
to come. To Thy faithful people, Lord, life is changed, not taken away; and when the home
of this earthly sojourn is dissolved, an eternal dwelling is made ready in heaven. And
therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the
hosts of the heavenly army, we sing a hymn to Thy praise, saying without end:
Sanctus : Mass
XII
Canon of the Mass:
P. PER IP+SUM, ET CUM
IP+SO, ET IN IP+SO, est tibi
Deo Patri + omnipoténti, in unitáte
Spiritus + Sancti, omnis honor,
et glória.
Through all the ages of ages.
Pater Noster:
Pater noster, qui es in caelis:
Sanctificétur nomen tuum:
Advéniat regnum tuum:
Fiat volúntas tua,
sicut in caelo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidiánum
da nobis hódie:
Et dimítte nobis débita nostra,
sicut et nos dimíttimus
debitóribus nostris.
Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem.
Amen.
THROUGH HIM +, AND WITH
HIM +, AND IN HIM +, is unto
Thee, God the Father + Almighty,
In the unity of the Holy + Spirit,
all honour and glory.
R. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name:
Thy kingdom come:
Thy will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation.
Líbera nos, quaésumus, Dómine,
ab omnibus malis, praetéritis,
praeséntibus, et futúris: et intercedénte
beáta et gloriósa semper Virgine Dei
Genitríce María, cum beátis Apóstolis
tuis Petro et Paulo, atque Andréa, et
omnibus sanctis, + da propitius
pacem in diébus nostris: ut ope
misericórdiae tuae adjúti, et a peccáto
simus semper líberi, et ab omni
perturbatione secure.
Per eúmdem Dóminum nostrum
Jesum Christum Filium tuum,
Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte
Spíritus Sancti, Deus.
P. Through all the ages of ages
P. May the peace of the Lord be always with you.
Deliver us, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
from all evils, past, present, and
to come , by the intercession of the
Blessed and glorious Virgin Mary,
Mother of God, together with Thy
blessed apostles Peter and Paul, and
Andrew, and all the Saints, +mercifully
grant peace in our days: that through
the bounteous help of Thy mercy,
we may be always free from sin, and
safe from all disquiet.
Through the same Jesus Christ,
Thy Son our Lord, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee in the
Unity of the Holy Spirit, God.
R. Amen.
R. And with thy spirit.
Agnus Dei:
S. Domine, non sum dignus,
ut intres sub tectum meum:
sed tantum dic verbo,
et sanábitur anima mea. iij.
As Communion is distributed:
P. Corpus Dómini nostri
Jesu Christi custódiat ánimam
tuam in vitam aetérnam.
Amen.
Traditional Requiem
S. Lord, I am not worthy that Thou
shouldst enter under my roof:
but only say the word,
And my soul shall be healed. iij.
P. May the Body of Our Lord
Jesus Christ preserve your soul
unto life everlasting.
Amen.
Communio:
Lux aetérna lúceat éis, Dómine: Cum sánctis túis in aetérnum, quia píus es.
v. Réquiem aetérnam dóna éis Dómine, et lux perpétua lúceat éis. Cum sánctis túis in
aetérnum, quia píus es.
1. De profúndis clamávi ad te, Dómine: Dómine, exáudi vocem meam.
2. Fiant aures tuae intendéntes, in vocem deprecatiónis meae.
3. Si iniquitátes observáveris, Dómine: Dómine, quis sustinébit?
4. Quia apud te propitiatio est: et propter legem tuam sustínui te, Dómine.
5. Sustinuit anima mea in verbo eius: sperávit anima mea in Dómino.
6. A custódia matutína usque ad noctem: speret Israël in Dómino.
7. Quia apud Dóminum misericórdia: et copiósa apud eum redemptio.
8. Et ipse rédimet Israël, ex omnibus iniquitátibus eius.
May eternal light shine upon them, O Lord, in the company of your saints for eternity, for
you are full of goodness.
v. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them: in the
company of your saints for eternity, for you are full of goodness.
1. Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord: Lord hear my voice.
2. Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
3. If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord who shall stand it?
4. For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of thy law, I have waited for
thee, O Lord.
5. My soul hath relied on his word: My soul hath hoped in the Lord.
6. From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
7. Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption.
8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Prayer after Communion:
Animábus, quaésumus, Dómine, famulórum famularúmque tuárum orátio profíciat
supplicántium: ut eas et a peccátis omnibus éxuas, et tuae redemptiónis fácias esse
participes: Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre...
May the prayer of Thy suppliant people, we beseech Thee, O Lord, avail for the souls of
Thy servants: that Thou mayest both deliver them from all their sins, and make them to be
sharers in Thy Redemption. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, one God forever and ever. Amen.

At the Final Prayers:

May the Angels lead you into paradise: may the martyrs receive you at your coming, and
lead you into the holy city, Jerusalem. May the choir of Angels receive you, and with
Lazarus, who once was poor, may you have everlasting rest.
 Requiem aetérnam dóna éis Dómine:
et lux perpétua lúceat éis.
Requiéscant in pace. Amen.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen.