Day Of Wrath! That Day Of Burning

For Advent

Words: "Dies iræ, dies illa," Thomas de Celano, 12th Century
Translation: The Rev. W. J. Irons, alt.

Compare: Day of Wrath, O Day of Mourning

Music: "Dies iræ, dies illa"

Source: J. H. Hopkins, ed., Great Hymns of the Church Compiled by the Late Right Reverend John Freeman Young (New York: James Pott & Company, 1887), #39, p. 56

1. Day of wrath! that Day of burning
Seer and Sybil speak concerning
Heaven and earth to ashes turning!

2.* O what fear man's bosom rendeth,
When from heaven the Judge descendeth,
Oh Whole sentence all dependeth!

3. Hark! the trumpet's peal astounding!
Through the realms of death resounding!
The resistless summons sounding!

4.* Death confounded — nature quaking —
View appalled the Creature waking,
For the judgment ready making.

5. Lo! the Book, exactly worded!
Wherein all hath been recorded; —
Thence shall judgment be awarded.

6. When the Judge His feat attaineth,
And each hidden deed arraigneth,
Nothing undisclosed remaineth.

7.* What shall I, frail man, be pleading?
Who for me be interceding? —
When the just are mercy needing.

8. King of majesty tremendous,
Who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity! then befriend us!

9. Think, kind Jesu, my salvation
Caused Thy wondrous incarnation;
Leave me not to reprobation!

10. Mea through toil and pain Thou soughtest, —
By Thy Cross and Passion boughtest;
Perish not the work Thou wroughtest.

11. Righteous Judge of retribution,
Grant Thy gift of absolution,
Ere that Day of dissolution.

12.* Guilty, now I pour my moaning,
All my shame with anguish owning;
Spare, O God, Thy supplicant, groaning!

13.* Thou, who Mary gav'st remission,
Who didst hear the thief's petition,
Hast with hope cheered my contrition.

14.* Worthless are my prayers and sighing,
Yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
Rescue me from fires undying!

15.* With Thy sheep a place provide me,
From the goats afar divide me,
To Thy right hand do Thou guide me.

16. While the cursed are confounded,
Doomed to flames of woe unbounded,
Call me! with the bless'd surrounded.

17. Hear me praying, lowly bending,
Conscious guilt my bosom rending,
Care for me when all is ending!

18. Ah! that day of tears and mourning!
From the dust of earth returning
Man for judgment must prepare him!
Spare! O God, in mercy spare him!
Lord of mercy, Jesu blest,
Grant us Thine eternal rest. Amen.

Note: The text provides that verses marked with an asterisk (*) can be omitted, if the Hymn is found too long.

Scan of text from J. H. Hopkins, ed., Great Hymns of the Church Compiled by the Late Right Reverend John Freeman Young (New York: James Pott & Company, 1887), #39, p. 56

Sheet Music "Dies iræ, dies illa" from J. H. Hopkins, ed., Great Hymns of the Church Compiled by the Late Right Reverend John Freeman Young (New York: James Pott & Company, 1887), #41, pp. 64-6, and #42, pp. 66-7.

Note: The text states that of these two arrangements are "Original melody slightly reduced" (#41; Harmonized by Hermann Rudolph Schrœder) and "A more abbreviated form of the foregoing Melody transposed" (#42; Harmonized by Dr. Frederick Layriz).

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