For All Souls Day

Many other prayers for the Souls in Purgatory can be found below:
November
Novena to our Guardian Angel for the Poor Souls
Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Novena to our Guardian Angels for the Holy Souls
Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory
Prayer of Sacrifice for the Poor Souls
Month of the Holy Souls
Prayer to Our Lady for the Poor Souls

Sung during Masses of the dead and on the Feast of All Souls, "Dies Irae" is a solemn, but beautiful Gregorian chant.  This chant is attributed to a 13th century monk and reflects on the final judgment.  I encourage you to pray/read/chant this hymn today on the Feast of All Souls and throughout November in remembrance of the Poor Souls, but also to aid in contemplating the Last Four Things:  death, judgment, heaven, and hell.  As the chant suggests, final judgment is a serious, somber occasion, but in this moment also lies the hope given to the soul by the death and resurrection of our Lord.

You can find this hymn beautifully chanted by the Monks of the Abbey of Notre Dame.

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Dies Irae DIES irae, dies illa, solvet saeculum in favilla, teste David cum Sibylla. Quantus tremor est futurus, quando iudex est venturus, cuncta stricte discussurus! Tuba mirum spargens sonum per sepulcra regionum, coget omnes ante thronum. Mors stupebit et natura, cum resurget creatura, iudicanti responsura. Liber scriptus proferetur, in quo totum continetur, unde mundus iudicetur. Iudex ergo cum sedebit, quidquid latet apparebit: nil inultum remanebit. Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? quem patronum rogaturus? cum vix iustus sit securus. Rex tremendae maiestatis, qui salvandos salvas gratis, salva me, fons pietatis. Recordare Iesu pie, quod sum causa tuae viae: ne me perdas illa die. Quaerens me, sedisti lassus: redemisti crucem passus: tantus labor non sit cassus. Iuste iudex ultionis, donum fac remissionis, ante diem rationis. Ingemisco, tamquam reus: culpa rubet vultus meus: supplicanti parce Deus. Qui Mariam absolvisti, et latronem exaudisti, mihi quoque spem dedisti. Preces meae non sunt dignae: sed tu bonus fac benigne, ne perenni cremer igne. Inter oves locum praesta, et ab haedis me sequestra, statuens in parte dextera. Confutatis maledictis, flammis acribus addictis. voca me cum benedictis. Oro supplex et acclinis, cor contritum quasi cinis: gere curam mei finis. Lacrimosa dies illa, qua resurget ex favilla. iudicandus homo reus: huic ergo parce Deus. Pie Iesu Domine, dona eis requiem. Amen.

Day of Wrath Day of wrath and doom impending, David’s word with Sibyl’s blending! Heaven and earth in ashes ending! 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 sepulchers 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? Who for me be interceding, When the just are mercy needing? King of majesty tremendous, Who dost free salvation send us, Fount of pity, then befriend us! Think, kind Jesu, my salvation Caused Thy wondrous Incarnation; Leave me not to reprobation. Faint and weary Thou hast sought me, On the Cross of suffering bought me; Shall such grace be vainly brought me? Righteous Judge! for sin’s pollution Grant Thy gift of absolution, Ere that day of retribution. Guilty, now I pour my moaning, All my shame with anguish owning; Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning! Through the sinful woman shriven, Through the dying thief forgiven, Thou to me a hope hast given. Worthless are my prayers and sighing, Yet, good Lord, in grace complying, Rescue me from fires undying. With Thy favored sheep O place me, Nor among the goats abase me, But to Thy right hand upraise me. While the wicked are confounded, Doomed to flames of woe unbounded, Call me with Thy Saints surrounded. Low I kneel, with heart submission, Crushed to ashes in contrition; Help me in my last condition! Ah! that day of tears and morning! From the dust of earth returning, Man for judgment must prepare him; Spare, O God, in mercy spare him! Lord all-pitying, Jesu Blest, Grant them Thine eternal rest. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+