Prayers, Novenas & Hymns:

English

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 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? 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 sheep a place provide me, From the goats afar divide me, To Thy right hand do thou guide me. When the wicked are confounded, Doomed to shame and woe unbounded, Call me, with thy Saints surrounded. Low I kneel, with heart's submission, See, like ashes my contrition! Help me in my last condition! 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, all-pitying, Jesu blest, Grant them thine eternal rest. Amen.

Dies irae, dies illa, Solvet saeclum 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 dextra. Confutatis maledictis, Flammis acribus addictis, Voca me cum benedictis. Oro supplex et acclinis, Cor contritum quasi cinis: Gere curam mei finis. Lacrymosa dies illa, Qua resurget ex favilla Iudicandus homo reus. Huic ergo parce, Deus; Pie Iesu Domine, Dona eis requiem. Amen. 

[Dies iræ, dies illa, Solvet sæclum in favílla: Teste David cum Sibýlla. Quantus tremor est futúrus, Quando Iudex est ventúrus, Cuncta stricte discussúrus! Tuba mirum spargens sonum Per sepúlcra regiónum Coget omnes ante thronum. Mors stupébit et natúra, Cum resúrget creatúra Iudicánti responsúra. Liber scriptus proferétur, In quo totum continétur, Unde mundus iudicétur. Iudex ergo cum sedébit, Quidquid latet, apparébit: Nil inúltum remanébit. Quid sum miser tunc dictúrus? Quem patrónum rogatúrus? Cum vix iustus sit secúrus? Rex trémendæ maiestátis, Qui salvándos salvas gratis, Salva me, fons pietátis. Recordáre, Iesu pie, Quod sum causa tuæ viæ, Ne me perdas illa die. Quærens me, sedísti lassus; Redemísti, crucem passus; Tantus labor non sit cassus. Iuste Iudex ultiónis, Donum fac remissiónis Ante diem ratiónis. Ingemísco tamquam reus; Culpa rubet vultus meus; Supplicánti parce, Deus. Qui Maríam absolvísti, Et latrónem exaudísti, Mihi quoque spem dedísti. Preces meæ non sunt dignæ; Sed tu bonus fac benígne Ne perénni cremer igne. Inter oves locum præsta, Et ab hædis me sequéstra, Státuens in parte dextra. Confutátis maledíctis, Flammis ácribus addíctis, Voca me cum benedíctis. Oro supplex et acclínis, Cor contrítum quasi cinis: Gere curam mei finis. Lacrymósa dies illa, Qua resúrget ex favílla Iudicándus homo reus. Huic ergo parce, Deus; Pie Iesu Dómine, Dona eis réquiem. Amen.]

English

Dec. 17: O Wisdom, who camest out of the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come and teach us the way of prudence.

Dec. 18: O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, who didst appear to Moses in the flame of the burning bush, and didst give unto him the law on Sinai: come and with an outstretched arm redeem us.

Dec. 19: O Root of Jesse, who standest for an ensign of the people, before whom kings shall keep silence, and unto whom the Gentiles shall make their supplication: come to deliver us, and tarry not.

Dec. 20: O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, who openest and no man shutteth, who shuttest and no man openeth: come and bring forth from his prison-house, the captive that sitteth in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Dec. 21: O Dawn of the East, brightness of the light eternal, and Sun of Justice, come and enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Dec. 22: O King of the Gentiles and the desired of them, Thou cornerstone that makest both one, come and deliver man, whom Thou didst form out of the dust of the earth.

Dec. 23: O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior, come to save us, O Lord our God. 

12-17: O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

12-18: O Adonai, et dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

12-19: O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem Gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

12-20: O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit, claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

12-21: O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

12-22: O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

12-23: O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine Deus noster.

English

O saving Victim, opening wide The gate of heaven to man below! Our foes press on from every side: Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow. To Thy great Name be endless praise, Immortal Godhead, One in Three! Oh, grant us endless length of days In our true native land with Thee. Amen.

O Salutaris Hostia, Quae caeli pandis ostium Bella premunt hostilia, Da robur fer auxilium. Uni Trinoque Domino, Sit sempiterna gloria Qui vitam sine termino Nobis donet in patria. Amen. 

English

Bread of Angels...

(Note: English translations vary widely)

Panis angelicus Fit panis hominum; Dat panis caelicus 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.

English

At the Cross her station keeping,

Stood the mournful Mother weeping,

Close to Jesus to the last.

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,

All His bitter anguish bearing,

Now at length sword had passed.

O how sad and sore distressed

Was that Mother, highly blessed

Of the sole-begotten One!

Christ above in torment hangs,

She beneath beholds the pangs

Of her dying glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,

Whelmed in miseries so deep,

Christ's dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain

From partaking in her pain,

In that Mother's pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,

She beheld her tender Child,

All with bloody scourges rent.

For the sins of His own nation,

Saw Him hang in desolation,

Till his spirit forth He sent.

O thou Mother! fount of love,

Touch my spirit from above,

Make my heart with thine accord.

Make me feel as thou hast felt;

Make my soul to glow and melt

With the love of Christ my Lord.

Holy Mother, pierce me through!

In my heart each wound renew

Of my Savior crucified.

Let me share with thee His pain,

Who for all my sins was slain,

Who for me in torment died.

Let me mingle tears with thee,

Mourning Him who mourned for me,

All the days that I may live.

By the Cross with thee to stay,

There with thee to weep and pray,

Is all I ask of thee to give.

Virgin of all virgins blest,

Listen to my fond request:

Let me share thy grief divine.

Let me, to my latest breath,

In my body bear the death

Of that dying Son of thine.

Wounded with His every wound,

Steep my soul till it hath swooned

In His very blood away.

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,

Lest in flames I burn and die,

In His awful Judgment Day.

Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,

Be Thy Mother my defense,

Be Thy Cross my victory.

While my body here decays,

May my soul Thy goodness praise,

Safe in Paradise with Thee.

Amen.

Stabat Mater dolorósa

Iuxta Crucem lacrimósa,

Dum pendébat Fílius.

Cuius ánimam geméntem

Contristátam et doléntem

Pertransívit gládius,

O quam tristis et afflícta

Fuit illa benedícta

Mater Unigéniti!

Quæ mærébat et dolébat,

Pia Mater, dum vidébat

Nati pœnas ínclyti.

Quis est homo, qui non fleret

Matrem Christi si vidéret

In tanto supplício?

Quis non posset contristári

Christi Matrem contemplári

Doléntem cum Fílio?

Pro peccátis suæ gentis

Vidit Iesum in torméntis,

Et flagéllis súbditum.

Vidit suum dulcem Natum

Moriéndo desolátum,

Dum emísit spíritum.

Eia Mater, fons amóris,

Me sentíre vim dolóris

Fac, ut tecum lúgeam.

Fac, ut árdeat cor meum

In amándo Christum Deum,

Ut sibi compláceam.

Sancta Mater, istud agas,

Crucifíxi fige plagas

Cordi meo válide.

Tui Nati vulneráti,

Tam dignáti pro me pati,

Pœnas mecum dívide.

Fac me tecum pie flere,

Crucifíxo condolére,

Donec ego víxero.

Iuxta Crucem tecum stare,

Et me tibi sociáre

In planctu desídero.

Virgo vírginum præclára,

Mihi iam non sis amára,

Fac me tecum plángere.

Fac, ut portem Christi mortem,

Passiónis fac consórtem,

Et plagas recólere.

Fac me plagas vulnerári,

Fac me Cruce inebriári,

Et cruóre Fílii.

Flammis ne urar succénsus,

Per te, Virgo, sim defénsus

In die iudícii.

Christe, cum sit hinc exíre,

Da per Matrem me veníre

Ad palmam victóriæ.

Quando corpus moriétur,

Fac, ut ánimæ donétur

Paradísi glória.

Amen.

[Stabat Mater dolorósa Iuxta Crucem lacrimósa, Dum pendébat Fílius. Cuius ánimam geméntem, Contristátam et doléntem Pertransívit gládius. O quam tristis et afflícta Fuit illa benedícta Mater Unigéniti! Quæ mærébat et dolébat, Pia Mater, dum vidébat Nati poenas ínclyti. Quis est homo, qui non fleret Matrem Christi si vidéret In tanto supplício? Quis non posset contristári Christi Matrem contemplári Doléntem cum Fílio? Pro peccátis suæ gentis Vidit Iesum in torméntis, Et flagéllis súbditum. Vidit suum dulcem Natum Moriéndo desolátum, Dum emísit spíritum. Eja Mater, fons amóris, Me sentíre vim dolóris Fac, ut tecum lúgeam. Fac ut árdeat cor meum In amándo Christum Deum, Ut sibi compláceam. Sancta Mater, istud agas, Crucifíxi fige plagas Cordi meo válide. Tui Nati vulneráti, Tam dignáti pro me pati, Poenas mecum dívide. Fac me tecum pie flere, Crucifíxo condolére, Donec ego víxero. Iuxta Crucem tecum stare, Et me tibi sociáre In planctu desídero. Virgo vírginum præclára, Mihi iam non sis amára, Fac me tecum plángere. Fac ut portem Christi mortem, Passiónis fac consórtem, Et plagas recólere. Fac me plagis vulnerári, Fac me Cruce inebriári, Et cruóre Fílii. Flammis ne urar succénsus, Per te, Virgo, sim defénsus In die iudícii. Christe, cum sit hinc exíre, Da per Matrem me veníre Ad palmam victóriæ. Quando corpus moriétur, Fac ut ánimæ donétur Paradísi glória. Amen.]

English

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest, and in our souls take up Thy rest, come with Thy grace and heavenly aid, and fill the hearts which Thou hast made. To Thee, the Comforter, we cry, to Thee, the gift of God most high, the fount of life, the fire of love, the soul's anointing from above. The sevenfold gifts of grace are Thine, O Finger of the hand Divine; True promise of the Father Thou, Who dost the tongue with speech endow. Thy light to every thought impart, and shed Thy love in every heart; Our body's poor infirmity with strength perpetual fortify. Our mortal foe afar repel, grant us henceforth in peace to dwell; if Thou be our preventing guide, no evil can our steps betide. Make Thou to us the Father known; Teach us the Eternal Son to own and Thee, Whose name we ever bless, of both the Spirit to confess. All glory while the ages run be to the Father and the Son, who rose from death; the same to Thee, O Holy Ghost, eternally. Amen. V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created; R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Let us pray. O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Veni, Creator Spiritus, Mentes tuorum visita, Imple superna gratia Quae Tu creasti pectora. Qui diceris Paraclitus, Altissimi donum Dei, Fons vivus, ignis caritas Et spiritalis unctio. Tu septiformis munere, Digitus paternae dexterae, Tu rite promissum Patris Sermone ditans guttura. Accende lumen sensibus, Infunde amorem cordibus, Infirma nostri corporis Virtute firmans perpeti. Hostem repellas longius, Pacemque dones protinus; Ductore sic te praevio Vitemus omne noxium. Per te sciamus da Patrem, Noscamus atque Filium, Teque utriusque Spiritum Credamus omni tempore. Deo Patri sit gloria Et Filio qui a mortuis Surrexit, ac Paraclito In saeculorum saecula. Amen. V. Emitte Spiritum tuum et creabuntur; R. Et renovabis faciem terrae. Oremus. Deus, qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti: da nobis en eodem Spiritu recta sapere; et de eius semper consolatione gaudere. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

[Veni, Creátor Spíritus, Mentes tuórum vísita, Imple supérna grátia Quæ Tu creásti péctora. Qui díceris Paráclitus, Altíssimi donum Dei, Fons vivus, ignis cáritas Et spiritális únctio. Tu septifórmis múnere, Dígitus patérnæ déxteræ, Tu rite promíssum Patris Sermóne ditans gúttura. Accénde lumen sénsibus, Infúnde amórem córdibus, Infírma nostri córporis Virtúte firmans pérpeti. Hostem repéllas lóngius, Pacémque dones prótinus; Ductóre sic te prævio Vitémus omne nóxium. Per te sciámus da Patrem, Noscámus atque Fílium, Teque utriúsque Spíritum Credámus omni témpore. Deo Patri sit glória Et Fílio qui a mórtuis Surréxit, ac Paráclito In sæculórum sæcula. Amen. V. Emítte Spíritum tuum et craeúntur; R. Et renovábis fáciem terræ. Orémus. Deus, qui corda fidélium Sancti Spíritus illustratióne docuísti: da nobis en eódem Spíritu recta sápere; et de eius semper consolatióne gaudére. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.]

English

Come, Thou holy Paraclete, And from Thy celestial seat Send Thy light and brilliancy. Father of the poor, draw near, Giver of all gifts, be here, Come, the soul's true radiancy. Come, of comforters the best, Of the soul the sweetest guest, Come in toil refreshingly. Thou in labor rest most sweet, Thou art shadow from the heat, Comfort in adversity. O Thou light, most pure and blest, Shine within the inmost breast of Thy faithful company. Where Thou art not, man hath naught; Ev'ry holy deed and thought Comes from Thy divinity. What is soiled, make Thou pure; What is wounded, work its cure; What is parched, fructify. What is rigid, gently bend; What is frozen, warmly tend; Strengthen what goes erringly. Fill Thy faithful, who confide In Thy power to guard and guide, With Thy sevenfold mystery. Here Thy grace and mercy send; Grant salvation in the end, And in Heaven felicity. Amen. 

Veni, Sancte Spiritus, et emitte caelitus lucis tuae radium. Veni, pater pauperum, veni, dator, munerum, veni, lumen cordium. Consolator optime, dulcis hospes animae, dulce refrigerium. In labore requies, in aestu temperies, in fletu solatium. O lux beatissima, reple cordis intima tuorum fidelium. Sine tuo numine nihil est in homine, nihil est innoxium. Lava quod est sordidum, riga quod est aridum, sana quod est saucium. Flecte quod est rigidum, fove quod est frigidum, rege quod est devium. Da tuis fidelibus in te confidentibus sacrum septenarium. Da virtutis meritum, da salutis exitum, da perenne gaudium. Amen. 

[Veni, Sancte Spíritus, et emítte cælitus lucis tuæ rádium. Veni, pater páuperum, veni, dator, múnerum, veni, lumen córdium. Consolátor óptime, dulcis hospes ánimæ, dulce refrigérium. In labóre réquies, in æstu tempéries, in fletu solátium. O lux beatíssima, reple cordis íntima tuórum fidélium. Sine tuo númine nihil est in hómine, nihil est innóxium. Lava quod est sórdidum, riga quod est áridum, sana quod est sáucium. Flecte quod est rígidum, fove quod est frígidum, rege quod est dévium. Da tuis fidélibus in te confidéntibus sacrum septenárium. Da virtútis méritum, da salútis éxitum, da perénne gáudium. Amen.]