Proper of the Mass of the Dead
On the Day of Death or On the Day of Burial
Introit (4 Esdras 2: 34, 35)
EQUIEM aeternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Ps 64: 2-3. Te decet hymnus Deus in Sion; et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem: exaudi orationem meam, ad te omnis caro veniet. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis.
TERNAL rest give unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. Ps. A hymn, O God, becometh Thee in Sion; and a vow shall be paid to Thee in Jerusalem: hear my prayer; all flesh shall come to Thee. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.
Collect
EUS, cui proprium est misereri semper et parcere, te supplices exoramus pro anima famuli tui (famulae tuae) N, quam hodie de hoc saeculo migrare jussisti: ut non tradas eam in manus inimici, neque obliviscaris in finem, set jubeas eam a sanctis Angelis suscipi, et ad patriam paradisi perduci; ut, quia in te speravit et credidit, non poenas inferni sustineat, sed gaudia aeterna possideat. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.
GOD, Whose property is ever to have mercy and to spare, we humbly beseech Thee on behalf of the soul of Thy servant N, whom Thou has this day called out of this world, that Thou wouldst not deliver him (her) into the hands of the enemy, nor forget him (her) for ever, but command that he (she) be taken up by Thy holy angels and borne to our home in paradise, that having put his (her) hope and trust in Thee, he (she) may not undergo the pains of hell, but may come to the possession of eternal joys. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end.
Epistle (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18)
ECTIO Epistolae beati Pauli Apostoli ad Thessalonicenses. Fratres: Nolumus vos ignorare de dormientibus, ut non contristemini sicut et ceteri, qui spem non habent. Si enim credimus quod Jesus mortuus est, et resurrexit: ita et Deus eos, qui dormierunt per Jesum, adducet cum eo. Hoc enim vobis dicimus in verbo Domini, quia nos, qui vivimus, qui residui sumus in adventum Domini, non praeveniemus eos, qui dormierunt. Quoniam ipse Dominus in jussu, et in voce Archangeli, et in tuba Dei descendet de coelo: et mortui, qui in Christo sunt, resurgent primi. Deinde nos, qui vivimus, qui relenquimur, simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Christo in aera, et sic semper cum Domino erimus. Itaque consolamini invicem in verbis istis.
ESSON from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians. Brethren: We will not have you ignorant concerning them that are asleep, that you be not sorrowful, even as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them who have slept through Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you in the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them who have slept. For the Lord Himself shall come down from heaven, with commandments, and with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead who are in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet Christ, into the air, and so shall we be always with the Lord. Wherefore comfort ye one another with these words.
Gradual (4 Esdras 2: 34, 35)
EQUIEM aeternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Ps 111: 7. In memoria aeterna erit justus; ab auditione mala non timebit.
TERNAL rest give to them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. Ps. The just shall be in everlasting remembrance; he shall not fear the evil hearing.
Tract
BSOLVE, Domine, animas omnium fidelium defunctorum ab omni vinculo delictorum: V. Et gratia tua illis succurrente, mereantur evadere judicium ultionis: V. Et lucis aeternae beatitudine perfrui.
BSOLVE, O Lord, the souls of all the faithful departed from every bond of sin. V. And by the help of Thy grace may they be enabled to escape the avenging judgement. V. And enjoy the bliss of everlasting light.
Sequence
IES irae, dies illa, Solvet saeclum in favilla, Teste David cum Sibylla.
Quando tremor est futurus, Quando judex est venturus, Cuncta stricte discussurus.
Tuba mirum spargens sonum Per sepulcra regionum, Coget omnes ante thronum.
Mors stupebit, et natura, Cum resurget creatura, Judicanti responsura.
Liber scriptus proferetur, In quo totum continetur, Unde mundus judicetur.
Judex ergo cum sedebit, Quidquid latet, apparebit; Nil inultum remanebit.
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? Quem patronum rogaturus, Cum vix justus sit securus?
Rex tremendae majestatis, Qui salvandos salvas gratis, Salva me, fons pietatis.
Recordare, Jesu pie, Quod sum causa tuae viae; Ne me perdas illa die.
Quaerens me, sedisti lassus; Redemisti crucem passus; Tantus labor non sit casus.
Juste judex 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.
Lacrimosa dies illa, Qua resurget ex favilla Judicandus homo reus.
Huic ergo parce, Deus; Pie Jesu Domine, Dona eis requiem. Amen.
HE day of wrath, that dreadful day, Shall all the world in ashes lay, As David and the Sibyl say.
What tremor shall the soul affright, When comes that Judge whose searching light Brings thought and word and deed to light.
The last loud trumpet's spreading tone Shall through the place of tombs be blown, To summon all before the throne.
Death is struck, and nature quaking, All creation is awaking To its Judge an answer making.
The written book shall be outspread, And all that it contains be read, To try the living and the dead.
Then shall the Judge His throne attain, And every secret sin arraign, Till nothing unavenged remain.
What shall my guilty conscience plead, And who for me will intercede, When even saints forgiveness need?
King of tremendous majesty! Who savest whom Thou savest, free, Thou fount of pity, save Thou me.
Remember, Jesus Lord, I pray, For me Thou walked'st on life's way; Confound me not on this last day.
'Twas me Thy weary footsepts sought, My ransom on the Cross was bought, Let not such labour come to naught.
Just Judge of recompense, I pray, Cancel my debt, too great to pay, Before the last accounting day.
My groans a culprit's heart declare, My cheeks shame's burning livery wear, Spare me, O God, Thy suppliant spare!
As Thou didst Mary's sin efface, And take the thief to Thine embrace, So dost Thou give me hope of grace.
Though all unworthy be my cry, Give grace, O gracious Lord, or I Shall burn in fires that never die.
Grant me among Thy sheep to stand; From outcast goats my soul diband, And raise me to Thine own right hand.
When cursed foes are put to shame, And given o'er to biting flame, Ah! with Thy blessed call my name.
Prostrate, my contrite heart I rend; My God, my Father, and my Friend, Do not forsake me in the end.
O day of weeping, day of woe, When rising from his pyre below, The sinner to his Judge shall cry,
'Spare me, Thou mighty God on high!' Ah, gentle Jesu, Saviour blest, Grant to them all eternal rest!. Amen.
Gospel (John 11: 21-27)
EQUENTIA sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem. In illo tempore: Dixit Martha ad Jesum: Domine, si fuisses hic, frater meus non fuisset mortuus: set et nunc scio quia quaecumque poposceris a Deo, dabit tibi Deus. Dicit illi Jesus: Resurget frater tuus. Dicit ei Martha: Scio quia resurget in resurrectione in novissimo die. Dixit ei Jesus: Ego sum resurrectio, et vita: qui credit in me, etiam si mortuus fuerit, vivet: et omnis, qui Vivit, et credit in me, non morietur in aeternum. Credis hoc? Ait illi: Utique Domine, ego credidi, quia tu es Christus Filius Dei vivi, qui in hunc mundum venisti.
ONTINUATION of the holy Gospel according to Saint John. At that time, Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died: but now also I know that whatsoever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee. Jesus saith to her, thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith to Him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me although he be dead, shall live; and every one that liveth, and believeth in Me, shall not die forever. Believest thou this? She saith to Him, Yea, Lord, I have believed that Thou art Christ the Son of the living God, Who art come into this world.
Offertory
OMINE Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de poenis inferni, et de profundo lacu: libera eas de ore leonis, ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum; sed signifer sanctus Michael repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam: Quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini ejus. V. Hostias et preces tibi, Domine, laudis offerimus: tu suscipe pro animabus illis, quarum hodie memoriam facimus: fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam. Quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini ejus.
LORD Jesus Christ, King of glory, deliver the souls of all the faithful departed from the pains of hell and from the bottomless pit: deliver them from the lion's mouth, that hell swallow them not up, that they fall not into darkness, but let the standard-bearer holy Michael lead them into that holy light; which Thou didst promise of old to Abraham and to his seed. V. We offer to Thee, O Lord, sacrifices and prayers: do Thou receive them on behalf of those souls of whom we make memorial this day. Grant them, O Lord, to pass from death to that life; which Thou didst promise of old to Abraham and to his seed.
Secret
ROPITIARE quaesumus Domine animae famuli tui (famulae tuae) N, pro quia hostiam laudis tibi immorlamus, majestatem tuam suppliciter deprecantes: ut per haec piae placationis officia, pervenire mereatur ad requiem sempiternam. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.
E merciful, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to the soul of Thy servant, N, for which we offer to Thee the sacrifice of praise, supplicating Thy majesty that, through these offices of pious propitiation it may be worthy to enter unto everlasting rest. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end.
The Preface for The Dead
The following Preface is said in all Masses for the Dead.
ERE dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere: Domine Sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus, per Christum Dominum nostrum. In quo nobis spes beatae resurrectionis effulsit: ut quos contristat certa moriendi conditio, eosdem consoletur futurae immortalitatis promissio. Tuis enim fidelibus, Domine, vita mutatur, non tollitur: et dissoluta terrestris hujus incolatus domo, aeterna in coelis habitatio comparatur. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omni militia coelestis exercitus, hymnum gloriae tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus...
T 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 hath shone upon us: so that those who are saddened by the certainty of dying may be consoled by the promise of a future deathless life. For 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, evermore saying: Holy, Holy, Holy...
Communion (4 Esdras 2: 35,34)
UX aeterna luceat eis, Domine: Cum Sanctis tuis in aeternum: quia pius es. V. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Cum Sanctis tuis in aeternum: quia pius es.
AY light eternal shine upon them, O Lord, with Thy Saints for evermore, for Thou art gracious. V. Eternal rest give to them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them: With Thy Saints for evermore, for Thou art gracious.
Postcommunion
RAESTA quaesumus omnipotens Deus: ut anima famuli tui (famulae tuae) N, quae hodie de hoc saeculo migravit, his sacrificiis purgata, et a peccatis expedita, indulgentiam pariter et requiem capiat sempiternam. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.
RANT, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that the soul of Thy servant N, which hath today departed this life, may be purified by this sacrifice, and delivered from sins, may obtain alike pardon and everlasting rest. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end.
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For other Proper Prayers from our collection please visit www.sspx.co.uk/propers. The Ordinary of the Mass in Latin and English is available at www.sspx.co.uk/mass/text and a collection of traditional Catholic prayers at www.sspx.co.uk/prayers.
For the complete Order of Mass on the day of burial, please click here.