Friday, October 8, 2010

Clementissime Domine

Clementissime Domine, qui pro nostra miseria ab impiorum manibus mortis supplicium pertulisti: libera animam ejus de inferni voragine, et de ministris tartareis miserator absolve, et cuncta ejus peccata oblivione perpetua dele: eamque ad lucem sanctam angeli tradant, paradisique januam introducant: ut dum corpus pulveri traditur, ad æternitatem perducant. Domine, miserere super isto peccatore. Domine, miserere super isto peccatore. Domine, miserere super isto peccatore.
(Most merciful Lord, Who on account of our misery hast borne at the hands of the impious the punishment of death: deliver his soul from the jaws of hell, and set it free from the ministers of Tartarus, Merciful One, and blot out all his sins in perpetual oblivion: and may angels deliver him into holy light, and bring him into the gate of paradise: that while his body is handed over to the dust, they may lead him into eternity.  Lord, have mercy upon this sinner. Lord, have mercy upon this sinner. Lord, have mercy upon this sinner.)
— Antiphon, Carmelite Ritual*

[*The modern Dominican ritual retains this chant, with some minor verbal differences also found in mediæval sources: eam not eamque, tuam not sanctam, portam not januam, corpusculum not corpus – and with two major differences: the insistent threefold Dominemiserere of the Carmelites does not appear; and, very obviously and shamefully, the ancient words ministris tartareis, as an unacceptable reference to devils in this modern age, have been replaced by vinculis mortis, "the bonds of death".]

This anthem is interesting since it seems to compare with the well-known Offertory chant Domine Jesu Christe of the Requiem Mass, inasmuch as it, too, is addressed to Our Lord, and goes on to pray that the soul of the deceased be delivered from the pains of hell, and taken up to paradise by the holy angels.

I continue to pray for the repose of my father, Keith, who died one week ago to-day.

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