Emendemus in melius

General information

Matins Responsory for Lent I & Distribution of Ashes on Ash Wednesday.

Settings by composers

William Byrd SATTB Baldassare Donato SAATB or SATTB (Substitutes verse from Ps. 105/106) Andrea Gabrieli ATTBBB Nicolas Gombert SATTB Orlando di Lasso SATTB

Cristóbal de Morales ATTBB or SAATB (Substitutes verse from Psalm 3) Andrea Rota SATTB Ludovico Spontoni SATB.AATB (Substitutes gloriam for honorem in Psalm 78/79) Ascanio Trombetti SATTT

Text and translations

Latin text Emendemus in melius quae ignoranter peccavimus; ne subito praeoccupati die mortis, quaeramus spatium poenitentiae, et invenire non possimus. Attende, Domine, et miserere; quia peccavimus tibi. (cf. Bar. 3:2) Versus: Adjuva nos, Deus salutaris noster, et propter honorem[gloriam] nominis tui libera nos. (Ps. 78:9a) Donato: Peccavimus cum patribus nostris, iniuste egimus, iniquitatem fecimus. (Ps. 105:6) Morales: Memento, homo, quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris. (Ps. 3:19)

English translation Let us amend for the better in those things in which we have sinned through ignorance; lest suddenly overtaken by the day of death,  we seek space for repentance, and be not able to find it. Hearken, O Lord, and have mercy: for we have sinned against thee. Verse: Help us, O God of our salvation, and for the honour[glory] of thy name deliver us. (Psalm 79:9a) Alternate verses: We have sinned like our fathers, we have acted unjustly and done wrong. (Psalm 106:6) Remember, O man, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return. (Psalm 3:19)