Edition notes: From Cantiones sacrae (1539). Our source: N. Gombert: Opera omnia, ed. Joseph Schmidt-Görg, AIM/CMM, 1964. Notation here is a fourth higher than the original with time values halved. Translation, text underlay and musica ficta by John Hetland and The Renaissance Street Singers. 12 Aug 2008.
Description: A prayer for the dead whom no one remembers.
External websites:
Original text and translations
Latin text
Miserere pie Jesu
super acerbissimam passionem tuam
et gloriosam resurrectionem tuam,
miserere animabus illis,
quae apud te singulares
non habent intercessores,
et quibus non est consolatio
neque spes ulla in tormentis,
nisi quod ad imaginem tuam creatae sunt,
et sacra fide insignitae sunt.
Parce eis Domine,
et defende plasma tuum in eis,
et ne des gloriam nominis tui,
deprecamur, alteri:
opera manuum tuarum ne despicias,
sed porrige eis manum dexteram tuam,
et libera eas de angustiis
et poenis inferni,
et perducas ad consortium
supernorum civium
propter nomen sanctum tuum.
English translation
Have mercy, holy Jesus,
in your most bitter passion
and your glorious resurrection,
have mercy upon those souls
who do not have special
intercessors with you,
and for whom there is no solace,
nor any hope in the torments,
except being created in your image,
and distinguished in holy faith.
Spare them, O Lord,
and defend your creation in them,
and lend not the glory of your name
to the other, we pray:
do not despise the works of your hands,
but extend to them your right hand,
and free them from the straits
and punishments of hell,
and lead them to the community
of celestial citizens
for the sake of your holy name.