とわにたたえて歌え （テゼ / Taizé)

See also the original (Latin) version: Misericordias Domini

Music: Jacques Berthier (English bio) (French bio)

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

Our Father, We Have Wandered

Our Father, we have wandered
and hidden from your face,
in foolishness have squandered
your legacy of grace.
But now, in exile dwelling,
we rise with fear and shame,
as distant but compelling,
we hear you call our name.

And now at length discerning
the evil that we do,
behold us Lord, returning
with hope and trust to you.
In haste you come to meet us
and home rejoicing bring.
In gladness there to greet us
with calf and robe and ring.

O Lord of all the living,
both banished and restored,
compassionate, forgiving
and ever caring Lord,
grant now that our transgressing,
our faithlessness may cease.
Stretch out your hand in blessing
in pardon and in peace.

Text: Kevin Nichols (1981)
Tune: PASSION CHORALE 76.76D

Again We Keep This Solemn Fast

Again we keep this solemn fast
A gift of faith from ages past,
This Lent which bids us lovingly
To faith and hope and charity.

The law and prophets from of old
In figured ways this Lent foretold,
Which Christ, all ages’ Lord and Guide,
In these last days has sanctified.

More sparing, therefore, let us make
The words we speak, the food we take,
Our sleep, our laughter, ev’ry sense;
Learn peace through holy penitence.

Let us avoid each harmful way
That lures the careless mind astray;
By watchful prayer our spirits free
From scheming of the Enemy.

We pray, O blessed Three in One,
Our God while endless ages run,
That this, our Lent of forty days,
May bring us growth and give you praise.

Text: Ex more docti mystico; ascribed to Gregory the Great, c. 540–604, tr. Peter J. Scagnelli (b. 1949)
Tune: ERHALT UNS HERR, Klug’s Geistliche Lieder, 1543

Decalogue (Healey Willan / Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena)

Response: Lord, have mercy upon us,
                incline our hearts to keep this law.

Final Response: Lord, have mercy upon us,
                          and write all these thy laws in our hearts, we beseech thee.

Setting from the Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena by Healey Willan (1880-1968)

For the various parts of Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena, see:

• Decalogue
  
• Kyrie Eleison
• Gloria
• Sanctus
• Agnus Dei

The Glory Of These Forty Days

The glory of these forty days
we celebrate with songs of praise;
for Christ, through whom all things were made,
himself has fasted and has prayed.

Alone and fasting Moses saw
the loving God who gave the law;
and to Elijah, fasting, came
the steeds and chariots of flame.

So Daniel trained his mystic sight,
delivered from the lions' might;
and John, the Bridegroom's friend, became
the herald of Messiah's name.

Then grant us, Lord, like them to be
full oft in fast and prayer with thee;
our spirits strengthen with thy grace,
and give us joy to see thy face.

O Father, Son, and Spirit blest,
to thee be every prayer addressed,
who art in three-fold Name adored,
from age to age, the only Lord.

Text: Latin, sixth century; trans. Maurice F. Bell, 1906
Tune: ERHALT UNS, HERR, LM. Melody from Geistliche Lieder, 1543

Lord Who Throughout These Forty Days

Lord, who throughout these forty days
for us didst fast and pray,
teach us with thee to mourn our sins,
and close by thee to stay.

As thou with Satan didst contend
and didst the victory win,
O give us strength in thee to fight,
in thee to conquer sin.

As thou didst hunger bear and thirst,
so teach us, gracious Lord,
to die to self, and chiefly live
by thy most holy word.

And through these days of penitence,
and through thy Passiontide,
yea, evermore, in life and death,
Jesus! with us abide.

Abide with us, that so, this life
of suffering over-past,
an Easter of unending joy
we may attain at last!

Text: Claudia F. Hernaman, 1873
Tune: ST. FLAVIAN, CM, Melody from Day's Psalter, 1562

Forty Days And Forty Nights

Forty days and forty nights
Thou wast fasting in the wild;
Forty days and forty nights
Tempted, and yet undefiled.

Sunbeams scorching all the day;
Chilly dew-drops nightly shed;
Prowling beasts about Thy way;
Stones Thy pillow; earth Thy bed.

Should not we Thy sorrow share
And from worldly joys abstain,
Fasting with unceasing prayer,
Strong with Thee to suffer pain?

Then if Satan on us press,
Jesus, Savior, hear our call!
Victor in the wilderness,
Grant we may not faint nor fall!

So shall we have peace divine:
Holier gladness ours shall be;
Round us, too, shall angels shine,
Such as ministered to Thee.

Keep, O keep us, Savior dear,
Ever constant by Thy side;
That with Thee we may appear
At the eternal Eastertide.

Words: George Hunt Smyttan (1822-1870)
Music: HEINLEIN 77.77 Nürnbergisches Gesangbuch (1676)

Out Of The Depths (Psalm 130)

1) Out of the depths, O God, we call to you.
Wounds of the past remain, affecting all we do.
Facing our lives, we need your love so much.
Here in this community, heal us by your touch.

2) Out of the depths of fear, O God, we speak.
Breaking the silences, the searing truth we seek.
Safe among friends, our grief and rage we share.
Here in this community, hold us in your care.

3) God of the loving heart, we praise your name.
Dance through our lives and loves; anoint with Spirit flame.
Your light illumines each familiar face.
Here in this community, meet us with your grace.

Paraphrase of Psalm 130

Text: Ruth Duck (1992)
Tune: FENNVILLE 10.12.10.12, by Robert J. Batastini (1994)

God of Mercy and Compassion

God of mercy and compassion,
Look with pity upon me;
Father, let me call thee Father,
"Tis thy child returns to thee.

Refrain:

Jesus Lord, I ask for mercy;
Let me not implore in vain;
All my sins I now detest them,
Never will I sin again.

By my sins I have deserved,
Death and endless misery;
Hell with all its pains and torments
And for all eternity. (Refrain)

By my sins I have abandoned
Right and claim to heaven above,
Where the saints rejoice forever,
In a boundless sea of love. (Refrain)

See our Saviour, bleeding, dying,
On the cross of Calvary;
To that cross my sins have nail'd him,
Yet he bleeds and dies for me. (Refrain)

Text: Au sang qu'um Dieu, trans. E. Vaughan (1827-1908)
Tune: French Melody, adapt. from G.B. Pergolesi (d.1736)

Miserere Mei Deus (Allegri)

LATIN VERSION:
















ENGLISH VERSION:

(1963 recording by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, conducted by Sir David Willcocks, featured the then-treble Roy Goodman in 2 parts).

PART 1:


PART 2:


LATIN:

Miserere mei, Deus: secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.
Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me.
Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco: et peccatum meum contra me est semper.
Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci: ut iustificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum iudicaris.
Ecce enim in inquitatibus conceptus sum: et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: incerta et occulta sapientiae tuae manifestasti mihi.
Asperges me, hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.
Auditui meo dabis gaudium et laetitiam: et exsultabunt ossa humiliata.
Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis: et omnes iniquitates meas dele.
Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis.
Ne proiicias me a facie tua: et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me.
Redde mihi laetitiam salutaris tui: et spiritu principali confirma me.
Docebo iniquos vias tuas: et impii ad te convertentur.
Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meae: et exsultabit lingua mea iustitiam tuam.
Domine, labia mea aperies: et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam.
Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem utique: holocaustis non delectaberis.
Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum, et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.
Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion: ut aedificentur muri Ierusalem.
Tunc acceptabis sacrificium iustitiae, oblationes, et holocausta: tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos.

ENGLISH:
(from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer)

Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness: according to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences.
Wash me throughly from my wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me.
Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified in Thy saying, and clear when Thou art judged.
Behold, I was shapen in wickedness: and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts: and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness: that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice.
Turn Thy face from my sins: and put out all my misdeeds.
Make me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence: and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
O give me the comfort of Thy help again: and stablish me with Thy free Spirit.
Then shall I teach Thy ways unto the wicked: and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou that art the God of my health: and my tongue shall sing of Thy righteousness.
Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth shall shew Thy praise.
For Thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it Thee: but Thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt Thou not despise.
O be favourable and gracious unto Sion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations: then shall they offer young bullocks upon Thine altar.

Historical Information (Wikipedia)

Words: Setting of Psalm 51
Music: Gregorio Allegri (1582–1652)

Somebody's Knockin' at Your Door (USA)

Somebody’s knockin' at your door,
Somebody’s knockin' at your door,
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knockin' at your door.

Knocks like Jesus,
Somebody’s knockin' at your door,
Knocks like Jesus,
Somebody’s knockin' at your door,
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knockin' at your door.

Can’t you hear Him?
Somebody’s knockin' at your door,
Can’t you hear Him?
Somebody’s knockin' at your door,
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knockin' at your door.

Jesus calls you,
Somebody’s knockin' at your door,
Jesus calls you,
Somebody’s knockin' at your door,
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knockin' at your door.

Can't you trust him,
Somebody’s knockin' at your door,
Can't you trust him,
Somebody’s knockin' at your door,
O sinner, why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knockin' at your door.

Traditional African American Spiritual

O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß (Germany)

O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß

O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß,
darum Christus seins Vaters Schoß
äußert und kam auf Erden;
von einer Jungfrau rein und zart
für uns er hier geboren ward,
er wollt der Mittler werden.
Den Toten er das Leben gab
und tat dabei all Krankheit ab,
bis sich die Zeit herdrange,
daß er für uns geopfert würd,
trüg unsrer Sünden schwere Bürd
wohl an dem Kreuze lange.

So laßt uns nun ihm dankbar sein,
daß er für uns litt solche Pein,
nach seinem Willen leben.
Auch laßt uns sein der Sünde feind,
weil uns Gotts Wort so helle scheint,
Tag, Nacht danach tun streben,
die Lieb erzeigen jedermann,
die Christus hat an uns getan
mit seinem Leiden, Sterben.
O Menschenkind, betracht das recht,
wie Gottes Zorn die Sünde schlägt,
tu dich davor bewahren!

Words: Sebald Heyden (1530)
Music: Matthias Greitter (1525)

Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (Germany)

1. Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir,
Herr Gott, erhör mein Rufen.
Dein gnädig Ohren kehr zu mir
Und meiner Bitt sie öffen.
Denn so du willst das sehen an,
Was Sünd und Unrecht ist getan,
Wer kann, Herr, vor dir bleiben?

2. Bei dir gilt nichts denn Gnad und Gonst,
Die Sünden zu vergeben.
Es ist doch unser Tun umsonst
Auch in dem besten Leben.
Vor dir niemand sich rühmen kann,
Des muß dich fürchten jedermann
Und deiner Gnaden leben.

3. Darum auf Gott will hoffen ich
Auf mein Verdienst nicht bauen;
Auf ihn mein Herz soll lassen sich
Und seiner Güte trauen,
Die mir zusagt sein wertes Wort,
Das ist mein Trost und treuer Hort,
Des will ich allzeit harren.

4. Und ob es währt bis in die Nacht
Und wieder an den Morgen,
Doch soll mein Herz an Gottes Macht
Verzweifeln nicht noch sorgen.
So tu Israel rechter Art,
Der aus dem Geist erzeuget ward,
Und seines Gotts erharre.

5. Ob bei uns ist der Sünden viel,
Bei Gott ist viel mehr Gnaden;
Sein Hand zu helfen hat kein Ziel
Wie groß auch sei der Schaden.
Er ist allein der gute Hirt,
Der Israel erlösen wird
Aus seinen Sünden allen.

Setting of Psalm 130 (De Profundis)

Text & Music: Martin Luther (1524) Bio in English / German

Attende Domine, Et Miserere

Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.
Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.

Ad te Rex summe,
omnium Redemptor,
oculos nostros
sublevamus flentes:
exaudi, Christe,
supplicantum preces.

Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.

Dextera Patris,
lapis angularis,
via salutis,
ianua caelestis,
ablue nostri
maculas delicti.

Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.

Rogamus, Deus,
tuam maiestatem:
auribus sacris
gemitus exaudi:
crimina nostra
placidus indulge.

Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.

Tibi fatemur
crimina admissa:
contrito corde
pandimus occulta:
tua, Redemptor,
pietas ignoscat.

Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.

Innocens captus,
nec repugnans ductus;
testibus falsis
pro impiis damnatus
quos redemisti,
tu conserva, Christe.

Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.

Plainchant, 10th century, Mode V

See my other blog postings in the plainchant series.

Return to God (Marty Haugen)

Refrain:

Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy;
Come seek the tender faithfulness of God

Now the time of grace has come, the day of salvation;
Come and learn now the way of our God. (Refrain)

I will take your heart of stone and place a heart within you,
A heart of compassion and love. (Refrain)

If you break the chains of oppression,
If you set the pris'ner free;
If you share your bread with the hungry,
Give protection to the lost;
Give shelter to the homeless,
Clothe the naked in your midst,
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn. (Refrain)

Words & Music: Marty Haugen (b. 1950)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Misericordias Domini (Taizé)

Misericordias Domini
in aeternum cantabo.

Music: Jacques Berthier (English bio) (French bio)

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English