Office of the Departed

 

Office of Readings: Novus

Qui vivis ante sæcula

vitæque fons es únicus,

nos, Deus, morti obnóxios

culpæque reos áspice.

Peccánti, Pater, hómini

pœnam sanxísti intéritum,

ut, pulvis datus púlveri,

se súbderet piáculum.

Vitále sed spiráculum

quod indidísti próvidus,

æternitátis pérmanet

germen immarcescíbile.

Hæc spes, hoc est solácium:

revirescémus, Dómine,

primúsque resurgéntium

ad te nos Christus rápiet.

Pro pluribus:

Hoc vitæ regno pérfrui

da fratres in te mórtuos,

quos Christi fides ímbuit,

quos almus unxit Spíritus.

Pro uno:

Hoc vitæ regno pérfrui
defúnctam præsta fámulam,
quam Christi fides ímbuit,
quam almus unxit Spíritus.

Hoc regnum nobis própera

e terris cum cessérimus,

ut concinámus ómnium

te finem, te princípium. Amen.

O God, you exist before the ages, the only source of life: behold us guilty and subject to the death of sin. O Father, you sentenced sinful man to the penalty of death that dust returned to dust might atone for crime.  But the living breath which you providentially bestowed upon man abides permanently as an incorruptible seed.  This is our hope; this is our consolation that we will be raised and Christ the Lord, the first born of those who rise, will seize us and take us to you.  (For several departed): Grant that our departed brothers, whom  faith in Christ filled and the Holy Spirit anointed,  may enjoy this kingdom of life. (For one departed):  Grant that our departed brother, whom  faith in Christ filled and the Holy Spirit anointed, may enjoy this kingdom of life. When we pass away from earth grant us this kingdom that we may sing to you, the end and beginning of all things. Amen. 

 At Lauds: Novus

Spes, Christe, nostræ véniæ,

tu vita, resurréctio;

ad te sunt corda et óculi

cum mortis dolor íngruit.

Tu quoque mortis tædia

passus dirósque stímulos,

Patri, inclináto cápite,

mitis dedísti spíritum.

Vere nostros excípiens

languóres, pastor míserens,

tecum donásti cómpati

Patrísque in sinu cómmori.

Apértis pendens brácchiis,

in cor transfíxum pértrahis

quos moritúros ággravat

morbus vel mæror ánxius

Qui portis fractis ínferi

victor pandísti cælicas,

nos nunc doléntes érige,

post óbitum vivífica.

Sed et qui frater córpore

nunc dormit pacis réquie,

iam te beánte vígilet

tibíque laudes réferat. Amen.

Sed et qui fratres córpore

nunc somno pacis dórmiunt,

iam te beánte vígilent

tibíque laudes réferant. Amen.

O Christ, the hope of our pardon, You are the life and resurrection, hearts and eyes are set upon you, when the sorrow of death finds us. You also suffered the grief, the harsh pangs of death, when with bowed head you gently commended  your spirit to the Father.  Truly you took our sorrows, merciful Shepherd, and granted that we might share with you the comfort of the Father’s bosom. With open and outstretched arms you take to your wounded heart those weighted down by death, the sick and those anxious with sorrow.  You, the Conqueror, when the gates of hell were broken, opened heaven; now raise up the sorrowful and give us life after death. (for one departed): Also may the  brother, who now bodily sleeps in the rest of peace, watch for the blessed vision of you and offer you praise. Amen. (for several departed): Also may the  brothers, who now bodily sleep in the rest of peace, watch for the blessed vision of you and offer you praise. Amen.

At Terce, Sext, None: Novus

Qui lacrimátus Lázarum

geménsque cum soróribus,

ipsum fecísti præpotens

illárum reddi stúdiis:

Qui petivísti sóntibus

benígnus indulgéntiam,

ac verba miserántia

dixísti pœnæ sócio:

Qui, móriens, discípulo

matrem donásti Vírginem,

tuórum quæ fidélium

agóni adésset último:

Da nobis, Christe Dómine,

tuo redémptis sánguine,

duræ mortis tristítiam

in vitæ verti gáudium.

Tuósque voca fámulos,

ex hoc proféctos sæculo,

ut ubi mors iam déerit

te vitæ canant príncipem. Amen.

You, who wept for Lazarus and mourned with his sisters, powerfully returned him to his eager sisters. You who mercifully sought forgiveness for the guilty and spoke merciful words to the one who shared your punishment:  As you were dying you gave the Virgin Mother to the disciple, she who comes to the aid of your faithful in their final agony: Grant to us, redeemed by your blood, Lord Christ, sadness in the bitterness of death, turned to  happiness in life. Call your departed servants from this world that when death takes them they may sing to you, the Ruler of Life. Amen.

 
Vespers 

Imménsæ rex poténtiæ,

Christe, tu Patris glóriam

nostrúmque decus móliens,

mortis fregísti iácula.

Infírma nostra súbiens

magnúmque petens prœlium,

mortem qua serpens vícerat,

victor calcásti móriens.

Surgens fortis e túmulo,

pascháli nos mystério

peccáto rursus mórtuos

ad vitam semper ínnovas.

Vitam largíre grátiæ,

ut, sponsus cum redíeris,

ornáta nos cum lámpade

iam promptos cælo invénias.

In lucem nos et réquiem

serénus iudex áccipe,

quos fides sanctæ Tríadi

devínxit atque cáritas.

Pro uno:

Tuúmque voca fámulum,

qui nunc exútus córpore

in regna Patris ínhiat,

ut te colláudet pérpetim. Amen.

Pro pluribus:
 
Fratres et omnes ádvoca,
qui nunc exúti córpore
in regna Patris ínhiant,
ut te colláudent pérpetim. Amen.

O King of great power, Christ, fighting  for the glory of the Father and our own honor,  you broke the darts of death.  Submitting to our weakness and searching out the great battle, you, a dying conqueror,  crushed the death the serpent had won. Rising valiantly from the tomb by the paschal mystery you restored  us to eternal life, who are dead through sin. Increase the life of grace that when you, the bridegroom, return, you will find us with lighted lamps ready for heaven. Peaceful Judge, receive us in light and rest, we, whom faith and love of the Trinity have conquered.  Call thy servant, now delivered from the body who longs for the kingdom of the Father that he might praise you forever. Call thy servants, now delivered from the body who long for the kingdom of the Father that they might praise you forever. Amen.