Saturday, March 19, 2011

The Lent Prose: Hear Us O Lord (Attende Domine)

This is the English language version of the original 10th Century Mozarabic hymn, Attende Domine, which is especially appropriate for Lent.  Here it's led by George Curnow, Senior Cantor at the Church of St. Martin in Roath:



The words in English:
Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee.

To thee, Redeemer, on thy throne of glory:
lift we our weeping eyes in holy pleadings:
listen, O Jesu, to our supplications.

Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee.

O thou chief cornerstone, right hand of the Father:
way of salvation, gate of life celestial:
cleanse thou our sinful souls from all defilement.

Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee.

God, we implore thee, in thy glory seated:
bow down and hearken to thy weeping children:
pity and pardon all our grievous trespasses.

Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee.

Sins oft committed, now we lay before thee:
with true contrition, now no more we veil them:
grant us, Redeemer, loving absolution.

Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee.

Innocent captive, taken unresisting:
falsely accused, and for us sinners sentenced,
save us, we pray thee, Jesu, our Redeemer.

Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee.


Go here for audio and words in Latin.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

I sang this beautiful piece of church music as a choir boy. It has lived with me all my life. The wonderful words coupled with the plainsong type music resounded with me and touched me to my very soul and helped me in my journey of faith. Praise be to Jesus our wonderful saviour and we so undeserving.

Anonymous said...

I have just read this comment. Amazing; it could have been written by me! I also sang the Lent Prose in procession as a choir boy. The words and music had a similarly profound effect on me and were and are so encouraging in my own faith journey.

bls said...

Thanks to you both for commenting about your own experience with this beautiful song.

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