Let us amend for the better the sins we have committed in ignorance; lest suddenly seized by the day of death, we seek time for penance and be not able to find it. * Harken, o Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee. V. Help us, o God our salvation, and for the honor of Thy name, o Lord, deliver us. Harken, o Lord. Glory be. Harken, o Lord. (The Fourth Responsory of Matins on the First Sunday of Lent, also sung at the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday.)
R. Emendémus in melius, quae ignoranter peccávimus: ne súbito praeoccupáti die mortis, quaerámus spatium poenitentiae, et inveníre non possímus: * Attende, Dómine, et miserére, quia peccávimus tibi. V. Adjuva nos, Deus salutáris noster, et propter honórem nóminis tui, Dómine, líbera nos. Attende, Dómine. Gloria Patri. Attende, Dómine.
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| Vanitas, ca. 1642, by Adriaen van Utrecht (1599-1652) |
The responsory in the polyphonic setting of William Byrd.