I found this in an old mass Missal (Our Parish Prays and Sings Sunday Mass Book copyrighted 1966, page 300). It is in the mass settings called "Mass for Heavenly Union with Christ" It is the "sequence" for that mass which, I think, is a funeral mass.
A meditation on the last things.
Day of wrath! O day of Mourning!
See fulfilled the prophets warning
Heav'n and earth in ashes burning!
O what fear man's bosom rendeth
When from heav'n the judge descendeth
On whose sentence all dependeth!
Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth;
Through earth's sepulchers it ringeth;
All before the throne it bringeth.
Death is struck and nature quaking,
All creation is awaking
to its judge an answer making.
Lo! the book, exactly worded,
wherein all hath been recorded:
Thence shall judgement be awarded.
When the judge his seat attaineth
And each hidden deed arraigneth,
Nothing unavenged remaineth.
What shall I, frail man, be pleading?
Who for me be interceding,
When the just are mercy needing?
King of majesty tremendous,
Who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity, then befriend us!
Think, good Jesus, my salvation
Cost thy wondrous incarnation;
Leave me not to reprobation!
Faint and weary, thou hast sought me,
On the cross of suff'ring bought me.
Shall such grace be vainly brought me?
Righteous judge! for sin's pollution
Grant thy gift of absolution,
Ere the day of retribution.
Guilty, now I pour my moaning,
All my shame with anguish owning;
Spare, O God, thy suppliant groaning!
Thou the sinful woman savedst:
thou the dying thief forgavest;
And to me a hope vouch-safest.
Worthless are my prayers and sighing,
Yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
Rescue me from fires undying!
With Thy favored sheep O place me,
Nor among the Goats abase me,
But to thy right hand upraise me.
While the wicked are confounded,
Doomed to flames of woe unbounded,
Call me with thy saints surrounded.
Low I kneel with heart submission:
See like ashes my contrition:
Help me in my last condition.
Ah that day of tears and Mourning!
From the dust of earth returning,
Man for judgement must prepare him;
Spare, O God, in mercy spare him!
Lord, all pitying, Jesus Blest,
Grant them thine eternal rest. Amen.
You just don't hear this kind of material any more.
Brings one down a notch doesn't it?
(Spell check didn't even recognize "reprobation"... hmmm.)
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