Hymn for the Souls in Purgatory: Christ Enthroned in Highest Heaven

This is a hymn for of petition for the souls in purgatory - suitable for funerals and for All Souls Day. The words are based on De Profundis Exclamantes, an anonymous Latin hymn from the 13th century.

It was translated to English by Irish-born Church-of-England scholar and minister Richard Frederick Littledale (1833-1890) in 1867.

With meter 8.7.8.7.8.7, tunes it is set to include:

AD PERENNIS - a 16th century French melody, composer unknown.
BRYNTIRION (Lutteroth) composed (or perhaps collected?) by German-born French-immigrant banker and evangelist,Ascan Henri Theodore Lutteroth (1802-1899) and Heinrich Roth AKA Mme. H. Lutteroth.

Downloads

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PowerPoint slides

Examples

Choir with organ, professional recording:

Choir, unaccompanied, professional recording, tune AD PERENNIS

choir with organ, tune TBA

Instrumental - electronic organ, kareoke style:

Instrumental - organ, tune BRYNTIRION

Instrumental - a new tune, name TBA by Benedict Preece

Lyrics

Traditional language

Christ, enthroned in highest heaven,

Hear us crying from the deep,

For the faithful ones departed,

For the souls of all that sleep;

As thy kneeling Church entreateth,

Hearken, Shepherd of the sheep.

King of Glory, hear our voices,

Grant thy faithful rest, we pray;

We have sinned, and may not bide it,

If thou mark our steps astray,

Yet we plead that saving Victim,

Which for them we bring to-day.

That which thou thyself hast offered

To thy Father, offer we;

Let it win for them a blessing,

Bless them, Jesu, set them free:

They are thine, they wait in patience,

Merciful and gracious be.

They are thine, O take them quickly,

Thou their Hope, O raise them high;

Ever hoping, ever trusting,

Unto thee they strive and cry;

Day and night, both morn and even,

Be, O Christ, their Guardian nigh.

Let thy plenteous loving-kindness

On them, as we pray, be poured;

Let them through thy boundless mercy,

From all evil be restored;

Hearken to the gentle pleading

Of thy Mother, gracious Lord.

When, O kind and radiant Jesu,

Kneels the Queen thy throne before,

Let the court of Saints attending,

Mercy for the dead implore;

Hearken, loving Friend of sinners,

Whom the Cross exalted bore.

Hear and answer prayers devoutest,

Break, O Lord, each binding chain,

Dash the gates of death asunder,

Quell the devil and his train;

Bring the souls which thou hast ransomed

Evermore in joy to reign.

Modern English

Christ, enthroned in highest heaven,

Hear us crying from the deep,

For the faithful ones departed,

For the souls of all that sleep;

As Your kneeling Church entreats You,

Hearken, Shepherd of the sheep.

King of Glory, hear our voices,

Grant Your faithful rest, we pray;

We have sinned, and may not bide it,

If Your mark our steps astray,

Yet we plead that saving victim,

Which for them we bring to-day.

That which You yourself have offered

To Your Father, offer we;

Let it win for them a blessing,

Bless them, Jesu, set them free:

They are Yours , they wait in patience,

Merciful and gracious be.

They are Your, O take them quickly,

You their hope, O raise them high;

Ever hoping, ever trusting,

Unto You they strive and cry;

Day and night, both morn and even,

Be, O Christ, their Guardian nigh.

Let Your plenteous loving-kindness

On them, as we pray, be poured;

Let them through Your boundless mercy,

From all evil be restored;

Hearken to the gentle pleading

Of Your Mother, gracious Lord.

When, O kind and radiant Jesu,

Kneels the Queen, Your throne before,

Let the court of saints attending,