Further information can be found in the 7th century Advent hymn Apparebit repentina dies magna Domini ("The great day of the Lord will suddenly appear"), 2 Peter 3:7-11, Psalm 97: 1-6 and Mathew 25: 41-46.
The Dies Irae is in fact a personal meditation on the Gospel for the 1st Sunday of Advent, Luke 21: 25-36, and its first liturgical use was probably for that Sunday. Despite its one-time popularity, therefore, the Dies Irae has no place in the Requiem Mass and strictly, being cast in the first person singular, it even offends against liturgical norms which are concerned with the people as a community.
Nevertheless, the Dies Irae was adapted for use in Requiem Masses by the addition of the last six lines, of which the first four are taken from a 12th century (or earlier) hymn, its fourth line being changed from Tu peccatis parce Deus. The first six lines of the poem describe the Judgment with the poet introducing himself into the scene asking who will be able to help him then. As no one can, since all are to be judged, now is the time to prepare for that day. He prays to Christ who will then appear as the 'King of awesome majesty' but who is now a 'fount of Pity'. The first reason for mercy is Christ's incarnation - 'Thy Journey', together with his life-work and death - 'such toll'. The other reason is the repentance of the sinner - 'I groan like one condemned'. Being shown mercy, the poet hopes to be with God when the Judgment is over.
Return to the Requiem Web main page