Lord, hear the prayers of your people, and forgive our sins, for you are kind.
Lord, Creator of the world, you judge righteously, deliver us from evil by your Right Hand, and forgive our sins, for you are kind.
By your Cross you purchased for yourself a people from the nations, graciously blot out the sins of all, O Christ, and forgive our sins, for you are kind.
You called on the Father, and asked him to forgive. Forgive our debts, and loosen our bonds, and forgive our sins, for you are kind.
You promised the rest of Paradise to the thief. Help the penitents who are bound, and forgive our sins, for you are kind.
Mozarabic Breviary, 574. Freely modified from Devotions from Ancient and Medieval Sources (Western), ed. Rev. Charles Plummer, 1916.
O Lord, behold my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed! (Lamentations 1:9)
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
Sent from the Father, I came to seek the lost and to redeem with my blood those who were carried captive by the enemy. A cruel people rejected me.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
Foretold by the prophets, I was born of a virgin, I took on myself the nature of a servant to gather those who were scattered. The hunters took me.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
They rewarded me much evil for good. They devised wicked plans against me. They sold me for money.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
They put a crown of thorns on my head. They spit on me. They mocked my affliction.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
They hung me on the cross with evil thieves. They fed me with gall, and to punish me they gave me vinegar to drink.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
Those I came to deliver accused me. They beat me with scourges and crucified me. They pierced me with a spear.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
I was laid in the tomb. I broke the gates of hell. I brought out the captives and led them on high. I displayed them in triumph.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
Most merciful Father, forgive all their evil deeds. Blot out their sins and absolve the crimes of those who did not know what they were doing.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
You pardoned the crimes of the repentant thief. Loosen our chains and absolve our guilt. Save us by your cross.
Have mercy, righteous Father, and forgive us all.
Source: Mozarabic Manual, 354; cf. Gallican Sacramentary, 843. Freely modified from Devotions from Ancient and Medieval Sources (Western), ed. Rev. Charles Plummer, 1916.
Let us clothe ourselves in sackcloth and ashes, and let us fast and weep before the Lord, for our God is very merciful, and will forgive our sins:
Hear, Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against you.
Let the servants of the Lord weep before the altar and say, “Spare, Lord, spare your people, and do not put to shame the lips that praise you.”
Hear, Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against you.
Let us amend the sins which we have ignorantly committed, that we do not receive God’s grace in vain, but know this as the time of God’s favor and the day of salvation.
Hear, Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against you.
Help us, God of our salvation, and for the glory of your name deliver us, Lord.
Hear, Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against you.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.
Remember, mortal, that you are dust, and to dust you will return:
Hear, Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against you.
Source: Roman Missal, i. 48; cf. Sarum Manual, 134. Freely modified from Devotions from Ancient and Medieval Sources (Western), ed. Rev. Charles Plummer, 1916.
Pleasant is this present life, and it passes; Christ, your Judgment is awesome, and it prevails. Therefore let us forsake uncertain love, and think of your infinite holiness, crying: Lord, have mercy on us.
“Come, and return to me,” says the Lord. Come, let us explore and examine our ways. Let us return to the Lord and say: You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Source: Ambrosian Manual, ii. 119, 120, shortened. Freely modified from Devotions from Ancient and Medieval Sources (Western), ed. Rev. Charles Plummer, 1916.
The Reproaches or Improperia are a series of antiphons and responses sung in Good Friday liturgies, usually in the afternoon. They first appeared in the ninth century. There are many different versions of the Reproaches with different verses. What is presented below is a shorter and possibly earlier version.
O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Answer me! (Micah 6:3)
I led you out of the land of Egypt, and you have led your Savior to be scourged.
I led you out of the land of slavery, and you led your Redeemer to be nailed to the cross.
Lord God most holy, Lord most mighty, holy and most merciful Savior, deliver us from the bitter pains of eternal death.
I threw Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea, and you delivered me to the chief priests and the Gentiles.
I fed you with manna, and gave you water to drink from the rock in the wilderness, and you gave me gall and vinegar to drink.
Lord God most holy, Lord most mighty, holy and most merciful Savior, deliver us from the bitter pains of eternal death.
O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Answer me!
Lord God most holy, Lord most mighty, holy and most merciful Savior, deliver us from the bitter pains of eternal death.
Listen to the Improperia sung in Latin in an arrangement by Tomas Luis de Victoria.
Here is a different performance of the same piece that also includes the chant in the illustration at the top of this page.
German version:
The section in the German version “Heiliger Herre Gott…” is quoted from Luther’s hymn version, “Mitten wir in Leben sind…” Our translation above follows our translation of “In the midst of life…”
Was habe ich dir gethan , mein Volk, und womit habe ich dich beleidigt? antworte mir! (Micha 6:3).
Habe ich dich doch aus Aegyptenland geführt: und du hast zu Geißelung überantwortet deinen Heiland.
Habe ich dich doch aus dem Diensthause erlóset: und du hast ans Kreuz geschlagen deinen Erlöſer.
Heiliger Herre Gott! Heiliger starker Gott! Heiliger, barmherziger Heiland, Du ewiger Gott, Laß uns nicht verſinken in des bittern Todes Noth!
Habe ich doch Pharao und seine Reuter gestürzt ins Meer: und du hast mich überantwortet den Hohenprieſtern und den Heiden.
Habe ich dich doch gespeiſet mit Manna, und getrånker von dem Wasser des Felsen in der Wüste: und du haſt mich getränket mit Galle und Essig.
Heiliger Herre Gott! Heiliger starker Gott! Heiliger, barmherziger Heiland, Du ewiger Gott, Laß uns nicht versinken in des bittern Todes Noth.
Was habe ich dir gethan , mein Volk, und womit habe ich dich beleidigt? antworte mir!
Heiliger Herre Gott! Heiliger starker Gott! Heiliger, barmherziger Heiland, Du ewiger Gott, Laß uns nicht verſinken in des bittern Todes Noth!
Original in Latin:
Popule meus, quid feci tibi? Aut in quo contristavi te? Responde mihi.
Quia eduxi te de terra Ægypti: parasti Crucem Salvatori tuo.
Hagios o Theos. Sanctus Deus. Hagios Ischyros. Sanctus Fortis. Hagios Athanatos, eleison hymas. Sanctus Immortalis, miserere nobis.
Ego propter te flagellavi Ægyptum cum primogenitis suis: et tu me flagellatum tradidisti.
Popule meus, quid feci tibi? Aut in quo contristavi te? Responde mihi.
Ego eduxi te de Ægypto, demerso Pharaone in mare rubrum: et tu me tradidisti principibus sacerdotum.
Popule meus, quid feci tibi? Aut in quo contristavi te? Responde mihi.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
God the Father in heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Be gracious to him. Spare him, good Lord. Be gracious to him. Help him, good Lord.
From your wrath, from an evil death, from the pains of hell, from the power of the devil, from all evil, good Lord, deliver him.
By your holy nativity, by your agony and bloody sweat, by your cross and passion, by your glorious resurrection and ascension, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, help him, good Lord.
In the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, help him, good Lord.
We poor sinners pray, hear us, Lord God.
We pray that you would spare him. Hear us, good Lord.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Amen.
Source: 16th century Kirchenordnung, the Church Book, in Oremus, 1925, ed. by Paul Zeller Strodach, freely modified.
Lord God, the Father in heaven, have mercy on him. Lord God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on him. Lord God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on him.
Be gracious to him. Spare him, good Lord. Be gracious to him. Help him, good Lord. From all sin, good Lord, deliver him.
From all unbelief and doubt, from your just and dreadful wrath, from all plots and assaults of the devil, from the fear of eternal death, from the anguish and pains of hell, and from all evil, defend him, good Lord.
By your holy nativity, by your agony and bloody sweat, by your cross and passion, by your glorious resurrection and ascension, help him, good Lord.
In the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, help him, good Lord.
That you would give him health of body and soul, that he may confidently look to your fatherly goodness for whatever is needed, that he may call on you in true faith, that your good angel may defend, direct and conduct him in all his ways, that in steadfast faith he may withstand and overcome all temptation, that he may commend himself, body and soul, to your will, that he may truly now and sincerely repent of all his sins, hear us, good Lord.
That he may find comfort in your goodness and mercy, that he may willingly forgive all his enemies and persecutors, that he may turn away from all desires and pleasures of the world, that his desire may be for you and the treasures of your heavenly kingdom, that he may await his last hour in patience, that he may commit his spirit into your hands, that his departure may be in peace, that he may have a part in the resurrection to life, that he may meet his Lord with joy, that he may live forever in your kingdom, Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on him.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on him. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on him. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant him your peace. Amen
Everlasting God, merciful Father, you tenderly care for us in our need and sorrow, and you allowed your Son to be tempted in every way as we are, yet he was without sin, that we might have a merciful and faithful High Priest who knows our weakness. We your children pray for our afflicted brother, who lies under your mighty hand. Do not deal with him in judgment for his sins but strengthen and comfort him by your Holy Spirit with faith and patience, that his sickness may be to your glory and for the salvation of his soul; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: 16th century Kirchenordnung, the Church Book, in Oremus, 1925, ed. by Paul Zeller Strodach, freeely modified.
A Collection of Prayers 