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The Lenten Plea

Attende Domine

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy — the great refrain of Lent.

LatineThe Latin text

Atténde, Dómine, et miserére,
quia peccávimus tibi.

Ad te Rex summe,
ómnium Redémptor,
óculos nostros
sublevámus flentes:
exáudi, Christe,
supplicántum preces.

Atténde, Dómine, et miserére,
quia peccávimus tibi.

Déxtera Patris,
lapis anguláris,
via salútis,
jánua cæléstis,
áblue nostri
máculas delícti.

Atténde, Dómine, et miserére,
quia peccávimus tibi.

Rogámus, Deus,
tuam majestátem:
áuribus sacris
gémitus exáudi:
crímina nostra
plácidus indúlge.

Atténde, Dómine, et miserére,
quia peccávimus tibi.

Tibi fatémur
crímina admíssa:
contríto corde
pándimus occúlta:
tua Redémptor,
píetas ignóscat.

Atténde, Dómine, et miserére,
quia peccávimus tibi.

Innocens captus,
nec repúgnans ductus,
téstibus falsis
pro ímpiis damnátus:
quos redemísti,
tu consérva, Christe.

Atténde, Dómine, et miserére,
quia peccávimus tibi.

EnglishTranslation

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee.

To Thee, most high King, Redeemer of all, we lift up our weeping eyes: hear, O Christ, the prayers of Thy suppliants.

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee.

O Thou that art the right hand of the Father, the Corner Stone, the Way of Salvation, the Gate of heaven, wash away the stains of our sin.

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee.

We beseech Thy Majesty, O God! Bow down Thy divine ear to our sighs, and mercifully pardon our crimes.

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee.

We confess unto Thee the crimes we have committed, we make known to Thee, with a contrite heart, what is hidden in our conscience. Do Thou, O Redeemer, in Thy clemency forgive.

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee.

Thou wast led captive though innocent; Thou wast led, and didst not resist. Thou wast condemned by false witnesses for the wicked. O Jesus! save us, whom Thou hast redeemed.

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee.

After the Mozarabic Lenten preces, c. 10th century — the refrain and all five verses · English partly after Guéranger, The Liturgical Year (tr. Shepherd, 1870)

About the Attende Domine

I

The refrain of Lent

Attende Domine is one of the most recognisable hymns of Lent, built on a refrain the whole assembly can carry: Attende, Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi — 'Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee.' Between its returns, cantors sing verses that name the King, the Redeemer, the gate of heaven, and beg Him to look on His people.

The hymn's whole posture is penitential: weeping eyes lifted, hands empty, a plain confession of sin. It does not argue or explain; it simply knocks, again and again, at the mercy of Christ.

II

Its history

Attende Domine is drawn from the Lenten preces of the ancient Mozarabic rite of Spain, generally dated to around the tenth century, and it entered the wider Latin repertoire much later as a hymn for the Lenten season, its verses set between returns of the refrain.

That antiquity is part of its power: to sing it is to join a plea for mercy that the Church has been making, in words like these, for around a thousand years.

III

When it is sung

Attende Domine belongs to Lent, and especially to its penitential liturgies — days of fasting, Stations of the Cross, and services of reconciliation. Its returning refrain suits processions and any moment of communal repentance.

Sung in its grave mode, with the refrain given to all and the verses to a cantor, it becomes the sound of a people turning back — the essential act of the forty days.

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Questions

On the Attende Domine.

What does Attende Domine mean?

The refrain means 'Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee.' It is a communal plea for God's mercy in the season of penance.

When is it sung?

During Lent, especially at penitential services, Stations of the Cross, and liturgies of reconciliation.

Where does it come from?

From the Lenten preces of the ancient Mozarabic rite of Spain, generally dated around the 10th century, later adopted into the wider Latin chant repertoire for Lent.

Repertorium

The other chants.

All chants →
The Penitential CryKyrie EleisonThe Cry for Mercy The Antiphon of MortalityMedia VitaIn the Midst of Life The Hymn of InvocationVeni Creator SpiritusThe Invocation of the Spirit The Marian AntiphonSalve ReginaThe Evening Antiphon The Sequence of JudgmentDies IraeThe Day of Wrath The Cry of AdventRorate CaeliThe Cry of Advent A Child Is BornPuer Natus EstA Child Is Born The Hymn of the SacramentPange LinguaThe Hymn of the Sacrament The Easter AntiphonRegina CaeliThe Easter Antiphon The Golden SequenceVeni Sancte SpiritusThe Golden Sequence The Hidden GodheadAdoro Te DevoteThe Hidden Godhead Hail, True BodyAve Verum CorpusHail, True Body Star of the SeaAve Maris StellaStar of the Sea The Great ThanksgivingTe DeumThe Great Thanksgiving