Media vita in morte sumus

Background

Media in morte is now believed to date from around 1200, but is attributed to Notker by Winkworth, with an accompanying anecdote:

The hymn, "In the midst of life," is one of those founded on a more ancient hymn, the "Media in vita" of Notker, a learned Benedictine of St. Gall, who died in 912. He is said to have composed it while watching some workmen, who were building the bridge of Martinsbruck at the peril of their lives. It was soon set to music, and became universally known; indeed it was used as a battle song, until the custom was forbidden on account of its being supposed to exercise magical influences. In a German version it formed part of the service for the burial of the dead, as early as the thirteenth century, and is still preserved in an unmetrical form in the Burial Service of our own Church.

Settings of Media vita

• Media vita (Ambrosian chant)
• Media vita in morte sumus (Henri Dumont)
• Nicolas Gombert
• Media vita (Orlando di Lasso)
• Media vita a 6 (John Sheppard)

Settings of Luther's paraphrase

• Mitten wir im Leben sind (Arnold von Bruck)
• Mitten wir im Leben sind, Op. 23, No. 3 (Felix Mendelssohn)

Text and translations

Media vita

English translation (Book of Common Prayer)

In the midst of life we be in death:
Of whom may we seek for succour, but of Thee,
O Lord, which for our sins justly art moved?
Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty,
O holy and most merciful Saviour,
Deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.
Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts.
Shut not up thy merciful eyes to our prayers:
But spare us, Lord most holy,
O God most mighty,
O holy and merciful Saviour,
Thou most worthy Judge eternal,
Suffer us not, at our last hour,
For any pains of death,
To fall from Thee.

Mitten wir im Leben sind

German text (Luther, 1543) 1. Mitten wir im Leben sind Mit dem Tod umfangen. Wen such’n wir, der Hülfe tu’, Daß wir Gnad’ erlangen? Das bist du, Herr, alleine! Uns reuet unser’ Missetat, Die dich, Herr, erzürnet hat. Heiliger Herre Gott, Heiliger, starker Gott, Heiliger, barmherziger Heiland, Du ewiger Gott! Laß uns nicht versinken In der bittern Todesnot! Kyrieleison! 2. Mitten in den Tod ansieht Uns der Höllen Rachen; Wer will uns aus solcher Not Frei und ledig machen? Das tust du, Herr, alleine. Es jammert dein’ Barmherzigkeit Unser’ Sünd’ und großes Leid. Heiliger Herre Gott! Heiliger, starker Gott! Heiliger, barmherziger Heiland! Du ewiger Gott! Laß uns nicht verzagen Für der tiefen Höllenglut! Kyrieleison! 3. Mitten in der Höllen Angst Unser’ Klag’ uns treiben; Wo soll’n wir denn fliehen hin, Da wir mögen bleiben? Zu dir, Herr Christ, alleine. Vergossen ist dein teures Blut, Das g’nug für die Sünde tut. Heiliger Herre Gott! Heiliger, starker Gott! Heiliger, barmherziger Heiland! Du ewiger Gott! Laß uns nicht entfallen Von des rechten Glaubens Trost. Kyrieleison!

English translation (Catherine Winkworth, Lyra Germanica (1862)) In the midst of life, behold Death has girt us round. Whom for help then shall we pray, Where shall grace be found? In Thee, O Lord, alone! We rue the evil we have done, That Thy wrath on us hath drawn. Holy Lord and God! Strong and Holy God! Merciful and Holy Saviour! Eternal God! Leave us not to sink beneath These dark pains of bitter death; Kyrie eleison! In the midst of death the jaws Of hell against us gape. Who from peril dire as this Openeth us escape? 'Tis Thou, O Lord, alone! Our bitter suffering and our sin Pity from Thy mercy win, Holy Lord and God! Strong and Holy God! Merciful and Holy Saviour! Eternal God! Let not dread our souls o'erwhelm Of the dark and burning realm, Kyrie Eleison! In the midst of hell would Sin Drive us to despair; Whither shall we flee away? Where is refuge, where? With Thee, Lord Christ, alone! For Thou hast shed Thy precious blood, All our sins Thou makest good, Holy Lord and God! Strong and Holy God! Merciful and Holy Saviour! Eternal God! Leave us not to fall in death From the hope of Thy true Faith, Kyrie Eleison!

External links

• Christian Classics Ethereal Library
• Winkworth translation in Lyra Germanica (1862)