O quam metuendus

General information

Antiphon to the Magnificat at Vespers for the Dedication of a Church.

Settings by composers

• Andrea Gabrieli SATT
• Jacob Handl (var.; see workpage) SSAT.ATBB
• Ferdinand di Lasso (with Eastertide alleluias) SSATB
• Luca Marenzio SATB
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina SATTB
• Tomás Luis de Victoria SATB

Text and translations

Latin text O quam metuendus est locus iste! Vere non est hic aliud nisi domus Dei et porta coeli. In ea, qui petit, accipit, qui quaerit, invenit, et pulsanti aperietur. Alleluia. Orantibus in loco isto, Dimitte peccata, Domine, et ostende eis viam bonam, per quam ambulent, et da gloriam in loco isto. Alleluia.

English translation Oh, how awe-inspiring is this place! Surely this can be nothing else but the house of God and the gate of heaven. In it, he that asks, receives, he that seeks, finds, and to him that knocks it shall be opened. Alleluia. Forgive the sins of those praying in this place, O Lord, and teach them the right way by which they should walk, and give glory in this place. Alleluia.