Audi benigne

General information

Hymn at Vespers in Lent, attributed to Pope St Gregory the Great.

Settings by composers

• Oliver Hayes SATB (even verses)
• Nicolas Merques ATT (first verse)
• Giovanni Maria Nanino SATB (odd verses)
• Stanislav Surin Unison (strophic)

Text and translations

Latin text 1. Audi benigne conditor, nostras preces cum fletibus, in hoc sacro jejunio, fusas quadragenario. 2. Scrutator alme cordium, infirma tu scis virium, ad te reversis exhibe remissionis gratiam. 3. Multum quidem peccavimus, sed pace confitentibus, ad nominis laudem tui, confer medelam languidis. 4. Concede nostrum conteri, corpus per ab stinentiam, culpae ut relinquant parbulum, jejuna corda criminum. 5. Praesta beata Trinitas, concede simplex unitas, ut fructuosa sint tuis, jejuniorum munera. Amen.

English translation 1. O MERCIFUL Creator, hear! To us in pity bow Thine ear: accept the tearful prayer we raise in this our fast of forty days. 2. Our hearts are open, Lord, to Thee: Thou knowest our infirmity; pour out on all who seek Thy face abundance of Thy pardoning grace. 3. Our sins are many, this we know; spare us, good Lord, Thy mercy show; and for the honor of Thy name our fainting souls to life reclaim. 4. Give us self-control that springs from discipline of outward things, that fasting inward secretly the soul may purely dwell with Thee. 5. We pray Thee, Holy Trinity, one God, unchanging Unity, that we from this our abstinence may reap the fruits of penitence. Amen.