Salve Maria!
In our days where there is a constant push to completely ignore or forget about death, the end of the world, the Last Judgement and, most importantly, the Second Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ, here is a truly BREATHTAKING Gregorian Chant that brings all these things to the forefront: The Dies Irae!

Today being the Last Day of the Liturgical Year, the Church exhorts us to contemplate the Second Coming of Our Saviour, who shall come to judge the living and the dead and RESTORE all things to order. Let's not miss out to contemplate on this great Requiem Sequence!

About the Dies Irae:
Dies Iræ is a famous medieval hymn from the 13th century, whose authorship is attributed to the saintly friar, Thomas of Celano, one of the first biographers of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Before the Second Vatican Council, this hymn formed part of the Requiem Mass (Mass for the Faithful Departed), and was the sequence that was meditated upon before the Gospel. It was made official at the Council of Trent in the 16th century. This hymn is also part of the liturgy of All Saints' Day.
In fact, Mozart, Verdi and several other famous composers made symphonies on this beautiful hymn. The Dies iræ has rhyme at the end of the verses and uses rhythmic accents rather than the old metric based on long and short syllables, which was at that time a new fashion.

Lyrics (Latin)
DIES irae, dies illa,
solvet saeculum in favilla,
teste David cum Sibylla.

Quantus tremor est futurus,
quando iudex est venturus,
cuncta stricte discussurus!

Tuba mirum spargens sonum
per sepulcra regionum,
coget omnes ante thronum.

Mors stupebit et natura,
cum resurget creatura,
iudicanti responsura.

Liber scriptus proferetur,
in quo totum continetur,
unde mundus iudicetur.

Iudex ergo cum sedebit,
quidquid latet apparebit:
nil inultum remanebit.

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
quem patronum rogaturus?
cum vix iustus sit securus.

Rex tremendae maiestatis,
qui salvandos salvas gratis,
salva me, fons pietatis.

Recordare Iesu pie,
quod sum causa tuae viae:
ne me perdas illa die.

Quaerens me, sedisti lassus:
redemisti crucem passus:
tantus labor non sit cassus.

Iuste iudex ultionis,
donum fac remissionis,
ante diem rationis.

Ingemisco, tamquam reus:
culpa rubet vultus meus:
supplicanti parce Deus.

Qui Mariam absolvisti,
et latronem exaudisti,
mihi quoque spem dedisti.

Preces meae non sunt dignae:
sed tu bonus fac benigne,
ne perenni cremer igne.

Inter oves locum praesta,
et ab haedis me sequestra,
statuens in parte dextera.

Confutatis maledictis,
flammis acribus addictis.
voca me cum benedictis.

Oro supplex et acclinis,
cor contritum quasi cinis:
gere curam mei finis.

Lacrimosa dies illa,
qua resurget ex favilla.
iudicandus homo reus:
huic ergo parce Deus.

Pie Iesu Domine,
dona eis requiem. Amen.

English Translation:
The day or wrath, that day
will break up the world into ash
as testified by David and the Sybil

How much trembling is about to be
when the judge is about to come
and strictly examine all things

The trumpet, scattering a wondrous sound
through the sepulchres of the regions,
will summon all before the throne.

Death is struck, and nature quaking,
All creation is awaking,
To its Judge an answer making.

The written book will be brought forth,
in which all is contained,
from which the world shall be judged.

When therefore the Judge will sit,
whatever lies hidden, will appear:
nothing will remain unpunished.

What then shall I, poor wretch [that I am], say?
Which patron shall I entreat,
when [even] the just may [only] hardly be sure?

King of fearsome majesty,
Who gladly save those fit to be saved,
save me, O fount of mercy.

Remember, merciful Jesus,
that I am the cause of Your journey:
lest You lose me in that day.

Seeking me, You rested, tired:
You redeemed [me], having suffered the Cross:
let not such hardship be in vain.

Just Judge of vengeance,
make a gift of remission
before the day of reckoning.

I sigh, like the guilty one:
my face reddens in guilt:
Spare the imploring one, O God.

You Who absolved Mary,
and heard the robber,
gave hope to me also.

My prayers are not worthy:
but You, [Who are] good, graciously grant
that I be not burned up by the everlasting fire.

Grant me a place among the sheep,
and take me out from among the goats,
setting me on the right side.

Once the cursed have been silenced,
sentenced to acrid flames,
Call me, with the blessed.

[Humbly] kneeling and bowed I pray,
[my] heart crushed as ashes:
take care of my end.

Tearful [will be] that day,
on which from the glowing embers will arise
the guilty man who is to be judged:
Then spare him, O God.

Merciful Lord Jesus,
grant them rest. Amen.

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