Epitaphs

Dies irae, dies illa.....................Day of anger, Day of wailing
Solvet saeclum in favilla...............When everything is incinerated
Teste David cum Sybilla.................As David with witnesses testified

Quantus tremor est futurus..............What future trembling
Quando judex est venturus...............When the Judge comes
Cuncta stricte discussurus..............To adjudicate with strictness

Tuba mirum spargens sonum...............A great trumpet shall sound
Per sepulchra regionum..................Throughout regions of sepulchres
Coget omnes ante thronum................Calling all to the Throne
Mors stupebit et natura.................Death and nature stupefied
Cum resurget creatura...................With creatures resurrected
Judicanti responsura....................Responding to Judgement

Liber scriptus proferetur...............Books of scripture profess
In quo totum continetur.................The total contents
Unde mundus judicetur...................Under which the world is judged
Judex ergo cum sedebit..................When all come to adjudication
Quidquid latet apparebit.......................Nothing remains apparently hidden
Nil inultum remanebit..........................Not a thing remains nonscrutinized
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?...........How bemoan my misery?
Quem patronum rogaturus.................Who pleads for me
Cum vix justus sit securus?.............With what justice be secure?

Rex tremendae majestatis................King of tremendous majesty
Qui salvandos salvas gratis.............Who saves with free salvation
Salve me, fons pietatis.................Save me, with pity.

Recordare Jesu, pie.....................Record, kind Jesus
Quod sum causa tuae viae................For what cause You lived.
Ne me perdas illa die...................Let me not perish on that Day
Quaerens me sedisti lassus..............Seeking me You left your state
Redemisti crucem passus.................Redeemed with crucifixion passion
Tantus labor non sit cassus.............Let such labor not be causeless
Juste judex ultionis....................Just Ultimate Judge
Donum fac remissionis...................Grant true remission
Ante diem rationis......................Against the Day of Reckoning

Ingemisco tamquam reus..................Ruefully with bitter sorrow
Culpa rubet vultus meus.................A culprit blushing with shame
Supplicanti parce Deus..................Supplication, God of Pardon!

Qui Mariam absolvisti...................You who absolved Mariam
Et latronem exaudisti...................And excused the thief
Mihi quoque spem dedisti................Give me bright hope
Preces meae non sunt dignae............ My prayers do not dignify me
Sed tu, bonus, fac benigne..............In Your abundant benignness
Ne perenni cremer igne..................Never perpetually ignite me

Inter oves locum praesta.............Within the presence of sheep localize me
Et ab hoedis me sequestra...............From the goats separate me
Statuens in parte dextra................Instate me at your right side

Confutatis maledictis...................As malevolent confounded
Flammis acribus addictis................Are addicted to flames of terror

Voca me cum benedictis..................Call me with the blessed
Oro supplex et acclinis.................Imploring as I incline
Cor contritum quasi cinis...............In contrition and remorse
Gere curam mei finis....................Give me cure at my ending.

Epitaphs

"My Jesus Mercy"
Alphonse Capone
[Mt Carmel Cemetery; Chicago, IL]

"To Yesterday'sCompanionship
and Tomorrow's Reunion"
Rita Hayworth
[HolyCross Cemetery; Culver City, CA]

"VOCATUS ATQUE NON VOCATUS DEUS ADERIT"
(Invoked or not invoked, God is present)
Karl Jung
[Flutern Cemetery; Zurich Switzerland]

"...If I take the wingsof the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea..."
Anne and Charles Lindbergh

"Gone are the living, but the dead remain,
And not neglected; for a hand unseen,
Scattering its bounty like a summer rain,
Still keeps their graves
and their remembrance green."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
[The Jewish Cemetery; Newport,RI]

"A friend to honesty and a foe to crime"
Allan Pinkerton
[Graceland Cemetery; Chicago, IL]

"Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare,
To digg the dust encloased heare!
Blest be the man that spares thes stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones."
William Shakespeare
[Holy Trinity Church; Stratford-on-Avon, Engl.]

"Thank you for all the love you gave me.
There could be no one stronger.
Thank you for the many beautiful songs.
They will live long and longer."
Hank Williams
[Oakwood Cemetery; Montgomery, AL]

And now thy dust returns to earth
Thy soul to God who gave it;
Those who remain vouchsafe thy worth
With memories engrave it.

Like brilliant stars his virtue glowed
And from his lips wise counsel flowed
But when the sunset time he knew
With courage bid this world adieu.

On earth according to his light
He practiced what is right
Hence all his failures are consigned
To his dear Lord of light.

My Savior calls and I must go
And leave you here, my friends, below
But soon my God will call for thee
Prepare for death and follow me.

Farewell my friends and children fair
I leave you all behind
And place you in my Master's care
Who's merciful and kind.

No more with us her lovely voice
The hymns of praise shall swell
No more her cheerful heart rejoice
When peals the Sabbath bell.

Death has finally conquered me
I by its dart am slain
But Christ victorious conquered thee
And I shall rise again.

May all draw near and ponder here
My body in this grave
And if He grants a moment's time
Pray God your soul to save.

Depart my friends
Wipe off your tears
For soon in years
Our Christ appears.

Adieu, my friends, in church's dome
In peace on earth remain
Till Christ our Judge shall call us home
To meet in love again.

Both friends and doctor cannot save
Us mortals from the grave
And we who did His gift deprave
Will give us what He gave.

The silent stone which cannot boast
The corpse in dead demise
Whatever Jesus valued most
Ascended to the skies.

A wife, a friend, a mother dear
with her small babe lies here
In bloom of life there came that day
Now both lie in their bier.

The rising morn cannot insure
That we shall end the day
For death stands ready at the door
To snatch our lives away.

I with all my children rest
God gave and took our best
Prepare to meet upon that shore
Where parting is no more.

The sleep of all His saints be blest
Most peaceful be their bed
And where should all His saints then rest?
But with their living Head.

The soul prepared needs not to stay
The summon comes, all will obey
We soon do rest in silent sod
And close our eyes to see our God.

In faith he died, in dust he lies,
But faith foresees him rise
When Jesus calls what hope assumes
He'll fly above the tombs.

Thou wast cut down in youthful life
A faithful loving wife
A tender mother good and kind
You were to death consigned.

She long'd the day to go away
Where all the living must
And soon she left, was called by God,
Then turned to silent dust.

By faith she lived, in faith she died,
Left much behind to teach
Her husband near and daughter dear
Such things as none can preach.

Farewell my friends and children dear
I leave this world of pain
May virtue be your practice here
Till we do meet again.

In prosperous life death's heavy stroke
Made him his wealth revoke
He left his loving wife his all
Then rose to heed God's call.

Tis brief the time whose days amount
To threescore years and ten
And all within that short account
Befalleth mortal men.

The heavn'ly host called thee away
To have eternal day;
And so the sorrow in my heart
Continues on in part.

Goodbye my friends, I say adieu
I stay no more with you
In piety, with purpose clear,
We will in heav'n appear.

Beneath those clods in silent sleep
Her saintly body lies
Surviving friends, forbear to weep
Her spirit never dies.

Farewell my spouse and partner dear
I leave this world of pain
Make holiness your duty here
Till we do meet again.

We'll ever hold thy mem'ry near
As we this vale tread
And bow submissive to that Pow'r
Who laid thee with the dead.

In sweet repose I do recline
With pain and sickness done
From all earth's sorrows I decline
And have the victory won.

Her church her mem'ry will revere
And friends recall her cheer
Now blissful in her home above
For her who we hold dear.

Sweet is that truth I shall arise
Though silent in the grave
And meet my Savior in the skies
His child whom He did save.

Stop here my friend and read these lines
Do heed this solemn call
Someday your morning sun will set
And you like me will fall.

Cease friends to weep, your tears restrain,
Hush weeping, mournful cry
Your transcient loss my blessed gain
From death to life we die.

Thou lovely child, thy parent's hope,
In early years deathbound
In league now with that ghastly group
That lies beneath the ground.

My Lord I give my spirit up
And trust it to Thy care
My soul do Thou receive above
Then meet me in the air.

Your sudden death has thwarted hope
Which thy short life did give
But thou dear child in realms of bliss
With Jesus ever live.



A loving husband, parent kind,
In death his body lies
But God who saw his vision blind
Will open sealed eyes.

In early life I'm called to go
My work on earth is done
With peace I part, with far to go,
To Christ, God's only Son.

Dissolve ye tenements of dust
All earthly pride decay
A noble mansion waits the just
And Christ prepares the way.

O lovely flow'r of fragrant spring
Too fragile here to stay
A holy angel bore with wing
Your beauty bright and gay.

There is a hope beyond the grave
Which soothes the troubled mind
For Jesus has atonement made
And ransomed His mankind.

In His blest Book of Life divine
May God inscribe my name
There may it fill some humble place
Without a spot nor blame.

May all those sorr'wing plainly see
Death's chast'ning mighty rod
Yet in that grievous sorrow see
The righteous hand of God.

Dear as thou wert and loving near
We will not weep for thee
One thought does check that starting tear
It is that thou art free.

To Jesus make your sorrows known
And banish all your fears
His hand will raise your failing hope
And wipe away your tears.


From a Black Christian Hymnal:

When we see a precious blossom
Tended with such care
Rudely taken from our bosom
How our hearts despair.
We shall sleep but not forever
In the lone and silent grave
Blessed be the Lord who taketh
Blessed be He who gave.

Safely safely gathered in
Far from sorrow, far from sin,
No more heinous griefs nor fears
No more sadness, no more tears,
For the life so young and fair
Now hath passed from earthly care
God Himself that soul will keep
Giving His beloved sleep.

Safely safely gathered in
Far from sorrow, far from sin,
Passed beyond all grief and pain
Death for thee is truest gain
For our loss we may not weep
Nor our loved ones long to keep
From their home of rest and peace
Where all sin and sorrow cease.

Safely safely gathered in
Far from sorrow, far from sin,
God has saved from weary strife
In his dawn, this fresh young life
Jesus waits for us above
Hopeful in our Savior's love
Savior grant that we may meet
Him adoring at Thy feet.

Jesus is my heart's desire
Jesus died for me
Soon with the heav'nly choir
Ever my soul shall be
Then I will wait with longing
Wait till the night is o'er
When with the myriad thronging
Praise on that golden shore.

Day of judgment, day of fear,
Soon will come, it is so near
Then at His call the dead awaken
While the pow'rs of heaven are shaken
At His presence sinners flee
But to all who have repented
Loved and served the Lord they know
Those to Jesus who've relented
He the kingdom will bestow.



Great God, what will I see and hear?
The end of things created!
The Judge of all will then appear
On clouds of glory seated
The trumpet sounds, the graves restore
The dead who they contained before
Prepare my soul to meet Him.

But sinners filled with guilty fears
Face Burning Eyes prevailing
For they shall rise, and find their tears
And cries are unavailing
The day of grace forever past
God's vengeance does abound at last
The wicked face His vicious wrath
To recompense their filthy path.

The dead in Christ shall first arise
At the last trumpet's sounding
Caught up to meet Him in the skies
With joy their Lord surrounding
No gloomy fright their souls dismay
His presence brings eternal day
For those prepared to meet Him.



You who have died and yet do live
To me impart Your merit
My pardon seal, my sins forgive,
And cleanse me by Your Spirit.
Beneath Your cross I view that Day
When heav'n and earth will pass away
And thus prepare to meet You.

Lord when it comes: that Final Day
When all to judgment wake from clay
Be Thou the humble sinner's stay
As heav'n and earth do pass away.

The day is surely drawing near
When He, the Lord's anointed
Will with great majesty appear
As Judge of all appointed
No more the gospel call is heard
To turn from sin and heed God's Word
The day of grace has ended.

A trumpet loud shall then resound
And all the earth be shaken
Then those who in their graves are found
Will from their sleep awaken
Then woe to those who scorned the Lord
And sought but carnal pleasures
Who here despised His precious Word
And worshipped earthly treasures
With shame and trembling they shall stand
And at the Judge's stern command
Depart from Him forever.

O Christ my Intercessor be
And by Thy death and merit
Declare my name damnation free
With all who life inherit
That with my brothers I may stand
With You in heav'n our fatherland
You did our suff'ring bear it.

When Jesus comes in glory
As Lord and King of kings
O what a wondrous story
The blessed Bible brings
His face will shine like sunlight
His head be white as snow
His eyes like flaming firelight
His feet like brass aglow.

His voice like rushing waters
Will reach with mighty sound
Into the deepest quarters
Of all creation round
And at His joyous greeting
The dead in Christ shall rise
Their Lord and Savior meeting
With glory in the skies.

And we who are believing
In never-ending love
Shall know we are receiving
His glory from above
His resurrection power
Will raise us to the place
Where we that wondrous hour
Shall see him face to face.

O hasten Thine appearing
Thou bright and morning star
Lord may we soon be hearing
The trumpet sound afar
Thy people all are yearning
To be Thy raptured bride
And at Thine own returning
Be caught up to Thy side.

There is a land of pure delight
Where saints immortal reign
Eternal day excludes the night
And pleasures banish pain.

Hark the sound of sacred voices
Chanting by the crystal sea
Praise the Father Praise to Jesus
Hallelulia Lord to Thee
Multitudes no man can number
Like the stars in glory stand
Clothed in long white robes and holding
Palms of vic'try in their hand.

In heav'n above, in heav'n above,
The Triune God does dwell
How boundless there the blessedness
No tongue can fully tell
There face to face, both full and free
Always and evermore we'll see
Jesus eternally.

In heav'n above, in heav'n above,
No tears of pain are shed
There nothing e'er shall fade or die
Abundant life is spread
And like an ocean, joy o'erflows
In light perpetual mercy glows
From God the Lord of hosts.

For all the saints who from their labors rest
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed
Thy Name O Jesus forever blest
Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress, and their Might
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight
Thou, in the darkness dread their One True Light
Alleluia!

O may Thy soldiers faithful true and bold
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old
And win with them the victor's crown of gold
Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine,
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine
Alleluia!

The golden evening reddens in the west
Soon soon to faithful warriors comes their rest
Sweet is that calm of Paradise the blest
Alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a yet more Glorious Day
The saints triumphant rise in bright array
The King of Glory passes on His way
Alleluia!

Who are those, like stars appearing,
Those before God's throne who stand?
Each a golden crown is wearing
Who is this most blessed band?
Alleluia there they sing
Praising loud their heav'nly King.

Who are those of dazzling brightness
Those in God's own Truth arrayed
Clad in robes of purest whiteness
Robes whose luster ne'er shall fade
Left alone by time's rude hand
Whence comes all that blessed band?

Those are they who have contended
For their Savior's honor long
Wrestling on till life was ended
Following not the sinful throng
Those who well the fight sustained
Triumph through the Lamb have gained.

Those are they whose hearts were riven
Sore with woe and anguish tried
Who in prayer full oft had striven
With the God they glorified
Now their bitter conflict o'er
Christ has bid them weep no more.

Those like priests have watched and waited
Off'ring up to Christ their will
Soul and body consecrated
Day and night they serve Him still
Now in God's most holy place
Blest they stand before His face.