“Attende, Domine”, or “Listen, Lord” is a liturgical chant for the season of Lent, more commonly known as the Lent Prose. It matches Rorate Caeli, known as the Advent Prose (see my article in the December 2024 issue of this magazine).
Surprisingly, this plainsong melody was created as recently as the 19th century. The text is drawn from the Preces of the sext office of Wednesday of the fifth week of Lent. The themes are the sinfulness of man and the mercy of God:
Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee.
To thee, Redeemer, on thy throne of glory:
lift we our weeping eyes in holy pleadings:
listen, O Jesu, to our supplications.
Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee.
O thou chief cornerstone, right hand of the Father:
way of salvation, gate of life celestial:
cleanse thou our sinful souls from all defilement.
Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee.
God, we implore thee, in thy glory seated:
bow down and hearken to thy weeping children:
pity and pardon all our grievous trespasses.
Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee.
Sins oft committed, now we lay before thee:
with true contrition, now no more we veil them:
grant us, Redeemer, loving absolution.
Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee.
Innocent captive, taken unresisting:
falsely accused, and for us sinners sentenced,
save us, we pray thee, Jesu, our Redeemer.
Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee.
In previous years, Tom and I have used this as a preface to the main Sunday service at St Margaret’s, adding a verse each week through Lent. This year we hope to include it at some point, family commitments allowing, but you will definitely be able to hear it included in the parish daily Lenten broadcasts on 7 March. If you can’t wait that long, here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5iYlsMEuu8 Carol P
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 