Audi benigne

General information

Hymn at Vespers in Lent, attributed to Pope St Gregory the Great. A revision in 1632 by Urban VIII changed lines 3-4 (among others) from "in hoc sacro jejunio fusas quadragenario." to "sacrata in abstinentia fusas quadragenaria"; the 'restored' versions of Solesmes apparently have small variations as well.

Settings by composers

Franz Bühler, Op. 2 no. 1 SATB & orchestra Guillaume Dufay ATB Oliver Hayes SATB (even verses) Orlando di Lasso a 4 SATB a 5 SATBB (a different version, see page) Jan Le Febure SATB (even) Giovanni Bonaventura Matucci TTB (odd)

Nicolas Merques ATT (first verse) Giovanni Maria Nanino SATB (odd verses) Johann Stadlmayr SATB (odd verses) Catuí Côrte-Real Suarez ATB Stanislav Surin Unison (strophic) Delfino Thermignon SSA (odd verses) Filippo Vitale SATB (verse 1)

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Arnold von Bruck — Audi benigne conditor

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 abstinentiam, 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; In tender pity bow Thine ear: Accept the tearful prayer we raise In this our fast of forty days. 2  Each heart is manifest to Thee; Thou knowest our infirmity: Repentant now we seek Thy face; Impart to us Thy pardoning grace. 3  Our sins are manifold and sore, But spare Thou them who sin deplore; And for Thine own Name’s sake make whole The fainting and the weary soul. 4  Grant us to mortify each sense By means of outward abstinence, That so from every stain of sin The soul may keep her fast within. 5  Blest Three in One, and One in Three Almighty God, we pray to Thee, That Thou wouldst now vouchsafe to bless Our fast with fruits of righteousness   Translation by John Mason Neale