Ecce Quomodo Moritur - Behold How the Just One Dies - is the fifteenth Responsorio for Holy Week. In this song we see the death of Christ, the Just One par excellence, dying at the hands of the iniquitous before an indifferent world. It is not in this life that we should seek rewards for the justice we
have practiced, but in the eternal life to come.
In this world Christ, Justice Himself, quietly submitted to suffer and die at the hands of the wicked, for it was through His suffering that peace was obtained for the faithful members of the Church. Let us remember to be just in our dealings, and still expect no reward from the world, just as Christ wronged no man but suffered the ignominy of the
Cross.
Ecce Quomodo Moritur was composed by Fr. Tomás Luis de Victoria.
It is here sung by the Ensemble Corund.
Listen to Ecce Quomodo Moritur
Latin Lyrics:
Ecce quomodo moritur justus,
Et nemo percipit corde.
Viri justi tolluntur
Et nemo considerat.
A facie iniquitatis sublatus est justus
Et erit in pace memoria eius.
Tamquam agnus coram tondente
Se obmutuit, et non aperuit os suum:
De angustia, et de judicio sublatus est.
Et erit in pace memoria ejus.
Ecce quomodo moritur justus
Et nemo percipit corde.
Viri justi tolluntur
Et nemo considerat.
A facie iniquitatis sublatus est justus
Et erit in pace memoria eius.
Translation:
Behold how the Just One dies,
And there is no one who has pity of Him.
The just men are taken away,
And no one cares about them.
From the face of iniquity the Just One is taken away.
And his memory shall remain in peace.
Like a lamb before his shearer,
He was silent and he opened not his mouth.
From distress and from judgment He is taken away .
And his memory shall remain in peace.
Behold how the Just One dies,
And there is no one who has pity of Him.
The just men are taken away,
And no one cares about them.
From the face of iniquity the Just One is taken away.
