Thomas, called _a Celano_ from a small town in central Italy, was a
Franciscan monk who lived in the thirteenth century and was custos of
certain convents of his order on the Rhine. His authorship of this hymn
is probable, not certain.
For the literature see Julian, p. 294.
In the ritual the _Dies Irae_ is used for All Souls' Day and for requiem
masses. The most famous musical setting is by Mozart.
Daniel says of this hymn, 'Each word is a peal of thunder.' Trench says,
'The triple rhyme has been likened to blow following blow of the hammer
on the anvil.'
Goethe introduces the _Dies Irae_ into a scene of the first part of
Faust; the remorse of Gretchen becomes overwhelming as she hears the
hymn pealing through the cathedral, the culmination corning with the
repetition of the words Quid sum miser tunc, dicturus?
Sir Walter Scott thus quotes and summarizes at the end of _The Lay of
the Last Minstrel_:
Far the echoing aisles prolong
The awful burthen of the song,--
DIES IRAE, DIES ILLA,
SOLVET SAECLUM IN FAVILLA;...
Thus the holy fathers sung.