Belli tumultus ingruit...
Wars and tumults fill the earth;
Men the fear of God despise;
Retribution, vengeance, wrath,
Brood upon the angry skies.Holy Pius! Pope sublime!None more mightily than thou
Whom, in this most evil time,
Whom, of saints in bliss, can we
Better call to aid than thee?
Hath, by holy deed or word,
Through the spacious earth below
Spread the glory of the Lord.Holy Pius! Pope sublime!Thine it was, O pontiff brave!
Whom, in this most evil time,
Whom, of saints in bliss, can we
Better call to aid than thee?
Pontiff of eternal Rome!
From barbaric yoke to save
Terror-stricken Christendom.Holy Pius! Pope sublime!When Lepanto’s gulf beheld,
Whom, in this most evil time,
Whom, of saints in bliss, can we
Better call to aid than thee?
Strewn upon its waters fair,
Turkey’s countless navy yield
To the power of thy prayer.Holy Pius! Pope sublime!Who meanwhile with prophet’s eye
Whom, in this most evil time,
Whom, of saints in bliss, can we
Better call to aid than thee?
Didst the distant battle see;
And announce to standers-by
That same moment's victory.Holy Pius! Pope sublime!Mightier now and glorified,
Whom, in this most evil time,
Whom, of saints in bliss, can we
Better call to aid than thee?
Hear the suppliant cry we pour;
Crush Rebellion’s haughty pride;
Quell the din of rising war.Holy Pius! Pope sublime!At thy prayer may golden peace
Whom, in this most evil time,
Whom, of saints in bliss, can we
Better call to aid than thee?
Down to earth descend again:
License, discord, trouble cease;
Justice, truth, and order reign.Holy Pius! Pope sublime!To the Lord of endless days,
Whom, in this most evil time,
Whom, of saints in bliss, can we
Better call to aid than thee?
One Almighty Trinity,
Sempiternal glory, praise,
Honour, might, and blessing be.
V. Pray for us, blessed Pius.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
God, who to the destruction of the enemies of Thy Church, and to the restoration of Thy holy worship, didst vouchsafe to elect blessed Pius to be Thy high-Priest; grant us so to be defended by his protection, and so to remain steadfast in Thy service, that overcoming the snares of all our enemies, we may enjoy perpetual peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son. Amen.
From the Raccolta [hymn placed next to the Shrine of the Holy Pontiff in the Liberian Basilica.]
