Qui vivis ante sæcula

It's taken me a week to think of it, but, on the occasion of the Pope's death, I think I'll translate a few hymns from the Office of the Dead. This one comes from Solesmes' Liber Hymnarius. If you're looking for Dies Iræ, look elsewhere; there are abundant translations on the internet. By the way, does anyone know if they sang Dies Iræ at the pope's funeral?

I'll note in passing that the Italian daily Corriere della Sera is reporting that the Vatican is collecting evidence of the pope's sanctity; apparently a number of miracles had already been reported during his lifetime. It would be something if Pope John Paul II were canonized before Pius IX, Pius XII, John XXIII, and Paul VI (all of whom are under consideration, as I understand it).

Qui vivis ante sæcula vitæque fons es unicus, nos, Deus, morti obnóxios culpæque reos áspice.	Before every age, you live, O God, and alone are the font of life; look on us, the submissive convicts of death and guilt.
Peccánti, Pater, hómini pœnam sanxísti intéritum, ut, pulvis datus púlveri, se súbderet piáculum.	Father, you ordained the punishment, the ruinous penalty of sinful man: that as dust returned to dust, he might make an atonement.
Vitále sed spiráculum quod indidísti próvidus, æternitàtis pérmanet germen immarcescíbile.	But the life-giving breath which you providently placed within, remains eternal, an unfading seed.
Hæc spes, hoc est solácium: revirescémus, Dómine, primúsque resurgéntium ad te nos Christus rápiet.	This is our hope, this our relief: that this seed might grow anew, and Christ, the first of the risen, might take carry us to you, O Lord.
Hoc vitæ regno pérfrui défunctum præsta fámul-um (-am), quem (-am) Christi fides ímbuit, quem (-am) almus unxit Spíritus.	Grant that your dead servant whom Christ's faith filled, whom the blessed Spirit anointed, will enjoy fully the kingdom of life.
Hoc regnum nobis própera e terris cum cessérimus, ut concinámus ómnium te finem, te princípium. Amen.	When we become free of the earth, speed us toward that kingdom, that all of us may sing of you: our end, and our beginning. Amen.