Custodit Mortuos (He Keeps the Dead)

[Intro – low organ drone, distant chapel bell] Domine, in manu tua Omnes qui dormiunt (Psalm 31:5, adapted) [Verse 1 – soft, finger-picked, rain against stained glass] I laid their names upon the stone And watched the earth receive The hands I held, the voice I knew Now silent underneath I thought the grave had stolen them That death had won the day But You who hold the keys of hell Will never let them stray [Pre-chorus – monk choir, gentle swell] Non dereliquit animam eius in inferno Nec dedit sanctum suum videre corruptionem “You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let Your Holy One see corruption” (Acts 2:27 / Psalm 16:10) [Chorus – aching, wide open] CUSTODIT MORTUOS He keeps the dead in nail-scarred hands CUSTODIT MORTUOS Until the morning breaks across the lands Though tears fall heavy on the ground And graves still guard their sleep He holds them closer than I ever could And one day He will wake the ones I weep [Verse 2 – rain softer, voice cracks] I miss the laughter in the hall The chair that now stands cold The stories that will never finish The hands I can’t still hold But faith looks past the veil of dust And sees what eyes can’t see They are not lost, they are not gone They’re only home before me [Chorus – heavier, drums like slow heartbeat] CUSTODIT MORTUOS He keeps the dead in nail-scarred hands CUSTODIT MORTUOS And death itself will break when He commands The trumpet soon will sound, the sky will rend The graves will give their own And every tear will turn to shouting when We’re gathered round the throne [Bridge – silence, then single voice] Until that day I’ll miss them But I will not despair For nothing in the arms of Jesus Can ever perish there “I am the resurrection and the life… whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25) [Final Chorus – soaring, cathedral bells] CUSTODIT MORTUOS He keeps the dead and calls them by their name CUSTODIT MORTUOS And soon we’ll never part from them again So let the rain fall on the stone Let sorrow have its night Morning is coming with my Savior And He is bringing them with Him in light [Outro – soft rain, monk choir fading] In paradisum deducant te angeli In tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres Et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Amen.