MISERERE: Designation of Psalm 1. as a liturgically chanted prayer, the name being taken from the first word in the Latin translation. The Greek Church employs this psalm in the midnight office, following vespers, in the third of the canonical hours; at confession, unction, and burial of the dead. The Roman Church uses it at matins and lauds, during Sundays of the Septuagesimal season, and on all week-days except at Eastertide and in the office of the dead. But some churches also use it in the latter office and at vespers, and in the hours from Maundy Thursday to Easter Saturday. Furthermore, at the laying of the corner-stone of a church, consecration of an altar, cemetery, or house, it is used as choral chant. It likewise ushers in the consecration of a bell; and in the rite of blessing the fields it follows immediately the introductory public conftteor. In connection with the reconciliation of penitents it was recited over them by the bishop, along with two other psalms (lvi., lvii.).

In the Evangelical Church, the miserere has survived as a liturgical prayer where the old liturgic tradition is fostered; and its more general restoratign is desired. Its normal rendering is that of psalmody; although from of old it has been likewise an object of artistic elaboration. Masters of all times and schools have written beautiful musical settings for the miserere. On the one hand, these compositions more or less closely adhere to the psalmodic standard of presentation; on the other hand, their sole aim is to give musical expression to the fundamental tone and thoughts of the text. Especially famous is its use in the pope's chapel at Rome in connection with the offices of Holy Week. Of twelve compositions preserved for this purpose, the three nowadays usually rendered are those of Gregorio Allegri, Tommaso Bay, and Giuseppi Baini.

H. A. Köstlin+.

Bibliography: J. G. Mettenleiter, Enchiridion chorale,l pp. clxxvii. sqq., 74 sqq., Regensburg, 1853; L. Spohr, Be st biographie, ii. 37 sqq., Camel, 1861; P. Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Reisebriefe von Felix Mendelesohn-Bartholdy, pp. 122 sqq., 163 sqq., Leipsic, 1862; C. Proske, Mueica divina, iv. 209 sqq., Berlin 1863; G. Grove, Dictionary of Music and Musicians, vol. ii., e.v., London, 880; F. X. Haberl, Of tcium hebdomadie eanctm, Regensburg, 1887; V. Thalhofer, Handbuch der katholischen Liturgik, ii 370, 373, 424, 453, Freiburg, 1890; KL, viii. 1555-59; and the literature under Breviary; and Penitential Psalms.