“危難時代”這個名字出自海頓本人，一般認為這是因為1798年作曲家寫作這部彌撒時，拿破侖戰爭的陰影正籠罩著奧地利。後來，可能就在這部作品首演的當年9月15日，海頓和觀眾們都聽到一個好消息：英國海軍中將霍雷肖·納爾遜（Horatio Nelson）已於當年8月率英國海軍在尼羅河之戰中擊敗了法國海軍。於是這部彌撒又被人稱作“納爾遜勳爵彌撒”（Lord Nelson Mass），簡稱“納爾遜彌撒”。
關於作品的原名 “危難時代”，還有一種看法認為，這也可能是由於當時海頓的疾病和疲憊，加上他可用的樂器受到了限製。因為當時的艾斯特哈奇親王－尼古拉斯二世對音樂的興趣不像其前任尼古拉斯一世那樣大，就在海頓開始寫這部彌撒之前，尼古拉斯二世為了節約開支，砍掉了其宮廷樂隊中的八件管樂器（wind band octet），即雙簧管，單簧管，大管，圓號各兩支。這對已經寫過一百多部交響曲的海頓來說，無疑也是一種“危難時代”。結果這部作品的樂隊隻有弦樂，小號，定音鼓和風琴。盡管如此，《危難時代彌撒》仍然成為深受歡迎的名作。後世有的演出增加了被認為缺失管樂器，但當代的演出仍多保留海頓原來的配器。
Kyrie - Chor and S Solo Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie - Chorus and S Solo Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Gloria - Chor, SATB solo Gloria in excelsis Deo, Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, Adoramus te, glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. Domine Deus, Rex coelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris.
Qui tollis peccata mundi, Miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi, Suscipe deprecationem nostram. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.
Quoniam tu solus sanctus, tu solus Dominus, Tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe. Cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris, Amen.
Gloria - Chorus, SATB solo Glory to God in the highest, And peace on earth to men of good will. We praise You, we bless You, We worship You, we glorify You. We give You thanks for Your great glory. Lord God, King of Heaven, God the Father Almighty. Lord only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father.
You who take away the sin of the world, Have mercy on us. You who take away the sin of the world, Hear our prayer. You who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
For You alone are holy, You alone are Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ. With the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father, Amen.
Credo - Chor, SATB solo Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem coeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium. Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex patre natum ante omnia saecula, Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero, genitum non factum, consubstantialem Patri; per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de coelis.
Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto, ex Maria virgine; et homo factus est. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est.
Et resurrexit tertia die secundum Scripturas, et ascendit in coelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris, et iterum venturus est cum gloria, judicare vivos et mortuos, cujus regni non erit finis. Et in Spiritum Sanctum Dominum, et vivificantem, qui ex Patre Filioque procedit, qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur, et conglorificatur, qui locutus est per Prophetas. Et unam sanctam catholicam et apostolicam Eccelsiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum, et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.
Credo - Chorus, SATB solo I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father; through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven.
He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, and was made man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered death and was buried.
He rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; with the Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church; I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins; I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Sanctus - Chor Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Osanna in excelsis.
Benedictus - Chor, SATB solo Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Osanna in excelsis.
Agnus Dei - Chor, SATB Solo Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
Sanctus - Chorus Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosannah in the highest.
Benedictus - Chorus, SATB solo Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosannah in the highest.
Agnus Dei - Chorus, SATB Solo Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace.
