Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

Second Sunday after Epiphany 91
meet with is that over the second terra. In place of the 6b in the first
phrase, the second shows an energetic b.
After this unusual development comes comparative rest and relaxation
in the third phrase. God's name is pronounced reverently. Its
close with the impetuous pressus already prepares for the following
phrase and has some relation to the third member in the second Jubildte-phrase.
The fourth phrase is an impulsive exhortation to all who fear God.
Its three short expressions: "come, hear, I will tell you," not only tend
to awaken and attract the attention by the delicate interplay of motives,
but they also serve to give us an inkling of powerful movements of the
singer's heart. The motive over omnes has been borrowed from the
third phrase and is introduced like it. Then it gradually dies away, expressing
the contents of the message to expectant hearts in its descent
to d.
In the fifth phrase the singer devoutly ponders all the marvels that
God has wrought in him. This inner agitation is still felt toward the end
over dnimae. The closing alleluia really is shorter than that generally
found in Offertories, but even the oldest manuscripts have the present
form.
This Offertory is also sung on the fourth Sunday after Easter. Indeed,
it may have been originally composed for that Sunday. It certainly
is striking that not a single Offertory from Advent to Easter, not
even those of the great feasts of Christmas and Epiphany, closes with
an alleluia except this Offertory Jubilate. What is more, the Sundays
after Epiphany received their Mass formularies later than did those
after Easter.
Who sings this song? Holy Mother Church. Of her we sang on
Epiphany: on that day the Church was wedded to her divine Spouse.
This Sunday's Gospel also speaks of a marriage. In the Incarnation
Christ assumed a human nature. This the Church knows full well. But
she is also conscious of Christ's deed (quanta) and sufferings, by reason
of which she stands before us pure and immaculate. She knows that in
the Eucharist Christ has presented her with a gift than which no more
sublime can be found in heaven or on earth, and that in this most exalted
Mystery (tantis mysteriis), as the Postcommunion so frequently
says, He forever remains the source of her life and strength. She sees
all the saints with whom Christ has embellished her, all the graces ever
bestowed upon man; she looks upon that marvelous bridal array with
which He has adorned her. At this she cannot help singing and shouting
for joy and happiness.