Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

Septuagesima Sunday 97
The fourth, fifth, and sixth Sundays after Epiphany have the same
chants as the third.
SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY
INTROIT (Ps. 17: 5, 7)
1. Circumdederunt me gemitus 1. The groans of death surrounded
mortis, dolores inferni circumde- me, the sorrows of hell encompassed
derunt me; 2. et in tribulatione mea me: 2. and in my affliction I called
invocavi Dominum, 3. et exaudivit upon the Lord, 3. and he heard my
de templo sancto suo vocem meam. voice from his holy temple. Ps. /
Ps. Diligam te Domine, fortitudo will love thee, 0 Lord, my strength:
mea: *Dominus firmamentum me- HheLord is my refuge, and my deum,
et refugium meum, et liberator liverer.
meus.
The first phrase describes spiritual distress; the second, a raising
of mind and heart to God. The third phrase already speaks of a favorable
hearing, and leads directly to the fervent and thankful, "I love
Thee."
Who is speaking these words? The early Christians of Rome on
this day marched in solemn procession to the church of St. Lawrence
outside the Walls. That was the stational church; there the divine services
were held. The opening words of this Mass are, therefore, the
words of St. Lawrence, describing his martyrdom on the gridiron, when
the flames encompassed him like the torments of hell. In this distress
he called upon the Lord, and the Lord heard him, strengthened him,
and filled his heart with festal joy (cf. his feast, August 10). Greater
than the heat of the fire was the flame of divine love in his heart. St.
Lawrence is, moreover, the patron of the catechumens. Those who
formerly were accepted on this day, were instructed during Lent, and
received Baptism on the Vigil of Easter.
In the large cemetery near S. Lorenzo a sigh, as of death, seems
to vibrate in the air. Just so do the first words of this Introit awaken
in us that seriousness and penitential spirit which grows steadily from
this Sunday till we come to those bitter days when the sighs and groanings
of death, veritable sorrows of hell, are to come upon our Lord and
Saviour on Calvary and on Golgotha. The Scripture lessons for the
coming week deal with the creation of the world, the fall of our first
parents, and the fratricide. True groans of death encompassed Adam