Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

152 Palm Sunday
Pueri Hebraeorum vestimenta The Hebrew children spread their
prosternebant in via, et clamabant garments in the way, and cried out
dicentes: Hosanna filio David: saying: Hosanna to the Son of
benedictus qui venit in nomine David: blessed is he that cometh in
Domini. the name of the Lord.
These energetic songs well deserved to become the common property
of the faithful. They are similar in construction, yet present a
ag f ga a
pleasing variety. The first antiphon sings o-li-va-rum, while the second
a g f f g g
in the corresponding place sings -nebant in vi-a. Especially in the second
antiphon does the influence of the word-accents on the melody make
itself felt. These songs were very popular formerly.
THE PROCESSION OF THE PALMS
Through their blessing the palm boughs were elevated to the dignity
of sacramentals, capable of mediating grace for us. The blessing, however,
has still another purpose; it is the psychological preparation for the elevated
feeling manifested in the palm procession. It explains to us the
symbolism of this procession and asks for the graces which are to prepare
us for this solemn act. Then only can real joy and true enthusiasm
quicken us. The palms anticipate triumphs over the prince of this world:
thus the Church, in poetic strain. They announce beforehand that our
Saviour will fight with the prince of death for the life of the world and
that by His death He will conquer. And the olive branches tell us that
in the Son of God the fullness of mercy has been manifested to the world.
Of the charming antiphons which the Church offers us we shall
adduce the following only:
1. Ante sex dies solemnis Paschae, 1. Six days before the solemnity
quando venit Dominus in civitatem of the Passover, when our Lord was
Jerusalem, occur rerunt ei pueri: 2. coming into the city of Jerusalem, the
et in manibus portabant ramos pal- children met him [solemn inception,
marum, et clamabant voce magna emphasis on seconds, but then a
dicentes: 3. Hosanna in excelsis: great development, a clear major
4. benedictus qui venisti in multi- chord over quando ve-(nit), Jerutudine
misericordiae: 5. Hosanna salem, occurrerunt]. 2. and carried
in excelsis. palm branches in their hands, and
cried with a loud voice, saying [deep
middle phrase, forming a kind of