Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

Easter Monday 185-
given milk and honey to taste. Perhaps the journey they have just completed
was made under a blistering sun and through the burning sand of
the desert. But today their hearts are overjoyed at the loving guidance
with which God has led their souls.
In its first part, the melody shows special favor to vos and fluentemlac
et mel. We are acquainted with the ascent over fluentem from egredientem
of the Vidi aquam. It occurs again immediately in the second
phrase over ut lex Do-(mini). Similarly, the close of the first phrase is
found in an abbreviated form over the two last alleluia. Semper shows
special vigor.
After God has led you with such love, He may surely expect His
will to be sacred to you, His law at all times to be in your mouths and
in your hearts and to be accomplished in your lives. Grateful love demands
this. But your eternal salvation is likewise assured thereby. It
is just this faithful observance of His law that will lead you through all
the dangers and allurements of the world, and bring you safely home to
the eternal Easter, into the true Promised Land.
We may regard these words as coming from the mouth of St. Peter,
whose basilica is the station for today. By way of admonition he also
raises his voice: Let the life of Christ fill your hearts. "Then it seems as
if a tear flowed down the cheek of Peter" (K. L.).
GRADUAL (Ps. 117: 24, 2)
Haec dies ... [as yesterday]. This is the day ... [as yesterday],
jf. 1. Dicat nunc Israel, quoniam %. 1. Let Israel now say that He is
bonus: 2. quoniam in saeculum good: 2. that His mercy endureth
misericordia ejus. forever.
Ha^e dies resounds throughout Easter Week until Saturday, when
it appears in the form of the Alleluia. Today we may again sing the jubilant
quoniam bonus in all its wonderful Easter glory.
ALLELIUA VERSE (Matt. 28: 2)
1. Angelus Domini descendit de 1. An angel of the Lord descended
caelo: 2. et accedens revolvit lapi- from heaven: 2. and, coming, rolled
dem, et sedebat super eum. back the stone, and sat upon it.
The first member of the jubilus with its downward rolling movement
is a sharp contrast to the upward tendency of the two members
which flank it. It occurs again, but slightly changed, over de caelo. The
second member of the jubilus recurs over revolvit lapidem. Accedens is
modeled upon alleluia. This piece is assigned to the eighth mode, and