Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

210 Rogation Days
today and once a fifth lower; it recurs in the lower pitch over the final
alleluia of today's Communion. A new expression of joy comes to the
fore with dnimam, and concludes with a quiet cadence over meam. Heartfelt
gratitude, however, expresses itself once more in the florid and
rhymed harmonies of the alleluia. This same melody also concludes the
Offertory of the eighth Sunday after Pentecost.
COMMUNION (Luke 11: 9, 10)
1. Petite, et accipietis: quaerite, 1. Ask, and you shall receive; seek,
et invenietis: pulsate et aperietur and you shall find; knock, and it
vobis: 2. omnis enim, qui petit ac- shall be opened to you: 2. for everyone
cipit: et qui quaerit, invenit: 3. et that asketh receiveth; and he that
pulsanti aperietur, alleluia. seeketh findeth; 3. and to him that
knocketh it shall be opened, alleluia.
This melody might well be considered a model of musical tension
with a concomitant relaxation. The very words: "Ask, seek, knock," expressed
as they are in a higher tone of voice, depict this feeling of tenseness.
The result of heeding these commands: "You shall receive, you
shall find, it shall be opened unto you," will naturally be expressed in a
more quiet and lower tone of voice. This indicates in general the outlines
of the melodic development in the first and second phrases. The
close of the second aperietur with d ff makes the promise which is given
all the more prominent and trustworthy. A fitting preparation is also
thus afforded the allelMa.
The first and second phrases show many similarities. Both divisions
of the second phrase, which are practically identical as to melody,
are an extended form of Petite and invenit, while pulsanti is an abbreviation
of pulsate.
These words of the Saviour, taken from today's Gospel, should find
application not only within the house of God, but in our everyday life
as well. They are fulfilled in a wonderful way time and again at Holy
Mass. We asked the Father for bread and in turn received heavenly
Manna in Holy Communion. We sought out the Saviour and found Him;
we knocked and He opened for us all the treasures of His goodness and
love. Outside the house of God we should also ask for heaven's grace and
blessing; there also, if we seek we shall find Him, and if we knock it shall
be opened to us. The more intimately we remain united with our Eucharistic
Saviour, the more abundantly will He give us all that is conducive
to our eternal salvation.