Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

222 Whitsunday
and for the glory of His people (W.K.). Today the psalm is for us a confiding
look into the future. The Church realizes that she has many enemies
who hate her and who do all in their power to destroy her. Thus
it was already on the very first Pentecost, and thus it will remain throughout
the centuries. But the Church knows no fear: God fights for her.
When He arises and shows His flaming countenance, all the enemies are
instantly dispersed. The final victory is to the Church. Hence she sings:
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.
Whoever lives himself into this song seems to feel that the Spirit
of the Lord filled also the heart of the composer and bestowed upon him
this power of song. May the Holy Ghost likewise fill our hearts, that our
chant may penetrate into the hearts of the faithful like Pentecostal
grace!
Revue, 7, 172 ff.; 23, 135 ff.; Analyses, IV, 21 ff.; Mus. divina, 1, 9
ff.; Choralblaetter, No. 5.; Tribune de Saint-Germain, 11, 203 ff.
FIRST ALLELUIA VERSE (Ps. 103: 30)
1. Emitte Spiritum tuum, 2. et 1. Send forth thy Spirit, 2. and
creabuntur: 3. et renovabis faciem they shall be created; 3. and thou,
terrae. shalt renew the face of the earth.
Today there is a clear connection between the Alleluia and the preceding
Lesson, a relationship which is not so obvious on some other days,
and often is lacking entirely. In a vivid, captivating manner the marvel
of Pentecost was held before our eyes. How wondrous were its effects.
The Spirit had descended upon the Apostles, who a short time before
were much like the lifeless clay of Adam's body before God had breathed
a soul into it. Now they have become a new creation; they are filled with
life, wisdom, courage, and energy; are determined to carry the richness
of life which they received to the ends of the world and renew the entire
earth. Oh, may He come again, this Holy Ghost, and again effect a new
creation! That is the suppliant cry of the present Alleluia-song.
How vitally necessary the Holy Ghost is to us! And how many men
there are who know nothing of Him, who no longer know the meaning
of spirit and grace and purity and the supernatural life. They have lost
all religious sense. The material world alone captivates them. Would
that the Spirit who in the beginning swept over the waters, might once
again sweep over this matter and vivify it! How fervently this petition
rises from the heart of the Church! And yet we clothe it in the jubilant
cry of Alleluia, because we know that we have a right to this Spirit in
virtue of the fact that we have been redeemed.