Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

268 Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
inheritance, which Thou hast acquired for Thyself. Thus he adduces
for it the most forcible recommendation possible. These words of the
second part have been incorporated in the Te Deum, except that in
saeculum is replaced by in aeternum.
This Introit exhorts us who are assembled for divine service not
to think only of ourselves and our own personal needs, but rather of the
entire people of God, of that corporate whole to which we are privileged
to belong. The solemn annointings at Baptism and Confirmation impress
upon us that we are the elect of God, the inheritance which He so
dearly purchased at the cost of His own blood. With these sentiments
we should sing salvum fac, benedic, and rege.
The petition made in the psalm receives wonderful fulfillment in
the Gospel. It is impossible for the Saviour to remain mute; He cannot
look upon the sufferings of His people in silence. Hence He speaks the
consoling word: "I have compassion on the multitude." He does not wish
His people to resemble those shepherdless ones who go to destruction.
He is ever providing the necessary nourishment, lest they faint on the
way. The blessing which He pronounces over the seven loaves and the
few fishes really refers to His people. He leads them to rich pastures, so
rich that even after the four thousand are sated, an abundance still remains.
All that was there enacted materially is only a symbol of His
wondrously compassionate work in the Holy Eucharist.
This Introit is to be sung at least a fourth higher and in a lively
tempo.
For the GRADUAL see p. 259.
ALLELUIA VERSE (Ps. 30: 2, 3)
1. In te, Domine, speravi, non 1. In thee, 0 Lord, have I hoped,
confundar in aeternum: 2. in tua let me never be confounded: 2. dejustitia
liber a me, et eripe me: 3. liver me in thy justice, and release
inclina ad me aurem tuam, 4. ac- me; 3. bow down thine ear to me,
celera, ut eripias me. 4. make haste to deliver me.
The beginning of this verse forms the conclusion of the Te Deum;
the second part of the Introit of the Sunday made a similar allusion. It
is not necessary to add that the Te Deum was not the source of these
texts, but that they were taken from the twenty-seventh and thirtieth
psalms. Melodically, the words in te Domine speravi and inclina ad me
aurem tuam are the same; similarly non confundar and eripe me, as well
as accele-(ra) and eripi-(as). At aeternum there is an evident caesura,
fully justified by the text, for a new part begins with in tua. Then follow
petitions based on the invincible confidence in God which was ex-