Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost 269
pressed in the first part. Hence the pause after eripe me must not be too
prolonged; the melody does not come to a final close here any more than
at confundar, which has the same melody and which is followed merely
by a short pause. The same is true with the large pause after tuam,
which corresponds to the half pause after sperdvi above. Both parts
have the range of a sixth. By way of exception, the verse bears no assonant
relation to alleluia or its jubilus. At confundar and the corresponding
eripe, the six notes before the quilisma are to be sung broadly according
to Codex 339 of St. Gall's; this adds weight to the words. In
alleluia also, the first three notes over -le- and -lu- are to be sung broadly.
Thus a modest ascent is achieved—ascensiones pudicae, as the anclients
put it. Of special beauty is the simple yet harmonious recitation
over libera me; centrally placed, it produces the effect of a mellow solo
in the midst of a powerful male chorus. This also tends to make the
petition so much the more striking.
For the OFFERTORY see Sexagesima Sunday, p. 104.
Today we might combine this prayer with the Epistle of the Sunday.
The Apostle tells us that Christ was awakened from the dead through
the glory of the Father; he exhorts us for this reason to walk in newness
of life and to look upon ourselves as men who, having died to sin, now
lead a life unto God. We are indeed conscious of human frailty, but we
know also the desire of the Christian soul to live in newness of life and
for God alone. Hence the soul prays in deep humility, but at the same
time with full confidence in the might of divine grace: "Make perfect
my steps in Thy paths." The Offertory is a processional: we carry our
"gifts" to the altar; this procession is the symbol of the course of our
lives.
In the holy sacrifice of the Mass the Lord continually repeats the
marvel of His benevolence and renews the sacrifice of the cross. He bestows
graces upon us, that through our concelebration of the Mass, we
may effectually die to sin and grow together with Christ both in the likeness
of His death and also in the likeness of His resurrection, as today's
Epistle has it.
COMMUNION (Ps. 26: 6)
1. Circuibo, et immolabo in ta- 1. / will go round, and offer up
bernaculo ejus hostiam jubilationis: in his tabernacle a sacrifice of jubi-
2. cantabo, et psalmum dicam Do- lation: 2. / will sing, and recite a
mino. psalm to the Lord.
The beginning is filled with awe, and reminds one of a reverential
bow. But then the singer is impelled to pour forth his jubilation vigor-