Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

306 Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
about us, enticing or threatening, we have nothing to fear, for God is
our Helper. We must take care not to make any considerable pause between
the first two phrases, which compose the first part of the Offertory.
In content and spirit the second part resembles the Introit. There we
sang: "Better is one day in thy courts above thousands"; now we reaffirm
the same thought with: "O taste and see that the Lord is sweet."
We are reminded of the Vidi aquam, which we sing at the sprinkling
of the holy water during the Easter season, in the introductory formula
over Immittet, which occurs also at the beginning of the Communion
Hoc corpus of Passion Sunday. The passages over Angelas and (ti)menti-(um)
are almost identical. Each syllable of the word Domini begins
with the same motive, which is, however, continued in a different
manner on the final syllable. (E)-ripiet and est have a similar melody.
Following the analogy of like passages, the Benedictines of Solesmes
indicate the rhythmic division cd be da f over (cir)-cuitu, (vi)-de-(te), and
Do-(minus). In the final alleluia of the Offertory for the Rogation Mass,
the same formula is employed. According to the monks of Solesmes the
grouping of the neums has a melodic, rather than a musical, signification.
From gustdte on, the second part is more lively, as well as richer melodically.
As a result of their fourths, d-a, c-g, the imperative forms gustdte
and videte effect a similar impression.
Holy angels form a protecting wall about us. But Christ Himself is
the Angel of the Lord, the Angel of the great counsel, as He is called in
the Introit for the third Mass of Christmas. He comes in the mystery of
the Mass, descending upon the assembled congregation. He comes with
all His love, all His power, and frees us from all that may harm soul or
body. But it is not only His presence that is to delight us: the angels
of the Lord invite us: gustdte et videte. In Holy Communion He becomes
our very food. These are the words which form the oldest and most
cherished Communion-song of the early Church (cf. the Communion
for the eighth Sunday after Pentecost).
COMMUNION (Matt. 6: 33)
1. Primum quaerite regnum Dei, 1. Seek first the kingdom of God,
2. et omnia adjicientur vobis, dicit 2. and all things shall be added unto
Dominus. you, saith the Lord.
The Communion wishes to impress firmly upon our minds the final
thought of today's Gospel. In our whole mode of life, in our inner soul
as well as in our external dealings with others, the kingdom of God, of
Christ the King, is to be formed and realized. That alone is the guarantee