Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost 309
In the verse we meet the melody with which we are acquainted from
the verse for Maundy Thursday; it is marked by the vigorous final cadence
over mane. Any considerable pause after mane is incompatible
with the text.
The beginning of this verse alone is proper; the rest, as far as misericordiam
inclusive, is sung on the fourth Sunday after Pentecost. Compare
also the verse for Maundy Thursday. Mane has an energetic final cadenee,
which in other pieces agrees with the divisions of the text. No
lengthy pause is allowable here—one of the few instances in which the
divisions of melody and text do not coincide. Tuam is known to us from
the passage over Dominus in the Gradual for Easter Sunday and from
tuam in the Gradual for the feast of the Assumption. Et veritdtem tuam
has been taken over from the Gradual Justus ut palma, both text and
melody; an appropriation, consequently, from the second mode. In both
Graduals the verses have the same wording, but up to this point the
melody differs. Per noctem again veers back, rather abruptly, it must be
admitted, to the fifth mode.
In the psalms the mercy and fidelity of God are frequently combined.
Today's Gospel mentions an extraordinary instance of His mercy.
"When the Lord had seen, being moved with mercy toward her [the
widow], He said to her: 'Weep not'." God does not exercise His mercy
at particular moments; it accompanies us, as Psalm 22 says, all the days
of our life. In Psalm 32 we read: "All his works are done with faithfulness."
God's fidelity, however firm and unshakable it may be, has nothing
about it that is either difficult or irksome. It is the fidelity of a merciful
God. For this great favor we can never thank Him sufficiently. The
hour of dawn drives home this truth most forcibly. For at that time
particularly is God's mercy made manifest in the liturgical Sacrifice
with especial splendor. Throughout the entire day, and even during the
night (per noctem), this song ought never to cease. Even when the
night of bitter woe breaks in upon us we should hold fast to the mercy
and fidelity of God, and thereby sublimate and transfigure all our sorrows.
This Gradual is like the prelude to the praise given by the assembled
throng in today's Gospel: "There came a fear upon all of them,
and they glorified God, saying: A great prophet is risen up among us,
and God hath visited His people."
ALLELUIA VERSE (Ps. 94: 3)
1. Quoniam Deus magnus domi- 1. For the Lord is a great God, 2.
nus, 2. et Rex magnus super om- and a great king over all the earth,
nem terram.