Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

Second Sunday of Advent 21
auditam faciet Dominus gloriam 2. and the Lord shall make the glory
vocis suae, 3. in laetitia cordis of his voice to be heard, 3. in the joy
vestri. Ps. Qui regis Israel, intende: of your heart. Ps. Give ear, O thou
* qui deducis velut ovem Joseph. that rulest Israel: * thou that leadest
Joseph like a sheep.
How different is the effect of the ascending fourth in today's Introit
from that of the descending fourth in last Sunday's! One seems to hear
a herald proclaiming to the people of Sion the most important news ever
told, the tidings which mankind had been awaiting for centuries. The
messenger commissioned by the Lord Himself, would have this message
of joy penetrate into all hearts: "The Lord shall come to save the
nations." And you yourself may listen intently for the voice of the Lord.
For He will speak as one who has power; He will speak of His grace and
transcendent truth and glory. His voice will cause the heart to overflow
with joy.
Where such great things are promised, the petition of the psalmverse
comes to mind spontaneously: "Give ear, 0 thou that rulest Israel."
Help us to live ourselves into this season of grace. For most lovingly
didst Thou lead Joseph from imprisonment to the regal throne.
The words of the antiphon were verified when the Lord came. Joy
filled the hearts of the shepherds when the Lord, through His angels,
announced to them the message of peace. And although the Child of
Bethlehem could not at that time speak a word, He has often conversed
secretly with our souls in laetitia cordis. A day will come when His voice
will resound majestically over the millions of men who have ever inhabited
the earth, announcing eternal joy to them who have listened to
it during their lifetime.
Three phrases are discernible in the melody, all beginning with the
same, or at least a similar, motive: Populus and et auditam g c c d and
in laetitia g g a c c d. Still more evident is the agreement of the closing
motives: gentes and vestri g a g g, and suae a fifth higher, d e d d. The real
dominant of the first and third phrases is c; that of the second, d.
Like Populus, Dominus stresses c. Before this, however, the fifth over
ecce fixes the attention. And then it is as if the Lord Himself slowly and
solemnly came into view. Hitherto He had sent the prophets; now He
Himself appears. He comes not to judge, however, but to redeem; He
comes to bring redemption to all the nations. This thought is given a
more detailed treatment in the Epistle; and in the Gospel the Lord
speaks of His activity: "The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are
cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel
preached to them." He comes to redeem the gentiles. At this gracious