Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Confessor 375
of God. Can we find another house or home possessing the fame and
spiritual wealth of the house of Nazareth? What great and innumerable
blessings have been bestowed upon the entire world by this house!
The old manuscripts assign this composition to the feast of Pope
Gregory the Great.
OFFERTORY (Ps. 88: 25)
1. Veritas mea et misericordia 1. My truth and my mercy are
mea cum ipso: 2. et in nomine meo with him: 2. and in my name his
exaltabitur cornu ems. horn shall be exalted.
This piece marks the only place in the Gradule where the Fa clef
is on the fourth line. This would indicate that the melody has a strong
tendency to descend. The first half of the first phrase with a range of but
five note moves in intervals of seconds and thirds (repercussion); the
second half has one interval of a third, with the other intervals seconds.
Over the word ipso the melody modulates to a full step below the tonic
—a turn much favored by the second mode. The second phrase has a
range of an octave and comparatively large intervals; there are, however,
fewer neums on individual syllables than in the first phrase. The
melody over -cordia recurs over mea, and in an abbreviated form over
ejus.
The melody is solemn and well sustained, which is all the more
fitting particularly when the word of God is quoted.
God redeemed His promises in the mystery of the Incarnation and
thereby exemplified His fidelity and mercy. St. Joseph was chosen the
guardian of this mystery. The text, however, may also bear a particular
application to the saint. He possesses the Truth of that God who said:
"I am the Truth." With him are the merciful Heart of Jesus and she
whom we greet as the Mother of mercy. He was privileged to spend
years in the most intimate companionship of Jesus and Mary. God
ordained him (Preface of feast) to be the Spouse of the Virgin Mother
of God and placed him, his faithful and prudent servant, at the head of
the family, that he might be the foster father of the Only-Begotten,
conceived of the Holy Ghost. The eternal decrees provided for the exaltation
of this humble and hidden Saint of God, and determined him the
protector of the universal Church. Such is the providence of God, portrayed
by the triumphant ring of the melody with its major chord over
nomine meo.
The old manuscripts assign this number to the feast of Pope St.
Marcellus.