Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

380 The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The text as such forms a beautiful panegyric, and, coupled with its
sweet melody, is like a bouquet of fragrant blossoms which becomes a
genuine delight to the singer. Alleluia with its jubilus forms the theme,
and is repeated with variations in the verse. The introductory resembles
the Alleluia Dulce lignum on May 3. The first half of the melody over
-M- is repeated over virga, is developed over se reconcili-(ans), and simplified
over (reddi)-dit. The second half of the same melody terminates
phrases and half-phrases no less than five times, and yet this repetition
is ever delightful; in most cases these phrases have a varied introduction.
The first part of the jubilus has an interval of a fifth; the concluding
part has the same range. This interval reappears over Jesse and over
pacem. All combine and effectively depict for us how God alone can grant
the inestimable treasure of peace. The second part of the jubilus produces
an after-effect at (Vir)-go.
Today, in the womb of the purest Virgin, abject human nature is
espoused to the Word of the Most High, and thus, "reconciling the lowest
with the highest in Himself, God hath given peace" to the disturbed
world.
OFFERTORY—COMMUNION
Both of these chants are identical with those of the fourth Sunday
of Advent: Ave Maria and Ecce Virgo. At Mass the priest introduces the
Pater noster with the words: "Taught by the precepts of salvation, and
following the divine commandment, we make bold to say: Our Father
. . .." Instructed by a like divine command the Archangel Gabriel approaches
Mary with the salutation Ave. Filled with reverence for the
Virgin he dares pronounce these words only as God's messenger. We
likewise should pray and sing these words imbued with the sentiments
of the Archangel.
Today is realized the first part of the Communion text, for on this
day the Angel declared unto Mary and she conceived of the Holy Ghost,
Today the Word was made flesh, became our Emmanuel, God with us,
and dwells among us. This union of Divinity and humanity in the person
of the divine Word is indissoluble. The soul indeed separates from
the body on Golgotha, but Divinity and humanity can never be separated
in Christ. Thus has human nature been elevated to a place of singular
dignity and blessing. And in Holy Communion this same Christ
comes into our hearts with His Divinity and with His humanity.