Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

Nativity of St. John the Baptist 391
Jesus, qui vocatur Christus. Alle- born Jesus, who is called Christ,
luia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.
The above enumeration brings to completion the genealogy of
Christ. Although Jesus is called the Son of David, the Gospels refer to
St. Joseph as the son of David also, thus indicating his royal lineage.
Over and above this, he stands in closest relationship to our Lord by
reason of his inner disposition, and by the fact that he was the worthy
consort of the Mother of God.
The melody is taken from the Communion on the vigil of St. Andrew.
The dramatic, sparkling vivacity of the original, its feeling of exultation
and joy in the cry: "We have found the Messias," obviously
cannot be developed with the present modest text. Where the original
has: Invenimus Messiam, qui dicitur Christus, today's text has: natus
est Jesus, qui vocatur Christus. This close textual relationship may have
occasioned the choice of the melody. Unhappily there is an interval of'
only a fourth over Jesus, while the corresponding word in the original
has a fifth. In three instances only does the melody here extend beyond
the dominant of the eighth mode, while it becomes the mainstay for the
fuller developed second phrase. Low / over the second Alleluia forms the
antithesis to high / over natus.
The holy names of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, in whatever sequence
they may appear when combined in one sentence, should always be
precious and dear to us.
THE NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
(June 24)
INTROIT (Isa. 49: 1, 2.)
1. De venire matris meae vocavit 1. The Lord hath called me by my
me Dominus nomine meo, 2. et name from the womb of my mother,
posuit os meum ut gladium acutum; 2. and he hath made my mouth
3. sub tegumento manus suae pro- like a sharp sword; 3. in the shadow
texit me, 4. et posuit me quasi sa- of his hand he hath protected me,
gittam electam. Ps. Bonum est con- 4. and hath made me as a chosen
fiteri Domino, * et psallere nomini arrow. Ps. It is good to give praise
tuo, Altissime. to the Lord. * and to sing to thy
name, O most High.