Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

402 SS. Peter and Paul, Apostles
the / d f a g e over erunt. The consciousness of the universality of the
Church induces word-painting by means of large intervals over in omni
progenie. After omni there may be need for a pause. The intervals of a
fourth should be sung broadly; likewise, according to the annotated
manuscripts, the rhombus over (proge)-ni-(e) and (generatio)-ne.
COMMUNION (Matt. 16: 18)
Tu es Petrus, et super hanc pe- Thou art Peter: and upon this
tram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam. rock I will build my church.
This same melody is sung on the feast of the Holy Trinity; the
phrasing, however, differs somewhat. Four phrases were formed from
the three of today and various minor divisions introduced that are not
altogether satisfactory. The close over terram constitutes the middle
member of Unigenitusque. The impulsive onward movement over memores
is there halted by a major pause after filius. The closing cadence
over tui furthermore has lost its significance. In the former feast this
cadence—together with the melody over in omni which follows it—
forms a continuous melody over the words quoque spiritus. Finally the
repetition of the melody of Benedictus and Spiritus over nobiscum is
rather tiring. The adaptation of the present melody to the feast of the
Trinity is found already in manuscript 339 of St. Gall's.
The text brings us once more the words of Christ: Tu es Petrus.
Through the worthy reception of Holy Communion we also become an
integral part of the Church, we pulsate with her innermost life, and are
bound to her in a most intimate manner. Today we can only thank God
for this grace which he has vouchsafed to us, as well as for all the graces
which He bestowed on St. Peter, His vicar on earth, and on all the
sovereign Pontiffs.
The melody is very simple. The one major interval is that of a fourth
over Petrus; beyond this there are only minor thirds and seconds. The
motives over (aedificd)-bo and Eccle-(siam) are antithetical. Would that
the entire body of the faithful might be congregated as one unit to sing
this hymn; each individual could then realize the more fully how he
forms an element in that one, holy, catholic and aspostolic Church of
which Christ said: This is My Church.
In past centuries the Communions of the vigil and the feast were
interchanged. The gripping melody of the Communion of the vigil
would set off the Mass liturgy of today's feast very effectively.