Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 435
of today's saint—a martyr's crown awaited them at the end of their
laborious lives. Glorious indeed is the choir of the Apostles.
The melody was heard only recently on the feast of the Assumption.
The second last and last syllables of the first word should not be
retarded. The brevity of the text did not permit after laudat the usual
repetition of the melody over alleluia.
The COMMUNION was explained on the feast of St. Matthias.
* * * *
THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED
VIRGIN MARY
(September 8)
In Rome this feast dates back to the pontificate of Sergius I (687-
701); it was celebrated by the universal Church only some time after
the ninth century. The chants are identical with those of the feast of the
Visitation.
How noble was the vocation of the Virgin Mother! Her body and
soul had been made a worthy habitation for the Saviour by almighty
God Himself. Beautiful and pure, stainless and perfect she came from
the master-hand of God. Happy and content in her inner perfections,
she brought supernatural happiness to a poor deluded world. Her birthday
is made the occasion of solemn rejoicings. In the Introit she is greeted
with Salve, in the Gradual with Benedicta es tu, in the Alleluia with
Felix es, and in the Offertory and Communion with Bedta.
THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
(September 14)
In the Orient today's feast was celebrated as early as the fourth
century. In the Occident it became known in the eighth century, and
then only gradually.
The INTROIT and the GRADUAL are taken from the Mass of
Maundy Thursday. The ALLELUIA-VERSE is the second from the
feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross (May 3), from which feast the
COMMUNION also has been taken. Something akin to the spirit of
autumn pervades this feast, an expectation of that great day when the
cross will appear in the clouds of heaven as the sign of the "Son of man.'*