Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

32 Third Sunday of Advent
Benedixisti has as range d-a; Domine, e-b; terram, d-c. The pressus motive
runs through this phrase; in the first word: g a g f f d, in the third
word: c g ff d and f g ff d. It even goes over to the second phrase; over
the second word we have a c a a f, and over the third, a c a a g. The
emphasis of the dominant a in the second phrase is no dout justified.
If in Offertories we rarely find purely syllabic passages, in which each
syllable carries but one note, it is still more rare to see passages which
have the same note for a considerable length of time. Since we find a
similar construction in the Introit for the twenty-third Sunday after
Pentecost, and there, too, over the word captivitdtem, we may well consider
it a reference to the depressing fears and anxieties of captivity, to
the bitter lot of a slave. But now all that affliction is gone. The hour has
struck; sure and perfect liberty is come. For the soul has been freed from
her load of sin, from the slavery of the passions; henceforth she is a child
of God, and His peace will accompany her always. The follwoing verse
therefore, goes on to say: "Thou hast covered all their sins: thou hast
mitigated (mitigdsti) all thy anger." Nevertheless, this Offertory does
not forget that it still is an Advent petition. That this blessing may flow
upon all men, it continues to pray: "Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy; and
grant us Thy salvation." Our prayer is soon answered: the victim offered
upon the altar will become for us the bread of eternal life, the font of joy
unalloyed. It elevates us spiritually, transforms us to pure men, living
in and with God. When the bell rings at the elevation, God again shows
His merciful love; and in Holy Communion He grants us His salvation.
With artistic finesse the composer has succeeded in presenting the
motive of the second phrase and the entire melodic line, in fact, in a more
brilliant form in the third phrase. One need but compare the two phrases:
avertisti: dg a g db\> a and
remisisti'. dgg d b a g a b c; furthermore,
captivitdtem Jacob: adadacdaf gag and
iniquitdtem plebis: c cb a cdc b g a g a g f
Thus remisisti becomes the song of a soul that fully appreciates the
dealings of God with her, who knows Him who stands in her midst,
who gratefully acknowledges that this is "the freedom wherewith Christ
has made us free."
COMMUNION (Isa. 35: 4)
1. Dicite: Pusillanimes confor- 1. Say: Ye faint-hearted, take
tamini, et nolite timere: 2. ecce Deus courage, and fear not: 2. behold, our
noster veniet, et salvabit nos. God will come and save us.