Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

444 St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
COMMUNION
1. Felices sensus beatae Mariae 1. Happy the senses of the
Virginis, 2. qui sine morte meruer- blessed Virgin Mary, 2. which
unt martyrii palmam sub cruce without death obtained the palm of
Domini. martyrdom beside the cross of the
Saviour.
With striking fidelity the melody follows the textual development
and reveals a wonderful brilliancy in the words martyrii palmam. They
begin a fifth higher than the preceding words, while the subsequent
words set in a fifth lower. If we add to this the prominence given to the
dominant a, we have a strikingly original effect. Nevertheless we have
also here a part adaptation of a melody which is sung on the feast of
the Visitation (July 2) and on many other feasts of the Blessed Virgin.
The insertion of the word beatae hinders somewhat the easy flow of the
original. Less disturbing is the abbreviated repetition of Mariae Virginis
over sine morte.
At the foot of the cross Mary is the queen of martyrs. Although she
did not taste death there, yet so great, so deep was her pain, that no
martyr ever suffered like her. Rightly, therefore, is she awarded the
palm of martyrdom. Interwoven with this palm is the virginal lily. For
a Virgin has suffered, in whose heart there was never the least disorder
or shadow of sin and who is so exalted, so noble in her suffering precisely
because she bears all this innocently. The strength to do this she found
in gazing upon her dying Son, sub cruce Domini.
Let us also stand at the foot of the cross of Jesus together with
Mary, His Mother. Then we shall be victorious in all our struggles and,
should our life become a martyrdom, then we also shall obtain the palm
of victory. This sorrowful Mother prays for us always. And during today's
celebration of the sacred Mysteries Christ again makes available
for us the fruits of His Passion. Christ's sufferings are for us a source of
strength.
ST. MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST
(September 21)
INTROIT (Ps. 36:30, 31)
1. Os justi meditabitur sapien- 1. The mouth of the just shall metiam,
2. et lingua ejus loquetur ju- dilate wisdom, 2. and his tongue