Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

460 Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ
The INTROIT is the same as that on the feast of St. Andrew; the
GRADUAL as that on the feast of SS. Peter and Paul. The ALLELUIA
VERSE has the typical melody of the eighth mode. The OFFERTORY
is the same as that on the feast of St. James, the COMMUNION as
that on the feast of St. Matthias.
* * * *
KINGSHIP OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
(Last Sunday in October)
Pope Pius XI brought the Jubilee Year of 1925 to a close with the
introduction of this new feast. It was to be a continual reminder to the
world of Christ's inalienable regal privileges, belonging to Him by virtue
of His divine Sonship and His office as Redeemer. It was intended to
bring about a subjection of all nations and individuals to the sweet yoke
of Christ.
Old melodies were fitted to the texts of this new feast.
INTROIT (Apoc. 5: 12; 1: 6)
1. Dignus est Agnus, qui occisus 1. The Lamb that was slain is
est, accipere virtutem, et divinita- worthy to receive power and ditem,
et sapientiam, et fortitudinem, vinity and wisdom and strength and
et honorem. 2. Ipsi gloria et im- honor. 2. To him be glory and emperium
in saecula saeculorum. Ps. pire forever and ever. Ps. Give to
Deus, judicium tuum Regi da: * the King thy judgment, 0 God: *
et justitiam Filio Regis. and thy justice unto the King's Son.
Mankind has indeed witnessed numerous triumphs of the greatest
solemnity. And although it seemed that their splendor could not be
surpassed, yet other celebrations were held that eclipsed those that
preceded. These also had their limitations, since they were earthly festivals.
But when heaven celebrates its feasts, the feasts of its God,
nothing is lacking, everything is perfect. There the homage of hearts
entirely submissive becomes the homage of adoration and praise of an
infinite Being and the glorification of a deed which God alone was able
to perform. Of this homage, this adoration, this praise, the Apocalypse
speaks in the twelfth verse of the fifth chapter and in the sixth verse
of the first chapter. Ten thousand times ten thousand angels pay their
respects, crying with a loud voice: "The Lamb that was slain is worthy
to receive power and divinity and wisdom and strength and honor."
Because Christ the Lamb was slain, He has earned this honor. No one
has ever been so humiliated, no one has ever borne sorrow so great and