Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

Vigil of the Nativity 43
The luminous cloud of the Lord's glory rested over the Cherubim
of the Ark of the Covenant, and by night it lighted up the path for the
tribes of Israel who were wending their way across the desert. The twelve
tribes were grouped about the Ark in a square, three to either side, three
in front and three in the rear. Now, when the luminous cloud rose, it
appeared to the eyes of those who marched behind the Ark, namely, to
Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses (Betende Kirche, p. 286,).
We may, if we wish, link the thought of the second half of the verse
with the preceding Collect: "Grant that we, who now joyfully receive
Thine only-begotten Son as our Redeemer, may also, without fear, behold
Him coming as our Judge." The Lord will come again, sitting upon
the Cherubim, all the angels forming His train. Then all the tribes of
Israel, all mankind, must appear before Him, to hear from His mouth
judgement irrevocable. Let us pray to Him today: "Lord, be Thou not
to me a Judge, but a Saviour."
ALLELUIA VERSE
1. Crastina die delebitur ini- 1. Tomorrow shall the iniquity
quitas terrae: 2. et regnabit super of the earth be abolished: 2. and the
nos Salvator mundi. Saviour of the world shall reign
over us.
The Saviour is coming as our Redeemer; the Alleluia again stresses
this thought. King He will also be, not to impose burdens, but to relieve
us of them. The King will likewise be the Lamb of God, to discharge
that immense debt which has pressed upon the world ever since Adam's
fall. He who will presently be laid in a rough manger will reign from the
Cross. That is why the mystery which we are about to celebrate makes
us "breathe anew," as the Postcommunion says.
In the most ancient manuscripts this melody is assigned to the Mass
for the feast of the Holy Trinity (q.v.). With the same text as on that
feast we also hear it sung on the Saturday of Whitsun Week, and with
a different text on the feast of the Apostles Philip and James (May 1).
In the first member of the jubilus, dbg over -luia becomes a c b g,
in the second member bdcbag and deb d g. Much like it is the development
of the verse. Over delebitur, g c c of Crastina becomes g d d; and at
the end of the first phrase the melody again rises to high d. The first
members of the first and second phrases correspond, and confine themselves
to the tetrachord g-c. Over (iniqui)-tas we also meet the descending
motive c b d g g.
Let us sing this song with the ardor it deserves. If on Good Friday
the Jews will cry: "We do not want this man to rule over us!" we shall