Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

80 The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ
corresponding passages, and the middle phrase modulates in the lower
fourth.
We ought not to be astonished at the occurrence of the pressus on
the unaccented syllables in the corresponding passages over (Do)-mi-
(nus) and (impe)-ri-(um). Thus the dactylic words are rendered with
greater ease and majesty, without jerks or friction; nevertheless they
give prominence to the preceding accented syllable by means of the predominating
pes subbipunctis.
Wagner (III, 286) calls attention to the fact that this? entire melody
is composed of undulations, each of which attains its melodic summit
on the accented syllable of the principal word: Ecce advenit—domindtor
Dominus—et regnum in manu ejus—et potestas—et imperium.
How the centuries watched for the arrival of this King and how
ardent were their longings! How often have not the prayers and chants
of Advent cried: Veni Dominel What a height did not these yearnings
attain in the great O-antiphons immediately preceding the feast of
Christmas! Even on the Saturday of Ember Week in Advent this cry
was wrung from the heart of the Church: "Come, O Lord, and show
Thy face to us, Thou that sittest upon the Cherubim: and we shall be
saved"; this Veni acts as a prelude to our Ecce. Now the sighs have been
heard and the longing has been stilled. Now we hear re-echo throughout
the land: "Behold the Lord the Ruler is come." But He does not
come empty-handed. He bears kingdoms in His hands: the kingdom of
truth and of grace and the guarantee for the kingdom of glory. He gives
us a share in His power (potestas). He gives us the power (potestdtem) to
become children of God and therefore co-heirs of His kingdom.
If today kings, princes in the realm of knowledge and research, find
no rest until they come to Him, until they prostrate themselves before
Him, humble their intelligence and will under His scepter, and with an
earnest faith adore Him, the Child, then we see how this Babe reveals
Himself as a royal Ruler, how He captures the hearts of men and fills
them with happiness.
The psalm-verse emphasizes the judicial power of this King in the
form of a wish. Still more does Psalm 71—the royal psalm—show how
Christ is the advocate of the poor, how He bestows peace and bread
and rich blessings on them, how He reigns over all nations and all times,
how all the peoples approach to pay Him homage.
As early as the eleventh century the melody of this Introit has been
adapted to the popular Introit Salve sancta Parens 1 sung on the feasts
1 Kirchenmusik, 11, 33 ff.; Revue, 17, 75, 35, 13 ff.; N. Sch., 231; Benediktinische Monatschrift,
3, 20 ff.