Misericórdiam volo, et non sacrifícium. Non enim veni vocáre justos, sed peccatóres...

Today is the feast of the Apostle and Evangelist Saint Matthew, both in the Kalendarium Romanum and at Barroux. Mons Bernard Ginoux of Montauban (the Sovereign Pontiff accepted his resignation within days of his 75th birthday last October, ahem) was at Barroux this morning to ordain two deacons, fr Juan Diego et fr Thomas. It has only now struck me that perhaps I have misconstrued all of this and that the Bishop ordained to the subdiaconate? my knowledge of such things is lamentably meager; in particular how the Traditional communities deal with the simultaneous existence of the subdiaconate and minor orders and their non-existence in the Pauline Rite. 

Lectio 4
Matthǽus, qui et Levi, Apóstolus et Evangelísta, Caphárnai cum ad telónium sedéret, a Christo vocátus, statim secútus est ipsum; quem étiam cum réliquis discípulis convívio excépit. Post Christi resurrectiónem, ántequam in provínciam proficiscerétur, quæ ei ad prædicándum obtígerat, primus in Judǽa, propter eos qui ex circumcisióne credíderant, Evangélium Jesu Christi Hebráice scripsit. Mox in Æthiópiam proféctus, Evangélium prædicávit, ac prædicatiónem multis miráculis confirmávit.

R. Vidi conjúnctos viros, habéntes spléndidas vestes, et Ángelus Dómini locútus est ad me, dicens:
* Isti sunt viri sancti facti amíci Dei.
V. Vidi Ángelum Dei fortem, volántem per médium cælum, voce magna clamántem et dicéntem.
R. Isti sunt viri sancti facti amíci Dei.

Lectio 5
Illo ígitur in primis miráculo, quo regis fíliam a mórtuis excitávit, regem patrem et uxórem ejus cum univérsa província ad Christi fidem convértit. Rege mórtuo, Hírtacus, ejus succéssor, cum Iphigeníam, régiam fíliam, vellet sibi dari in matrimónium; Matthǽum, cujus ópera illa virginitátem Deo vóverat et in sancto propósito perseverábat, ad altáre mystérium celebrántem jussit occídi. Qui undécimo caléndas octóbris munus apostólicum martýrii glória cumulávit. Cujus corpus Salérnum translátum, ac póstmodum in ecclésia ejus nómine dedicáta, Gregório séptimo summo Pontífice, cónditum, ibídem magno hóminum concúrsu ac pietáte cólitur.

R. Beáti estis, cum maledíxerint vobis hómines, et persecúti vos fúerint, et díxerint omne malum advérsum vos, mentiéntes, propter me:
* Gaudéte et exsultáte, quóniam merces vestra copiósa est in cælis.
V. Cum vos óderint hómines, et cum separáverint vos, et exprobráverint, et ejécerint nomen vestrum tamquam malum propter Fílium hóminis.
R. Gaudéte et exsultáte, quóniam merces vestra copiósa est in cælis.

Lectio 6
De Expositióne sancti Gregórii Papæ super Ezechiélem Prophétam
Homilia 3, Lib. 1.
Sancta quátuor animália, quæ prophetíæ spíritu futúra prævidéntur, subtíli narratióne describúntur, cum dícitur: Quátuor fácies uni, et quátuor pennæ uni. Quid per fáciem, nisi notítia; et quid per pennas, nisi volátus exprímitur? Per fáciem quippe unusquísque cognóscitur: per pennas vero in altum ávium córpora sublevántur. Fácies ítaque ad fidem pértinet, penna ad contemplatiónem. Per fidem namque ab omnipoténti Deo cognóscimur, sicut ipse de suis óvibus dicit: Ego sum pastor bonus, et cognósco oves meas, et cognóscunt me meæ. Qui rursus ait: Ego scio quos elégerim. Per contemplatiónem vero, qua super nosmetípsos tóllimur, quasi in áëra levámur.

R. Isti sunt triumphatóres et amíci Dei, qui contemnéntes jussa príncipum, meruérunt prǽmia ætérna:
* Modo coronántur, et accípiunt palmam.
V. Isti sunt qui venérunt ex magna tribulatióne, et lavérunt stolas suas in sánguine Agni.
R. Modo coronántur, et accípiunt palmam.
V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
R. Modo coronántur, et accípiunt palmam.

Lectio 7
Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Matthǽum
Matt 9:9-13.
In illo témpore: Vidit Jesus hóminem sedéntem in telónio, Matthǽum nómine, et ait illi: Séquere me. Et réliqua.

Homilía sancti Hierónymi Presbýteri
Liber 1 Comment. in Matth. cap. 9.
Céteri Evangelístæ, propter verecúndiam et honórem Matthǽi, noluérunt eum nómine appelláre vulgáto, sed dixérunt, Levi; dúplici quippe vocábulo fuit. Ipse autem Matthǽus (secúndum illud quod dícitur a Salomóne: Justus accusátor est sui in princípio sermónis; et in álio loco: Dic tu peccáta tua, ut justificéris) Matthǽum se et publicanum nóminat, ut osténdat legéntibus nullum debére salútem desperáre, si ad melióra convérsus sit, cum ipse de publicáno in Apóstolum sit repénte mutátus.

R. Isti sunt qui vivéntes in carne, plantavérunt Ecclésiam sánguine suo:
* Cálicem Dómini bibérunt, et amíci Dei facti sunt.
V. In omnem terram exívit sonus eórum, et in fines orbis terræ verba eórum.
R. Cálicem Dómini bibérunt, et amíci Dei facti sunt.

Lectio 8
Arguit in hoc loco Porphýrius, et Juliánus Augústus, vel imperítiam histórici mentiéntis, vel stultítiam eórum qui statim secúti sint Salvatórem, quasi irrationabíliter quémlibet vocántem hóminem sint secúti; cum tantæ virtútes tántaque signa præcésserint, quæ Apóstolos, ántequam créderent, vidísse non dubium est. Certe fulgor ipse et majéstas Divinitátis occúltæ, quæ étiam in humána fácie relucébat, ex primo ad se vidéntes tráhere póterat aspéctu. Si enim in magnéte lápide et súccinis hæc esse vis dícitur, ut ánulos et stípulam et festúcas sibi cópulent; quanto magis Dóminus ómnium creaturárum ad se tráhere póterat, quos vocábat?

R. Isti sunt viri sancti, quos elégit Dóminus in caritáte non ficta, et dedit illis glóriam sempitérnam:
* Quorum doctrína fulget Ecclésia, ut sole luna.
V. Sancti per fidem vicérunt regna: operáti sunt justítiam.
R. Quorum doctrína fulget Ecclésia, ut sole luna.
V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
R. Quorum doctrína fulget Ecclésia, ut sole luna.

Lectio 9
Et factum est, discumbénte eo in domo, ecce multi publicáni et peccatóres veniéntes discumbébant cum Jesu. Vidébant publicanum, a peccátis ad melióra convérsum, locum invenísse pœniténtiæ; et ob id étiam ipsi non despérant salútem. Neque vero in pristínis vítiis permanéntes véniunt ad Jesum, ut pharisǽi et scribæ múrmurant, sed pœniténtiam agéntes, ut sequens Dómini sermo signíficat, dicens: Misericórdiam volo, et non sacrifícium; non enim veni vocáre justos, sed peccatóres. Ibat autem Dóminus ad convívia peccatórum, ut occasiónem habéret docéndi, et spirituáles invitatóribus suis præbéret cibos.

Te Deum.

Introitus. Ps. 36, 30-31. Os justi meditábitur sapiéntiam, et lingua ejus loquétur judicium: lex Dei ejus in corde ipsíus. Ps. ibid., 1. Noli æmulári in malignántibus: neque zeláveris faciéntes iniquitátem. V. Glória Patri.

Kyrie, Gloria.

The orations were modified from these given, presumably in view of the conferral of Holy Orders.

Oratio. Beáti Apóstoli et Evangelístæ Matthǽi, Dómine, precibus adjuvémur: ut, quod possibílitas nostra non óbtinet, ejus nobis intercessióne donétur. Per Dóminum.

Mons Ginoux is homilising at this point, which is, I reckon, what one does at ordinations? I've never witnessed one. 

The Litany has been sung, and Mons Ginoux is homilising again, this time directly to the two subdeacons, I believe-- no, no, it is from the Pontifical and is in Latin so this is part of the Rite, a preface-like prayer, perhaps.

The Bishop chanted the Oration, which I ought to be able to find the text for in the laptop somewhere, and is now clothing the new deacons with the monastic dalmatics. Frankly, I don't know precisely what constitutes the matter of diaconal ordinations, ahem. 

And now the Mass proceeds with the lesson from the Prophet Ezechiel.

Léctio Ezechiélis Prophétæ.
Ezech. 1, 10-14.
Similitúdo vultus quátuor animálium: fácies hóminis, et fácies leónis a dextris ipsórum quátuor: fácies autem bovis a sinístris ipsórum quátuor, et fácies áquilæ désuper ipsórum quátuor. Fácies eórum et pénnæ eórum exténtæ désuper: duæ pennæ singulórum jungebántur et duæ tegébant córpora eórum: et unumquódque eórum coram fácie sua ambulábat: ubi erat ímpetus spíritus, illuc gradiebántur, nec revertebántur cum ambulárent. Et similitúdo animálium, aspéctus eórum quasi carbónum ignis ardéntium et quasi aspéctus lampadárum. Hæc erat vísio discúrrens in médio animalium,  splendor ignis, et de igne fulgur egrédiens. Et animália ibant et revertebántur in similitúdinem fúlguris coruscántis.

Graduale. Ps. 111, 1-2. Beátus vir, qui timet Dóminum: in mandátis ejus cupit nimis. V. Potens in terra erit semen ejus: generátio rectórum benedicétur.

Allelúja, allelúja. V. Te gloriosus Apostolórum chorus laudat, Domine. Allelúja.

Only one of the two new deacons can sing the Gospel lesson....

+ Sequéntia sancti Evangélii secúndum Matthǽum.
Matth. 9, 9-13.
In illo témpore: Vidit Jesus hóminem sedéntem in telónio, Matthǽum nómine. Et ait illi: Séquere me. Et surgens, secútus est eum. Et factum est, discumbénte eo in domo, ecce, multi publicáni et peccatóres veniéntes discumbébant cum Jesu et discípulis ejus. Et vidéntes pharisǽi, dicébant discípulis ejus: Quare cum publicánis et peccatóribus mánducat Magíster vester? At Jesus áudiens, ait: Non est opus valéntibus médicus, sed male habéntibus. Eúntes autem díscite, quid est: Misericórdiam volo, et non sacrifícium. Non enim veni vocáre justos, sed peccatóres.

Credo.

Offertorium. Ps. 20, 4-5. Posuísti, Dómine, in cápite ejus corónam de lápide pretióso: vitam pétiit a te, et tribuísti ei, allelúja.

Secreta. Supplicatiónibus beáti Matthǽi Apóstoli et Evangelístæ, quǽsumus, Dómine, Ecclésiæ tuæ commendétur oblátio: cujus magníficis prædicatiónibus erúditur. Per Dóminum.

Sanctus, Agnus Dei.

Communio. Ps. 20, 6. Magna est glória ejus in salutári tuo: glóriam et magnum decórem ímpones super eum, Dómine.

Postcommunio. Percéptis, Dómine, sacraméntis, beáto Matthǽo Apóstolo tuo et Evangelísta interveniénte, deprecámur: ut, quæ pro ejus celebráta sunt glória, nobis profíciant ad medélam. Per Dóminum.

As it happens, the Pauline Rite has retained Os iusti meditabitur as the Introit of the Mass of Saint Matthew. An examination of it from the good folks at Neumz (it came in the email they sent to mark the feast; I'm not sure of the author). 

As for the melody, it is composed in mode VI.  It has a strong character of pious recollection and admiration for the just. The Church sings with fervor this admiration for Matthew the Evangelist, for his wisdom, his justice, and his love for the Divine Laws. The melody begins with a recitative on the fundamental, the Fa. The initial word os, the mouth, is highlighted with a bivirga on the Fa. Not surprising, for it is on a day when the memory of a preaching evangelist is honored. In justi, of the just, the melody falls reverently from the Fa to the Do, the only leap of a fourth in the piece. In meditabitur, he will pour out, he will proclaim, from the innermost of the prayerful one, from the low Do it ascends with vigor and joy back to the Fa, underlining the accent of meditabitur.  Note the masterful unisonic development on the Fa, it amplifies the action of this proclamation, the diffusion of wisdom. After a slight oscillation from the Fa to the Mi to close the word meditabitur, in sapientiam, wisdom, the melody rises for the first time to the La, the dominant of the mode. The prayerful one sings his joy in a reverent porrectus flexus before the movement settles again peacefully on the Fa, concluding the first phrase.

If the first phrase begins with the word os, the second phrase begins with lingua, the tongue. Joy resounds again, insisting on the proclamation of the Good News. The melody rises again towards the La, surpassing it with a beautiful B-flat. The semitonal distance confers a sublime touch of closeness, of proximity, of intimacy between the messenger and the message, between Matthew and the Good News he is spreading. In the following incise, loquetur, he will speak, he will proclaim, there is a melodic turn similar to meditabitur, Fa-Sol Fa Fa-Mi. The melody settles on the Fa and remains in the low register, it even touches the Do in judicium. The melodic movement rests on the Re, with the cadence that closes this second phrase. The prayerful one contemplates this justice in the interior of his being, in the depths of his soul, all is recollection.

In the third phrase, the melody ascends agilely and joyfully from the Do to the La, lex Dei ejus, the law of his God, the engine of the soul, the divine commands, the doing of His will, and fills the prayerful one with joy. This joy is maintained in the last incise, in corde ipsius, in his own heart, with a beautiful oscillation between the Sol and the La. Note the torculus resupinus flexus, Sol-La-Sol-La-Sol, it seems as if it is leaping with joy. We notice that this is a melodic turn very similar to the one of sapientiam in the first phrase. Without a doubt, this is a masterful compositional wink. The happiness gradually subsides and it is internalized in the final cadence, in the Fa, until the piece concludes. After the mouth and the tongue, now the psalmist speaks of his own heart. From there, is definitely, where wisdom and justice meditated upon, assimilated, and acquired together with the Master, from Jesus, it all springs forth. Matthew made the words his own and shared them with the entire Church, and we the faithful sing in his memory with immense joy and fervor.

LDVM