Apériam in parábolis os meum, eructábo abscóndita a constitutióne mundi...

Deus, qui errata córrigis, et dispérsa cóngregas, et congregáta consérvas: quǽsumus, super pópulum christiánum tuæ uniónis grátiam cleménter infúnde; ut, divisióne rejécta, vero pastóri Ecclésiæ tuæ se úniens, tibi digne váleat famulári. Per Dóminum.

Oratio ad tollendum schisma





Today is the 25th Sunday post Pentecosten, the 4th of November,  and the 6th post Epiphaniam. The Book of the Prophet Osee, Hosea, was begun at Matins. At Saint-Eugène, the Solemn Mass of Saint Eugene, Patron of the Church and parish, will be celebrated, with a commemoration of the Sunday. The Schola's page at its web-site is here; the pdf of the libellum of the Mass is here, and that of Vespers is here.

The Solemn Mass will be celebrated in the Dominican Rite by the Very Reverend Augustin-Marie Aubry, Prior of the Fraternity of Saint Vincent Ferrer. Not sure of the entire catalogue of variances between the Roman and Dominican Rites, ha, but I'll try to avoid becoming preoccupied by noting them.

I'll begin with the Sunday Mass and then go on to the Statuit ei Dominus of Saint-Eugène.


Lectio 4
Ex libro sancti Augustíni Epíscopi de Civitáte Dei
Liber 18, cap. 28.
Osée prophéta, quanto profúndius quidem lóquitur, tanto operósius penetrátur. Sed áliquid inde suméndum est, et hic ex nostra promissióne ponéndum. Et erit, inquit, in loco quo dictum est eis, Non pópulus meus vos; vocabúntur et ipsi fílii Dei vivi. Hoc testimónium prophéticum de vocatióne pópuli Géntium, qui prius non pertinébat ad Deum, étiam Apóstoli intellexérunt.

R. Super muros tuos, Jerúsalem, constítui custódes;
* Tota die et nocte non tacébunt laudáre nomen Dómini.
V. Prædicábunt pópulis fortitúdinem meam, et annuntiábunt géntibus glóriam meam.
R. Tota die et nocte non tacébunt laudáre nomen Dómini.

Lectio 5
Et quia ipse quoque pópulus Géntium spiritáliter est in fíliis Abrahæ, ac per hoc recte dícitur Israël; proptérea séquitur, et dicit: Et congregabúntur fílii Juda et fílii Israël in idípsum, et ponent síbimet principátum unum, et ascéndent a terra. Hoc si adhuc velímus expónere, elóquii prophétici obtundétur sapor. Recolátur tamen lapis ille anguláris, et duo illi paríetes, unus ex Judǽis, alter ex Géntibus: ille nómine filiórum Juda, iste nómine filiórum Israël, eídem uni principátui suo in idípsum inniténtes, et ascendéntes agnoscántur in terra.

R. Muro tuo inexpugnábili circumcínge nos, Dómine, et armis tuæ poténtiæ prótege nos semper:
* Líbera, Dómine, Deus Israël, clamántes ad te.
V. Erue nos in mirabílibus tuis, et da glóriam nómini tuo.
R. Líbera, Dómine, Deus Israël, clamántes ad te.

Lectio 6
Istos autem carnáles Israëlítas, qui nunc nolunt crédere in Christum, póstea creditúros, id est fílios eórum, (nam útique isti in suum locum moriéndo transíbunt) idem prophéta testátur, dicens: Quóniam diébus multis sedébunt fílii Israël sine rege, sine príncipe, sine sacrifício, sine altári, sine sacerdótio, sine manifestatiónibus. Quis non vídeat, nunc sic esse Judǽos?

R. Sustinúimus pacem, et non venit: quæsívimus bona, et ecce turbátio: cognóvimus, Dómine, peccáta nostra;
* Non in perpétuum obliviscáris nos.
V. Peccávimus, ímpie géssimus, iniquitátem fécimus, Dómine, in omnem justítiam tuam.
R. Non in perpétuum obliviscáris nos.
V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
R. Non in perpétuum obliviscáris nos.

Lectio 7
Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Matthǽum
Matt 13:31-35.
In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus turbis parábolam hanc: Símile est regnum cælórum grano sinápis, quod accípiens homo seminávit in agro suo. Et réliqua.

Homilía S. Hierónymi Presbýteri
Lib. 2. Comment. in cap. 13. Matth.
Regnum cælórum prædicátio Evangélii est, et notítia Scripturárum, quæ ducit ad vitam, et de qua dícitur ad Judǽos: Auferétur a vobis regnum Dei, et dábitur genti faciénti fructus ejus. Símile est ergo hujuscémodi regnum grano sinápis, quod accípiens homo seminávit in agro suo. Homo qui séminat in agro suo, a plerísque Salvátor intellégitur, quod in ánimis credéntium séminet: ab áliis ipse homo séminans in agro suo, hoc est in semetípso, et in corde suo.

R. Laudábilis pópulus,
* Quem Dóminus exercítuum benedíxit dicens: Opus mánuum meárum tu es, heréditas mea Israël.
V. Beáta gens, cujus est Dóminus Deus, pópulus eléctus in hereditátem.
R. Quem Dóminus exercítuum benedíxit dicens: Opus mánuum meárum tu es, heréditas mea Israël.

Lectio 8
Quis est iste, qui séminat, nisi sensus noster et ánimus; qui suscípiens granum prædicatiónis, et fovens seméntem, humóre fídei facit in agro sui péctoris pulluláre? Prædicátio Evangélii mínima est ómnibus disciplínis. Ad primam quippe doctrínam, fidem non habet veritátis, hóminem Deum, Christum mórtuum, et scándalum crucis prǽdicans. Confer hujuscémodi doctrínam dogmátibus philosophórum, et libris eórum, et splendóri eloquéntiæ, et compositióni sermónum: et vidébis quanto minor sit céteris semínibus seméntis Evangélii.

R. Duo Séraphim clamábant alter ad álterum:
* Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dóminus Deus Sábaoth: * Plena est omnis terra glória ejus.
V. Tres sunt qui testimónium dant in cælo: Pater, Verbum, et Spíritus Sanctus: et hi tres unum sunt.
R. Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.
V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
R. Plena est omnis terra glória ejus.

Lectio 9
Sed illa cum créverint, nihil mordax, nihil vívidum, nihil vitále demónstrant: sed totum fláccidum marcidúmque et mollítum ebúllit in ólera et in herbas, quæ cito aréscunt et córruunt. Hæc autem prædicátio, quæ parva videbátur in princípio, cum vel in ánima credéntis, vel in tot mundo sata fúerit, non exsúrgit in ólera, sed crescit in árborem: ita ut vólucres cæli (quas vel ánimas credéntium, vel fortitúdines, Dei servítio mancipátas, sentíre debémus) véniant et hábitent in ramis ejus. Ramos puto evangélicæ árboris, quæ de grano sinápis créverit, dógmatum esse diversitátes, in quibus supradictárum vólucrum unaquǽque requiéscit.



Te Deum.



The antiphon ad tertiam Horam.





Last sung during the procession after the Asperges was Ave maris stella; quite which version of the chant I'm not sure but I'll put here the 'other chant' included in the Liber usualis. 





Introitus. Jer. 29,11,12 et 14. Dicit Dóminus: Ego cógito cogitatiónes pacis, et non afflictiónis: invocábitis me, et ego exáudiam vos: et redúcam captivitátem vestram de cunctis locis. Ps. 84, 2. Benedixísti, Dómine, terram tuam: avertísti captivitátem Jacob. ℣. Glória Patri.





Kyrie, Gloria.

Oratio.
Præsta, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut, semper rationabília meditántes, quæ tibi sunt plácita, et dictis exsequámur et factis. Per Dóminum.

Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Thessalonicénses
1 Thess, 1, 2-10.

Fratres: Grátias ágimus Deo semper pro ómnibus vobis, memóriam vestri faciéntes in oratiónibus nostris sine intermissióne, mémores óperis fídei vestræ, et labóris, et caritátis, et sustinéntiæ spei Dómini nostri Jesu Christi, ante Deum et Patrem nostrum: sciéntes, fratres, dilécti a Deo, electiónem vestram: quia Evangélium nostrum non fuit ad vos in sermóne tantum, sed et in virtúte, et in Spíritu Sancto, et in plenitúdine multa, sicut scitis quales fuérimus in vobis propter vos. Et vos imitatóres nostri facti estis, et Dómini, excipiéntes verbum in tribulatióne multa, cum gáudio Spíritus Sancti: ita ut facti sitis forma ómnibus credéntibus in Macedónia et in Achája. A vobis enim diffamátus est sermo Dómini, non solum in Macedónia et in Achája, sed et in omni loco fides vestra, quæ est ad Deum, profécta est, ita ut non sit nobis necésse quidquam loqui. Ipsi enim de nobis annúntiant, qualem intróitum habuérimus ad vos: et quómodo convérsi estis ad Deum a simulácris, servíre Deo vivo et vero, et exspectáre Fílium ejus de cœlis (quem suscitávit ex mórtuis) Jesum, qui erípuit nos ab ira ventúra.

Graduale. Ps. 43, 8-9.* Liberásti nos, Dómine, ex affligéntibus nos: et eos, qui nos odérunt, confudísti. ℣. In Deo laudábimur tota die, et in nómine tuo confitébimur in sǽcula.





Allelúja, allelúja. ℣. Ps, 129, 1-2.* 
De profúndis clamávi ad te, Dómine: Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam. Allelúja.





✠ Sequéntia sancti Evangélii secúndum Matthǽum.
Matth. 13, 31-35.

In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus turbis parábolam hanc: Símile est regnum cœlórum grano sinápis, quod accípiens homo seminávit in agro suo: quod mínimum quidem est ómnibus semínibus: cum autem créverit, majus est ómnibus oléribus, et fit arbor, ita ut vólucres cœli véniant et hábitent in ramis ejus. Aliam parábolam locútus est eis: Símile est regnum cœlórum ferménto, quod accéptum múlier abscóndit in farínæ satis tribus, donec fermentátum est totum. Hæc ómnia locútus est Jesus in parábolis ad turbas: et sine parábolis non loquebátur eis: ut implerétur quod dictum erat per Prophétam dicéntem: Apériam in parábolis os meum, eructábo abscóndita a constitutióne mundi.

Ah, the 'homilies' for the day. The Discalced Carmelite Fr Gabriel of Saint Mary Magdalene's, excerpted from Divine Intimacy and given us by Voice of the Family, is here. Father Zuhlsdorf's is here. And Dr Olson's is here

Credo.

Offertorium. Ps. 129, 1-2.
 
De profúndis clamávi ad te, Domine: Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam: de profúndis clamávi ad te, Dómine.





Secreta. 
Hæc nos oblátio, Deus, mundet, quæsumus, et renovet, gubérnet et prótegat. Per Dóminum.

Sanctus, Agnus Dei.

Communio. Marc. 11, 24.
 
Amen, dico vobis, quidquid orántes pétitis, crédite, quia accipiétis, et fiet vobis.





Postcommunio. 
Cœléstibus, Dómine, pasti delíciis: quǽsumus; ut semper éadem, per quæ veráciter vívimus, appétimus. Per Dóminum.



~+~+~+~






Introitus. Ecclus 45, 30 Ps 131, 1. Statuit * ei Dóminus testaméntum pacis, et príncipem fecit eum: * ut sit illi sacerdótii dígnitas in ætérnum. Ps. Meménto, Dómine, David: * et omnis mansuetúdinis ejus. V. Glória Patri.





Kyrie, Gloria.

Oratio.
Deus, qui nos beáti Eugenii Martyris tui confessióne gloriósa circumdas et protegis: præsta nobis; et ejus intercessióne gaudere, et oratióne fulciri. Per Dóminum.

Oratio. Præsta, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut, semper rationabília meditántes, quæ tibi sunt plácita, et dictis exsequámur et factis. Per Dóminum.

Lectio Epistolae beati Iacobi Apostoli
Iac. 1,12-18.

Caríssimi: Beátus vir, qui suffert tentatiónem: quóniam cum probátus fúerit, accípiet corónam vitæ, quam repromísit Deus diligéntibus se. Nemo cum tentátur, dicat, quóniam a Deo tentátur: Deus enim intentátor malórum est: ipse autem néminem tentat. Unusquísque vero tentátur a concupiscéntia, cum concéperit, parit peccátum: peccátum vero cum consummátum fúerit, générat mortem. Nolíte ítaque erráre, fratres mei dilectíssimi. Omne datum óptimum, et omne donum perféctum desúrsum est, descéndens a Patre lúminum, apud quem non est transmutátio, nec vicissitúdinis obumbrátio. Voluntárie enim génuit nos verbo veritátis, ut simus inítium áliquod creatúræ ejus.

Graduale. Ps 88, 21-23. Invéni * David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum: manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei, et bráchium meum confortábit eum. V. Nihil profíciet inimícus in eo, et fílius iniquitátis * non nocébit ei.






Alleluia, alleluia. Ps 109, 4. V. Tu es sacérdos in ætérnum, secúndum órdinem * Melchisédech.





Sequentia.

VERBI semen qui plantavit
His in terris, et rigavit
Laudemus Eugenium.

Tibi quod dedit loquendo
Confirmavit moriendo,
Christi testimonium.

ORBIS sordes cum pagani
Elueret Christiani
Sanguinis effusio.

In nos rivum derivasti
Parvum gregem confirmasti
Nobili martyrio.

ROMA, Petro defensore,
Gallia propugnatore
Gaudet Dyonisio.

Nostra vallis servatore,
Et fido deprecatore
Gaudeat Eugenio.

DIONYSI facientis
Imitator, et docentis
Auditor assiduus.

In se Christum sic formavit,
Martyrio sic prælusit
Cœli miles strenuus.

INDE tandem eruuntur,
Indice quo servabantur,
In hac æde collocantur,
Pietatis sumptibus.

Spiritum orbe majorem,
Terrenorum contemptorem,
Supernorum amatorem
Totum Deo deditum!

O qui cœlo vim fecisti,
Qui cruciatus vicisti,
Mortem ipsam calcavisti,
Qui nos ita docuisti
Superare vitia.

Cultu pio te colamus,
Opem tuum sentiamus,
Teque factis exprimamus,
Ut tecum perveniamus,
Ad regna cœlestia. 
Amen.

Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam
Luc 14, 26-33.

In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus turbis: Si quis venit ad me, et non odit patrem suum, et matrem, et uxórem, et fílios, et fratres, et soróres, adhuc autem et ánimam suam, non potest meus esse discípulus. Et qui non bájulat crucem suam, et venit post me, non potest meus esse discípulus. Quis enim ex vobis volens turrim ædificáre, non prius sedens cómputat sumptus, qui necessárii sunt, si hábeat ad perficiéndum; ne, posteáquam posúerit fundaméntum, et non potúerit perfícere, omnes, qui vident, incípiant illúdere ei, dicéntes: Quia hic homo cœpit ædificáre, et non pótuit consummáre? Aut quis rex itúrus commíttere bellum advérsus álium regem, non sedens prius cógitat, si possit cum decem millibus occurrere ei, qui cum viginti míllibus venit ad se? Alióquin, adhuc illo longe agénte, legatiónem mittens, rogat ea, quæ pacis sunt. Sic ergo omnis ex vobis, qui non renúntiat ómnibus, quæ póssidet, non potest meus esse discípulus.

M le Curé-- and in the minute and a half it took to get myself to this page my recollection has become less than certain but...-- mentioned, in his remarks before Fr Prior Aubry's homily, that all three priests (two others are acting as deacon and subdeacon) of the Fraternity of Saint Vincent Ferrer present today were formerly parishioners at Saint-Eugène. 

Credo.

At the incensing of the altar at the Offertory, the Schola will sing this proper hymn from the Office of Saint Eugene. Charpentier set any number of hymns; M D'Oliveira has accommodated the Charpentier to the Sancti Eugenii digna memoria and orchestrated it for strings. Catherine Cessac wrote, in her study of Charpentier:

The most amazing piece in the entire group [of hymns] is In Sanctum Nicasium Rothomagensem H 55-57, which consists of three hymns written in square notation. Charpentier could not have carried archaism any further. The occasion for which these hymns were written, composed in honor of the first bishop of Rouen, a martyr under Diocletian in 284 AD, remains to be determined, though it must have been an austere one. 

They are marked individually for Vespers, Matins, and Lauds so the 'austere occasion' was presumably Saint Nicasius's feast, ahem; where, in which church or chapel, remaining unknown.

Sancti Eugenii digna memoria
Recurrit, Socii; plaudat Ecclesia,
Exultat Gallia, tanti Martyrii
Sacro ditata pignore.

Alumnus Græciæ, visit Hispaniam,
Doctor Hispaniæ revisit Galliam,
Docti præsentiam Doctoris Galliæ
Fideli captans pectore.

Patrem desiderat, votum prosequitur,
Jam prope venerat, hostis irascitur
Sanctus vir rapitur, quem ensis tenerat,
Caput vellens a corpore.

In lacu proximo corpus submittitur,
Custodi optimo pignus commititur;
Recens, ut mittitur manet longissimo
Sub unda corpus tempore.

Hercoldus patitur, quem Dei visio
Ex hoc alloquitur in Dyonisio:
Salutis pretio Sanctus redimitur,
Digno locandus decore.

Sit Patri gloria, sit honor Filio,
Virtus, potentia, laus, jubilatio;
Flamini socio surgat sors socia,
Ut pari constant robore.
Amen.

Offertorium. Ps 88, 25. Véritas mea * et misericórdia mea cum ipso : et in nómine meo exaltábitur cornu ejus.





Secreta. Infirmitátem nostram, quæsumus, Dómine, hujus sacrifícii grátia, corrobora: ut contra insidias inimici vigilando et orando certantes, beáti Eugenii Martyris tui precibus et exemplo vincamus. Per Dóminum.

Secreta. Hæc nos oblátio, Deus, mundet, quæsumus, et renovet, gubérnet et prótegat. Per Dóminum.

Sanctus, Agnus Dei.

At the Communion, the Schola sang the Psallendum (the first three verses of Psalm 1) of the feast of Saint Eugene in the Mozarabic Rite, a Visigothic chant taken from the choir-books of the Primatial Cathedral of Toledo. 

Beátus vir qui non ábiit in consílium impiórum, sed in lege Dómini fuit volúntas ejus.

V/. Et erit tanquam lignum, quod plantátus est secus decúrsus aquárum: et ómnia quæcúmque fecit prosperabúntur.


Communio. Ps 88, 36-38. Semel jurávi * in sancto meo: semen ejus in ætérnum manébit: et sedes ejus sicut sol in conspéctu meo, et sicut luna perfecta in æternum, et testis in cælo fidelis.





Postcommunio. Suscipiéntes, Dómine, pignus æternæ vitæ, ne permittas propter amorem podibilis vitæ admittere illicita : qui Martyri tuo Eugenio dedisti propter timorem et amorem tuum duros corporis dolores libenter pati. Per Dóminum.

Postcommunio. Cœléstibus, Dómine, pasti delíciis: quǽsumus; ut semper éadem, per quæ veráciter vívimus, appétimus. Per Dóminum.

At the end of Mass, as the clergy departed the sanctuary, the Vespers hymn from the traditional Office of Saint Eugene at Paris was sung by the Schola and the people.

Virgines, et vos pueri vicissim
Nunc juvat sacro celebrare plectro,
Martyrem cujus fuit hicce Pagus,
Sanguinem tinctus.

Jam suum felix sibi Roma civem.
Vindicet. Dicit, repetitque jure
Martyrem nostræ fidei factorem
Gallia tota.

Ecce cum lecta procerum caterva
Huc adest. Omnes hebet unus ardor:
Luce jam pura recreant sedentes
Mortis umbra.

Non furor dirus studium moratur.
Non minæ terrent gladii, necesque
Corda sic urit studiosa cœli
Ardor amoris

Mentibus firmis adeunt tyrannos.
At pugil Christi micat inter omnes,
Sanctus Eugenius, velut inter ignes
Luna minores.

Emori lætus, caput immolandum
Pro Dei causa statuit sub ense.
Sic mori pulchrum! Meliore cœli
Luce potimur.

Spargit incassum fera gens per undas
Membra. Solvet vir sacer hinc cadaver:
Rite reddetur tumulo, piosque
Reddet honores.

Huc volat fidens populus salutis:
Dum colit patris cineres verendi,
Corporis morbos animique pellunt
Numine pleni.

Summa laus Patri, genitoque Verbo;
Et tibi compar, utriusque Nexus:
Nos velis, tanto duce, per beatos
Tangere portus.
Amen.


The video recording of Vespers of the feast.





*From our friends at Neumz for today (well, but for all these Masses post Epiphaniam also): the Alleluia De profundis clamavi.

... As for the melody, it is composed in mode VII. Here the composer adopts the mode which the ancients called 'angelic'. Indeed, the prayerful one sings with immense joy in the depths, something logical for Christians who know that these depths have already been visited by our Redeemer and sin has been defeated. Even while suffering tribulation, our heart lifts its prayer with joy, the joy of this Alleluia comes at the end of the liturgical year: the prospect of the end of time gladdens the heart of the prayerful man, who longs to meet God, his Saviour. On the other hand, it should be noted that melodically there is a connection between this Alleluia and the Gradual Liberasti nos, which is sung just before it. The intonation of the Alleluia repeats a melodic motif that is presented twice towards the end of the gradual, in the words confitebimur and saecula. Moreover, this motif appears again at the beginning of the verse and of the second phrase in Domine.

This Alleluia has one of the longest jubilus in the repertoire. Its structure is seen very clearly: the initial motif which, as we have just said, is repeated twice in the verse; another motif which is repeated three times, with a sort of coda in the third repetition; and another motif which closes the jubilus and which is also repeated with another coda in the final cadence.

The melodic movement begins in the depths of the mode, the Sol, the fundamental. In the Alleluia accent, with a graceful and slight leap of a fourth the melody rises towards the dominant, the Re, a degree further underlined by a neumatic cut.

The brief musical ornament in the Mi note helps to articulate the change of syllable and closes this first incise on the Re. In the following incise, the beautiful motif appears, full of enthusiasm and joy, which is repeated three times: it is the voice of supplication, vocem meam, my voice, of the versicle. A close analysis of this motif reveals a flowing and lively movement towards the high Fa emphazising by the neumatic notation [sic?]. A melodic descent leading the melody to the Re which closes the pressus maior and acts as a sort of axis, a transmission belt for the rhythmic-melodic movement; and a torculus resupinus flexus which leads the melodic movement back to the high Fa to end up settling it on the Re. With this motif’s repetition, the melody’s dynamic is evident: this confident supplication increases, with more enthusiasm, with greater joy, in crescendo. Then the motif is repeated a third time, at least at the beginning, because instead of the pressus functioning as an axis, here the melody rushes into the low range, and settles on the Do with a beautiful ornamentation on the La. The prayerful singer in his overflowing enthusiasm, in his joy, is gradually appeased in this descent to the low range, and the virga with episema that closes the Do incisus. The last two incises are much more moderate, but with great fervor: the rhythm is amplified, and the neumatic graphics are clear [sic?] in this sense. The second incise is a developed variation of the first, as mentioned above. The motif is made up of two beautiful curves, ascending and descending, which lead the melody peacefully towards the final cadence in Sol. The prayerful person looks up to heaven, seeks the Father’s mercy, and then bows with great reverence and devotion until he kneels in the Sol. In the last incise, the quilisma confers even more amplitude, more solemnity to this gaze of adoration in search of the Father in the heights of the mode. The prayerful one also kneels in the pes subbipunctis, but this time he even prostrates himself in the pes quassus and the pressus maior of the final coda.

From the lowest register of the piece, from the depths of the human heart, the verse starts and presents the plea: De profundis clamavi, from the depths I cried out. The motif that begins the jubilus, as we have already stated, is heard again. In the accent of clamavi, the prayerful one cries out to Heaven with a fiery and expressive ascent from the dominant, amplified by the quilisma. In effect, the melodic movement rises powerfully to the high Sol, then settles on the Fa to descend reverently to the Re from where it subsides with a graceful turn around the Re on the post-tonic syllable.

The word closes on a Do-Si cadence, which invites us to continue but also gives this plea a much more expressive nuance because of the semitonal relationship. The last incise of this first phrase, ad te Domine, to you Lord, begins with a majestic interval of a fourth, underlined by a pes quadratus: like lifting the hands in supplication towards the Lord. The soul delights in the pronoun te with great devotion, and slowly there is a wide and reverent descent, reinforced by the quilisma, from the dominant to the fundamental of the mode that resounds in the vocative Domine, in the depths of the mode. The prayerful person, once again prostrated before the Lord, sings with humility and loving tenderness.

In the second phrase, the vocative Domine reappears, and from it rises a most vehement prayer of supplication. It is the same motif as at the beginning of the piece, as we have already indicated, starting from the same depths, but here it preludes the climax of the piece, in exaudi. The supplication to be heard, exaudi, listen, receives all the weight and musical load of the clamor. A salicus of four notes, leads the melody with great firmness from the Re to the high Sol, and in the accent of the imperative exaudi a pes quadratus crowns the word on the high La. A masterful leap of a fifth, La-Re, returns the melodic movement to the range of the dominant where the rhythm is extended again with an elongated torculus, a quilismatic movement: all this prolongs the supplication. The melody undoubtedly gives the text a singular expressiveness. Until the end of this imperative, the tension is constant. It is the cry of the soul, almost a cry of anguish, the cry from the depths mentioned above, the cry that echoes all the sufferings of humanity. This is masterfully united with the voice of supplication, vocem meam, my voice, which closes the versicle. The motif of the beginning of the piece and the versicle is repeated, with great similarity (the Graduale Novum restores the torculus of vocem Sol-Do-Si, identical to those of the other melodic motifs), from the depths. After that, the jubilus’ melody unfolds again at the end of meam, and that confident, enthusiastic supplication, my supplication, and everyone’s supplication, is prolonged by the repetition of the jubilus of this sublime Alleluia chant.



LDVM









Augustin D'Oliveira, Dominica XXVa post Pentecosten VIa post Epiphaniam, Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux, Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile

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