medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Offertorium – 19
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the chants for Quinquagesima,
the Sunday before Lent, is that they do not draw on the readings for
the day. The first of these is St Paul’s First Letter to the
Corinthians, chapter 13 – ‘The Greatest of these is Charity’ – one of
the most striking passages of the New Testament. The Gospel is Luke
18:31-43, which begins with Christ’s prediction of his own passion, and
goes on to describe the cure of a blind beggar. There is not hint of
any of these remarkable themes in the antiphons, unless perhaps we
might say that the cry of the blind man, ‘Fili David, miserere mei’ is
reflected in the various cries for help found in the chants.
The Introit for Quinquagesima, continues the theme of calling on God
for protection. The Antiphon is Psalm 30, verse 34, and the psalm verse
is verse 2 (in reality, the first verse) of the same psalm:
Esto mihi in Deum protectorem, et in locum refugii, ut salvum me
facias: quoniam firmamentum meum, et refugium meum es tu: et propter
nomen tuum dux mihi eris, et enutries me.
In te, Domine, speravi, non confundar in aeternum: in justitia tua
libera me, et eripe me.
The Gradual, ps. 76, verses 15 and 16, praises God for the marvels he
has already done, rather than calling on him to come to the aid of his
suppliant; moreover, it is no longer a personal appeal, but speaks of
‘your people, the sons of Israel’:
Tu es Deus qui facis mirabilia solus: notam fecisti in gentibus
virtutem tuam.
Liberasti in brachio tuo populum tuum, filios Israel, et Joseph.
The tract is from that serviceable psalm, no 99 verses 1-2 ‘Be joyful
in God all the earth’ taking us back to the ethos of the Sundays after
Epiphany:
Jubilate Deo omnis terra: servite Domino in laetitia.
Intrate in conspectu eius in exsultatione: scitote, quod Dominus ipse
est Deus.
Ipse fecit nos, et non ipsi nos: nos autem populus eius, et oves
pascuae eius.
The Offertorium is from that psalm for all seasons, no 118, by far the
longest in the psalter. Here we have verses 12-13:
Benedictus es, Domine, doce me justificationes tuas: in labiis meis
pronuntiavi omnia judicia oris tui.
The Communio is unusual among those we have examined so far in that it
does actually have a eucharistic reference: ‘They ate, and were greatly
satisfied.’ It is from psalm 77:29-30
Manducaverunt, et saturati sunt nimis, et desiderium eorum attulit eis
Dominus: non sunt fraudati a desiderio suo.
Altogether the chants, except for the Introit, have little reference to
the Mass for the day and could turn up on any Sunday of the year.
Unless, that is, any of you can spot correspondences that elude me.
Bill.
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