28 September 2014, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
Introit (Year A): In nomine Domini, begin on D (as mi)
Offertory: O Lord I am not worthy, p. 304, begin on D
Communion: Memento verbi tui, begin on F (as fa)
Recessional: All people that on earth do dwell, p. 204, begin on G.
Mass XI, PBC p. 58. Credo III, PBC p. 77
The Introit has three phrases:
- (a) In nomine Domini omne genu flectatur
(b) caelestium, terrestrium, et infernorum - quia Dominus factus oboediens usque ad mortem mortem autem crucis
- ideo Dominus Jesus christus in gloria est Dei Patris.
This is the Introit for Wednesday of Holy Week, sung in Year A to reflect today’s 2nd reading from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians, from which the text is taken.
The Communion antiphon has two short quick phrases:
- Memento verbi tui servo tuo, Domine, in quo mihi spem dedisti
- haec me consolata est in humilitate mea.
In today's Offertory Super flumina there is a breath of Memento mori. In the Communion we ask God to remember us, but we do it humbly and reservedly, as the repentant thief on the cross spoke his memento request. The three similar endings: Domine, dedisti, and mea, reflect quiet and confidence. The turning of the clivisover Domini into a pes is necessitated by the low d which opens the following melody. Large ascending intervals would be disturbing; hence the melody avoids them. Servo with its descending fourth gives a pleasing development: second a-g, third a-f, fourth g-d. The accentuation of the dominant is the only evidence that our hearts are really beating somewhat more rapidly. With its b and its pressus, the second phrase has about it something new, something reassuring, which soars above the entire preceding melodic line. It restricts itself to intervals of seconds. The half-step progressions toward the end agree admirably with the text. It is a humble prayer, one which encourages us to rely entirely on the grace of God.
Dom Mocquereau commented that this piece shows how plainsong prefers to treat the principal word-accent lightly and briefly; as in verbi tui servo and mihi; this practice extends even to the secondary accent over consolata.
