4 May 2014, 3rd Sunday of Easter (Year A)
Introit: Jubilate Deo, begin on G (as sol)
Offertory: O Thou the heavens eternal King, p. 357, begin on E♭
Communion (Year A): Surrexit Dominus, begin on E (as la)
May Crowning (see Order & prayers below):
Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above, V2H, p. 261
Bring flowers of the fairest, (cf. pdf below)
Recessional: Regina Caeli, PBC, p. 121, begin on E♭ (as fa)
Dismissal from Mass I, as in Paschaltide apart from the Octave and Pentecost, PBC, p. 48.
Mass I (Lux et origo) PBC, p. 46ff. Credo III, PBC, p. 77ff.
There are four phrases in the Introit antiphon:
- Jubilate Deo omnis terra, alleluia:
- psalmum dicite nomini ejus, alleluia:
- date gloriam laudi ejus
- alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
A twofold division is made by the melody. The first part is subdivided by the imperatives, Jubilate, dicite, and date. Each of these words in its own way strives upward to c, and each has its last syllable on f , the lowest note of this first part. The first and third phrases close on the tonic; the close of the second on a is a pleasing variation, the first part of whose alleluia repeats the motif of psalmum. This alleluia may also be found in Introits of the third mode, such as that of Wednesday after Pentecost. We may consider the motif over dicite as a model for the extension over nomini ejus and gloriam laudi ejus. The threefold alleluia constituting the second part is in effect another imperative: the word means 'Praise the Lord!' But the melodic line differs from the imperatives above. First it descends to d, then to c, and finally soars upward with impelling force to c. Although the melody has a rather limited range (the first part confines itself to a fifth), it still impresses. With its numerous fourths, it work to propel us into that atmosphere of joy with which it is itself filled. And omnis terra is stressed vigorously, for all the earth is to join in this jubilation, starting with us and spreading to all we meet.
(Year A) The Communion antiphon is a single phrase:
Surrexit Dominus, et apparuit Petro, alleluia.
Today's Gospel says, ‘The Lord has appeared to Simon’; the Communion text, however, uses the name Peter, which is more familiar to the people. St. Peter's church was the station of today's solemn service. How great is the forgiving love of the Saviour as shown by this appearance! He is almost compelled to demonstrate this love to St. Peter even on the feast of Easter. To us also the Risen One has appeared today in Holy Communion.
In the melody, apparuit seems like an inversion of the final motif over (Domi)- nus. In an alleluia unusually long for a Communion, grateful joy finds expression for the love shown us in the redemption. To d c a b c corresponds a b a g c. It was only to avoid the key b♭ that the melody was transposed a fifth higher.
Order for the May Crowning (Done at the end of Mass on the first Sunday of May)
All sing the first verse of Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above, V2H, p. 261, as the ministers leave the altar and process to Our Lady's statue. After that, the celebrant will say:
Celebrant: As we begin the month of May this year while celebrating the glorious Season of Easter, we wish to add to our joy in praising the Risen Christ by carrying out a special act in honor of his Holy Mother, crowning this image of Saint Mary of Victories, Patroness of our church. This image reminds us of the close ties of Mary to Christ and his Church. First of all, she is Christ’s Mother, the Mother of the visible image of the invisible god. But she is also the image and the model of the Church, and she is its exemplar. In Mary the Church joyously contemplates the image of all that the Church itself desire and hopes wholly to be. The Church recognizes in Mary the model of the path and the practice it must follow to reach complete union with Christ. As the Spouse of Christ, the Church raises its eyes to Mary, the exemplar it must look to in carrying out the work of the apostolate. We should strive to take part in this service with the greatest intensity and reverent devotion.
The statue is crowned while all sing the crowning hymn, Bring flowers of the fairest.
When the hymn ends, the celebrant says:
Celebrant: Let us ask Mary to pray for us saying:
(All then pray together:)
Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope!
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Celebrant: Almighty God and Father, you have given us the mother of your Son to be our queen and mother.
With the support of her prayers, may we come to share the glory of your children in the kingdom of heaven.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
As a recessional hymn, all sing the Regina Caeli as listed above with its conclusion led by the celebrant:
V. Gaude et laetare Virgo Maria, alleluia.
R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.
Oremus. Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: †: praesta, quaesumus, ut per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam*, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.
