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MP3 2.0 MB • 128 kbps • 2:10
Story behind the song
From THE CHANTS OF THE VATICAN GRADUAL, By Dom Dominic Johner:
At the beginning of the Christmas season we referred these words
to the charm and beauty of the divine Child (see Gradual of the Sunday
after Christmas). Today, at the close of the Christmas season, these
same words glorify the Mother of the divine Infant. It has ever been the
wish of the artist to portray the exterior charm of the blessed Mother,
but never has the ideal conception of her been successfully materialized.
To comprehend fully the beauty of her soul one would needs require
eyes of faith and a soul as pure and rich in graces as Mary's. The Arch-
angel Gabriel at first sight of her exclaims: Ave, gratia plena—"Hail,
full of grace." This angelic salutation is developed and paraphrased in
the first phrase of the Offertory. The term plena corresponds to diffusa.
Would that we might sing this melody with the reverence and glowing
love of the Archangel! Following the low-pitched and rather reserved
introduction, gratia continues in a bright, ascending melody. The cli-
macus here and over Idbi-(is) later must be sung crescendo. Tuis modu-
lates into a full step below the tonic. The second phrase, which is a
development of the Archangel Gabriel's benedicta tu, terminates in the
same manner. Following the ascending intervals of a fourth in the first
phrase we have here descending intervals of a fourth. The melody
c d cc g a is re-echoed in the following g b aa g g a. Deus should be given
the expression it demands. The word aeternum is accorded particular
splendor. The preceding torculi c d c reach their climax in d e c. The
final cadence should be sung broadly.
In the third and final phrase the singer, dwelling emphatically on
high c, would conclude his pean by describing for us eternity, endless
in extent. As in the second phrase, the neums here should be given pre-
cedence over the bistropha and tristropha. This finale is well rounded
off, having a conclusion similar to that of the first two phrases. The
Lessons of some feasts of the Blessed Virgin ascribe to her the words:
"I shall not cease in all eternity." And truly, she will be blessed for all
eternity and will ever be the dispenser, the mediatrix of blessings. She
will never cease to console, to succor, and to heal.
The present feast invests the person of the Mother of God with a
peculiar charm. She appears as if transfigured by sorrow. She realizes
what the offering of her Son in the temple presages, for she hears there
the ominous words: "And thy own soul a sword shall pierce." And addi-
tional beauty and charm is imparted to her soul by the royal response:
Fiat—Be it done. As the Mother of Sorrows she becomes the fountain-
head of blessing and consolation for mankind.
In the oldest manuscripts this melody is noted on the feast of St.
Agnes (January 21). The tempo should be bright, the rendition light
and airy.
Lyrics
OFFERTORY (Ps. 44: 3)
1. Diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis
2. propterea benedixit te Deus in
aeternum, 3. et in saeculum saeculi.
1. Grace is poured abroad in thy
lips: 2. therefore hath God blessed
thee forever, 3. and for ages of ages.
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