The Recovering Choir Director

O Rex Gentium

December 22, 2003 by Aristotle A. Esguerra — 2 comments
Other posts on December 22

Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) Antiphon for December 22 Vespers.

Ant. O King of the Nations,
and the one they desired,
keystone who makes both peoples one,
come and save mankind,
whom you shaped from the mud.

From the Dominican Antiphonarum. (RealPlayer G2)

[Via The Inn at the End of the World.]

Luke 1:46-55
View in: NAB Vulg Greek

46And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.

47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.

50And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.

51He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

52He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.

53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:

55As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

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Tags: Gregorian Chant; The "O" Antiphons.

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1. Marie says:

   December 23, 2003 at 8:08 pm

   Hi, A.A.E. -

   Now that we’re done with the “O” Antiphons, can you take up the sticky subject of the Christmas Martyrology? i.e., “Proclamation of the Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ” at the start of the Christmas Midnight Mass.

   In my parish, it’s done in three languages – English, Spanish, and Pilipino. Time was when I was trying to tuck the bulky Pilipino translation into the slim chant of “Cogitationes cordis” or even “Unus militum,”(an idea not too far off from what “Flowing Waters” has done for English antiphons.) I managed – sort of – but developed cold feet, that by Christmas eve, I could only recite it like a poem.

   It would be interesting to know how the writer of the proclamation knew that it was so many thousands of years – for instance – from the creation of Adam to the call of Abraham, and so many thousands from Abraham to the Babylonian captivity, etc.? I’ve been combing the internet, including New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia for the origin of the Christmas martyrology and came up with absolutely zero.

   And the only chant – in English – that I found was in the same Dominican Order website that you found the “O’s.”

   Thanks and Magandang Pasko.

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2. Liam says:

   December 24, 2003 at 8:23 am

   Each day’s passage from The Roman Martyrology was traditionally recited during the office of Prime, which was suppressed after Vatican II (except for the customary usages of a variety of religious orders that maintained it). In monastic practice, Prime followed Lauds and preceded daily Mass.

   The new Roman martyrology provides a few different liturgical options for the recitation with the Office of Readings, I believe, as well as apart from the Liturgy of the Hours.

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