The Recovering Choir Director

In anticipation of Saturday’s Papal Votive Mass for the Universal Church at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, here is what the 1974 Graduale Romanum—the official songbook of the ordinary form of the Latin Rite—prescribes for this Mass; it bears repeating that, according to the GIRM, the texts and music found in the Graduale Romanum are those that receive the most weight in the Latin Rite.

Determining the chants for this Mass required a bit more work; pages 650-653 of the Graduale Romanum list ten different votive Masses pro Sancta Ecclesia. However, as tomorrow is the third anniversary of Pope Benedict’s election to the pontificate, the propers below will be from the first Mass listed: Pro papa praesertim in anniversario electionis (page 650). Interestingly, there are no options for either Lent (specifically a tract) or Eastertide (specifically a second Alleluia). I have included the Alleluia from the Votive Mass for a Bishop (especially on the anniversary of his election) as a proposed second Alleluia, since Benedict is also the Bishop of Rome.

Selected audio clips of these chants, and translations of the Scripture verses cited by the proper antiphons are available after the break.

PROPER CHANTS WITH AUDIO EXAMPLES

• Introit: Statuit ei Dominus (Sirach 45:30; Psalm 132:1)
  
• Alleluia*: Tu es Petrus (Matthew 16:18)
  
• Alleluia**: Ego sum pastor bonus (John 10:14)
  
• Offertory: Veritas mea (Psalm 89:25)
  
• Communion: Simon Ioannis (John 21:15, 17)
  

*In Paschal time, an Alleluia and verse replaces the Gradual.
**From the Votive Mass for a Bishop especially on the anniversary of his election.

TRANSLATIONS

Introit: Statuit ei Dominus

Sirach 45:30

30Therefore he made to him a covenant of peace, to be the prince of the sanctuary, and of his people, that the dignity of priesthood should be to him and to his seed for ever.

Psalm 132:1

1O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness.

Alleluia: Tu es Petrus

Matthew 16:18

18And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Alleluia: Ego sum pastor bonus

John 10:14

14I am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me.

Offertory: Veritas mea

Psalm 89:25

25And my truth and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

Communion: Simon Ioannis

John 21:15,17

15When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs.

17He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep.