Ascension Sunday -- Canticorum Iubilo

19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19)


Today is Ascension Sunday commemorating the time of the Lord's ascension into heaven after 40 days of appearing to his disciples and performing miracles and signs to them. They say that this is the end of his mission--on Earth. But his mission continued in the lives of the disciples and the saints. In our own small way, we can also be living witnesses of Christ's teaching by loving one another as Christ has loved us.

While at Mass, the choir sang a song that I knew was originally written in Latin. They sang it in English. Honestly, I'd rather hear it sung in its original Latin verse. There are some English translated songs that are not entirely faithful to its original text. But more than that, I think the Latin text is much better synched with its music and musical lines compared to when you sing the song in English. The song I am referring to is Canticorum Iubilo (i.e. Let Us Sing With Joy!). It is a song that honors Christ as our King. It is a fitting opening song for today's Holy Mass. Here is the song in its Latin verse and faithful English translation.

CANTICORUM

Canticorum jubilo
Regi magno psalite

Jamresultent musica
Unda tellus sidera

Canticorum jubilo
Regi magno psalite

Personantes organis
Iubilate, plaudite

Canticorum jubilo
Regi magno psalite

 

English Translation
Let us sing aloud! Play for our reigning King!
Let the music now strikes sharp as a spear coming from on high.
Let us sing aloud! Play for our reigning King!
Let each one play his own instrument and burst aloud in praises.
Let us sing aloud! Play for our reigning King!

Psalm 132 Ecce Quam Bonum -- United in Love

This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.  No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

(John 15:12-13)

The passage above comes from today's Gospel in which the central theme of the readings is about God's Love. As Christians, we are reminded that this is the one that should characterize our actions--that we do everything out of love and our model for this love is none other than Jesus Christ.

We have many songs in Musica Sacra that pertain to God's love and one of them is Ecce Quam Bonum. This song speaks about Christian brotherhood as expressed in Psalm 132. It reminds us that this unity that we have as Christians centered on the love that Jesus has given to us through the Holy Eucharist. We united ourselves in this sacrifice of Christ in order to share in the life and be granted the grace from the Father in heaven in order to imitate his love that Christ has shown us. And this love is to "lay down one's life for one's friends"--it is not forced, but offered, not conditional, but pure giving in the spirit of generosity. Here is the Latin lyrics and it's English equivalent from Psalm 132. (source: Breviary) The rendition sang by Novo Concertante Manila is that composed by Hans Leo Hassler.

Ecce quam bonum, et quam jucúndum * habitáre fratres in unum. 2  Sicut unguéntum in cápite, * quod descéndit in barbam, barbam Aaron. 3  Quod descéndit in oram vestiménti ejus: * sicut ros Hermon, qui descéndit in montem Sion. 4  Quóniam illic mandávit Dóminus benedictiónem, * et vitam usque in sæculum.

Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is, * for brethren to dwell together in unity. 2  It is like the precious oil upon the head, * that ran down upon the beard, even upon the beard of Aaron. 3  That went down to the skirts of his clothing : * like as the dew of Hermon, which fell upon mount Sion. 4  For there the Lord hath commanded blessing, * and life for evermore.

It's truly difficult to love one's neighbor let alone to the point of laying down your life for another. But it is a challenge to all of us if we really want to love. Sometimes I hesitate to share how I feel if it means I'll end up hurting the other person. And because it is also something that hurts me, I tend to keep it. What's dangerous about it is that whatever it is that you're hiding, might eat you up or make you isolated from people who could show love to you. Hence, in cases like these, it is also good to resort to prayer. If there's anybody who'd always be willing to listen  to our cares and sufferings, that would be Jesus Christ. Because he is the one who loved us first before he even tried to save us.

My Challenging Piece: Sleep

I was about to write a blog until I realized why not just do it tomorrow. I'm home, sick and uneasy. I lost my voice today in the worst possible way. In a way, I saw it coming and I never thought it would come to pass.

Well, my sore throat began last Friday, May 4. Then...the weekend came. Money came too late. Obligations to the family set in. Change of plans disrupted some part of my weekend activities. Although it was a fun and new experience, I realized that it was the beginning of my present condition--lacking sleep.

Little did I realize that the sore throat would gravitate into a dry cough by Monday. And Tuesday was the clincher--I merely thought doing my service to the community would be enough. Oh no! I didn't stay up that late because I wanted to. I wanted to go home, badly! I wanted to sleep…(was it so wrong to ask???)

And now? Lost my voice...couldn't work...no replacement… so what now? If there will be any sleep at all it'll probably be something like this.

Sleep by Eric Whitacre (click this link for the story behind this song)

The evening hangs beneath the moon

A silver thread on darkened dune

With closing eyes and resting head

I know that sleep is coming soon

Upon my pillow, safe in bed

A thousand pictures fill my head

I cannot sleep my minds a flight

And yet my limbs seem made of lead

If there are noises in the night

A frighting shadow, flickering light

Then I surrender unto sleep

Where clouds of dreams give second sight

What dreams may come both dark and deep

Of flying wings and soaring leap

As I surrender unto sleep

As I surrender unto sleep 

This is one of my favorite challenging pieces for me. When the sopranos soar towards the end and transitions into that pianissimo "sleep", I couldn't help but wonder if I could ever sing like that again. Now, my voice isn't much. I just wish that this illness of mine would come to pass.