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Views from the Choir Loft

Sequence During the Octave of Easter

Richard J. Clark · March 31, 2016

HE SECOND SUNDAY of Easter (also known as “Divine Mercy Sunday”) is the “Octave of Easter,” the eighth day of the Easter celebration. The Christian concept of celebrating feast days as “octaves” most likely grew from the Jewish practice of observing seven and sometimes eight day feasts. By the fourth century, the feasts of Easter and Pentecost were given “octaves”—an eight day celebration that lasted from Sunday to Sunday. In particular, the neophytes, those newly baptized in the Church, remained in a joyful retreat until the Second Sunday of Easter. In practical terms, what does this “octave” mean? Each day of the Octave of Easter is as important and carries the same liturgical weight as Easter Sunday itself. Each day this week—from Sunday to Sunday is a solemnity. At each Mass, the Gloria, the Church’s hymn of praise, is sung or recited. The Gospel verse each weekday mass during the octave is the same: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” This proclamation is an important reminder of the central reality of our faith: Christ is risen! Alleluia! Each day of the octave, it has been an ancient custom to sing the 11th century sequence Victimae Paschali Laudes, a poetic liturgical hymn. (Download score with translation here. Listen here)

My colleague has posted a free organ accompaniment:

*  Free Download • “Victimæ Paschali Laudes”

This ancient hymn tells the story of death and life locked in a struggle, wherein Christ, the Paschal victim, victorious over death, reconciles us to the Father. It tells the story of Mary Magdalene, who upon finding the empty tomb of the risen Christ and of finding the clothes which once covered his head and limbs, proclaims “Christ my hope has arisen.”

• Mini History of Sequences by Fr. David Friel


Some clarification for the Ordinary Form:

Check the Ordo in your diocese. From the Ordo in the Archdiocese of Boston:
1 • Under the heading “EASTER SEASON”:
“The sequence Victimae paschali, obligatory at Mass on Easter Sunday, is optional on the other days of the octave.”

From the GIRM:
2 • 64. The Sequence which, except on Easter Sunday and on Pentecost Day, is optional, is sung before the Alleluia


Clarification for the Extraordinary Form:

3 • In the Extraordinary Form there are two important differences: Victimae paschali is specifically listed in the Missal each day of the Octave of Easter (through Saturday) and is therefore not optional. However, it does not appear on the Second Sunday and is not allowable then as it in the Ordinary Form. Secondly, it is sung after the Alleluia, not before as in the Ordinary Form (as it is an extension of the Jubilis in the Alleluia.)

ICTIMAE PASCHALI LAUDES is also one of the most accessible chants both for a congregation to absorb and for a schola to sing. It bears repetition, and is one of the great jewels of the Church. I still get chills every time we sing, “Dic nobis Maria,Quid vidisti in via?” “Tell us, Mary, what did you see upon the way?” “Sepulcrum Christi viventis, et gloriam vidi resurgentis” “I saw the sepulchre of the living Christ; I saw the glory of the Risen One…”

Singing (or reading) the sequence Victimae Paschali Laudes is truly appropriate every day this week. We will sing it at St. Cecilia Parish on Divine Mercy Sunday as we have for several years. It will be sung at the Jesuit Community Mass at Boston College during the Octave.

Like Mary, we are filled with joy because Christ our hope has arisen. We are redeemed. We are a saved people!

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Here is a recording of the Sequence by The University of Notre Dame Liturgical Choir from Easter Sunday 2012 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Indiana. This is a different approach which includes massive pipe organ interludes. The beautiful Alleluia follows:

Victimae paschali laudes
Let Christians offer sacrificial praises

immolent Christiani.
to the passover victim.

Agnus redemit oves:
The Lamb has redeemed the sheep:

Christus innocens Patri
the innocent Christ has reconciled

reconciliavit peccatores.
the sinners to the Father.

Mors et vita duello
Death and life contended

conflixere mirando:
in a spectacular battle:

dux vitae mortuus,
the Prince of life, who died,

regnat vivus.
reigns alive.

Dic nobis Maria,
Tell us, Mary,

quid vidisti in via?
what did you see on the road?

Sepulcrum Christi viventis,
“I saw the tomb of the living Christ

et gloriam vidi resurgentis,
and the glory of his rising,

Angelicos testes,
the angelic witnesses,

sudarium, et vestes.
the Shroud and the clothes.

Surrexit Christus spes mea:
Christ my hope is arisen:

praecedet suos in Galilaeam.
into Galilee, he will go before his own.”

Scimus Christum surrexisse
We know Christ is risen

a mortuis vere:
truly from the dead:

Tu nobis, victor Rex, miserere!
To us, victorious King, have mercy!

 

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: April 5, 2021

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About Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)
    I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

Some are called not to much speaking, | nor to conversations about the Church, | but, rather, to a deep silence | and to a life hidden in the heart of the Church, | far from wrangling tongues, from speculations, and discord. […] This is the essence of a Eucharistic monastic life.

— Fr. Mark Daniel Kirby (Meditation on Colossians 3:3)

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