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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Exsultet Video Recording • Paschal Proclamation • Plus MP3 Recordings!

Jeff Ostrowski · February 23, 2012

Easter Proclamation (Exsultet)
Third Edition of the Roman Missal

At a lower pitch:
Video (High Quality) • Video (YouTube)

At a higher pitch:
Video (High Quality) • Video (YouTube)

MP3 Recordings:
(lower pitch) • (higher pitch)

An additional MP3 by Brad Barnhorst, courtesy CMAA.

The music for the Easter Proclamation (Exsultet), in both its short and long form, can be downloaded from the ICEL musical settings website. Free organ accompaniments for the ICEL setting of the Mass (Roman Missal, 3rd Edition) can be downloaded here.

Go to the Exsultet Website: CLICK HERE

Additional Versions:

   1. MP3 with the “Shorter Form” of the Exsultet, courtesy Diocese of Portsmouth.

   2. MP3 by Brad Barnhorst, courtesy CMAA.

   3. Video by Fr. Jonathan Gaspar.

   4. Gregorian PDF score, courtesy Janet Gorbitz.

   5. Gregorian PDF score in large print, courtesy Alastair Tocher.

   6. Short Form (Gregorian PDF score) in large print, courtesy Alastair Tocher.

Exsúltet jam angélica turba cælórum: exsúltent divína mystéria: et pro tanti Regis victória tuba ínsonet salutáris. Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven, exult, let Angel ministers of God exult, let the trumpet of salvation sound aloud our mighty King’s triumph!
Gáudeat et tellus tantis irradiáta fulgóribus: et, ætérni Regis splendóre illustráta, totíus orbis se séntiat amisísse calíginem. Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King, let all corners of the earth be glad, knowing an end to gloom and darkness.
Lætétur et mater Ecclésia, tanti lúminis adornáta fulgóribus: et magnis populórum vócibus hæc aula resúltet. Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice, arrayed with the lighting of his glory, let this holy building shake with joy, filled with the mighty voices of the peoples.
[ Quaprópter astántes vos, fratres caríssimi, ad tam miram hujus sancti lúminis claritátem,
una mecum, quæso, Dei omnipoténtis misericórdiam invocáte. Ut, qui me non meis méritis intra Levitárum númerum dignátus est aggregáre, lúminis sui claritátem infúndens, cérei hujus laudem implére perfíciat. ]
 [ Therefore, dearest friends, standing in the awesome glory of this holy light, invoke with me, I ask you, the mercy of God almighty, that he who has been pleased to number me, though unworthy, among the Levites, may pour into me his light unshadowed, that I may sing this candle’s perfect praises. ]
[ V. Dóminus vobíscum. R. Et cum spíritu tuo. The Lord be with you. And with your spirit.]
V. Sursum corda. R. Habémus ad Dóminum. V. Lift up your hearts. R. We lift them up to the Lord.
V. Grátias agámus Dómino Deo nostro. R. Dignum et iustum est. V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. R. It is right and just.
Vere dignum et iustum est, invisíbilem Deum Patrem omnipoténtem Filiúmque ejus Unigénitum, Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, toto cordis ac mentis afféctu et vocis ministério personáre. Qui pro nobis ætérno Patri Adæ débitum solvit, et véteris piáculi cautiónem pio cruóre detérsit. It is truly right and just, with ardent love of mind and heart, and with devoted service of our voice, to acclaim our God invisible, the almighty Father, and Jesus Christ, our Lord, his Son, his Only Begotten. Who for our sake paid Adam’s debt to the eternal Father, and pouring out his own dear Blood wiped clean the record of our ancient sinfulness.
Hæc sunt enim festa paschália, in quibus verus ille Agnus occíditur, cujus sánguine postes fidélium consecrántur. These then are the feasts of Passover, in which is slain the Lamb, the one true Lamb, whose Blood anoints the doorposts of believers.
Hæc nox est, in qua primum patres nostros, fílios Israel edúctos de Ægýpto, Mare Rubrum sicco vestígio transíre fecísti. This is the night, when once you led our forebears, Israel’s children, from slavery in Egypt and made them pass dry-shod through the Red Sea.
Hæc ígitur nox est, quæ peccatórum ténebras colúmnæ illuminatióne purgávit. This is the night that with a pillar of fire banished the darkness of sin.
Hæc nox est, quæ hódie per univérsum mundum in Christo credéntes, a vítiis saéculi et calígine peccatórum segregátos, reddit grátiæ, sóciat sanctitáti. This is the night that even now, throughout the world, sets Christian believers apart from worldly vices and from the gloom of sin, lending them to grace, and joining them to his holy ones.
Hæc nox est, in qua, destrúctis vínculis mortis, Christus ab ínferis victor ascéndit. Nihil enim nobis nasci prófuit, nisi rédimi profuísset. This is the night when Christ broke the prison-bars of death, and rose victorious from the underworld. Our birth would have been no gain, had we not been redeemed.
O mira circa nos tuæ pietátis dignátio! O inæstimábilis diléctio caritátis: ut servum redímeres, Fílium tradidísti! O certe necessárium Adæ peccátum, quod Christi morte delétum est! O wonder of your humble care for us! O love, O charity beyond all telling, to ransom a slave you gave away your Son! O truly necessary sin of Adam, destroyed completely by the Death of Christ!
O felix culpa, quæ talem ac tantum méruit habére Redemptórem! O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!
O vere beáta nox, quæ sola méruit scire tempus et horam, in qua Christus ab ínferis resurréxit! O truly blessed night, worthy alone to know the time and hour when Christ rose from the underworld!
Hæc nox est, de qua scriptum est: Et nox sicut dies illuminábitur: et nox illuminátio mea in delíciis meis. This is the night of which it is written: The night shall be as bright as day, dazzling is the night for me, and full of gladness.
Hujus ígitur sanctificátio noctis fugat scélera, culpas lavat: et reddit innocéntiam lapsis et mæstis lætítiam. Fugat ódia, concórdiam parat et curvat impéria. The sanctifying power of this night dispels all wickedness, washes faults away, restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners, drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings down the mighty.
In hujus ígitur noctis grátia, súscipe, sancte Pater, laudis hujus sacrifícium vespertínum, quod tibi in hac cérei oblatióne sollémni, per ministrórum manus de opéribus apum, sacrosáncta reddit Ecclésia. On this, your night of grace, O holy Father, accept this candle, a solemn offering, the work of bees and of your servants’ hands, an evening sacrifice of praise, this gift from your most holy Church.
Sed iam colúmnæ hujus præcónia nóvimus, quam in honórem Dei rútilans ignis accéndit. But now we know the praises of this pillar, which glowing fire ignites for God’s honor,
Qui, licet sit divísus in partes, mutuáti tamen lúminis detriménta non novit. a fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light,
Alitur enim liquántibus ceris, quas in substántiam pretiósæ hujus lámpadis apis mater edúxit. for it is fed by melting wax, drawn out by mother bees to build a torch so precious.
O vere beáta nox, in qua terrénis cæléstia, humánis divína iungúntur! O truly blessed night, when things of heaven are wed to those of earth, and divine to the human.
Orámus ergo te, Dómine, ut céreus iste in honórem tui nóminis consecrátus, ad noctis hujus calíginem destruéndam, indefíciens persevéret. Therefore, O Lord, we pray you that this candle, hallowed to the honor of your name, may persevere undimmed, to overcome the darkness of this night.
Et in odórem suavitátis accéptus, supérnis lumináribus misceátur. Receive it as a pleasing fragrance, and let it mingle with the lights of heaven.
Flammas ejus lúcifer matutínus invéniat: Ille, inquam, lúcifer, qui nescit occásum: May this flame be found still burning by the Morning Star: the one Morning Star who never sets,
Christus Fílius tuus, qui, regréssus ab ínferis, humáno géneri serénus illúxit, Christ your Son, who coming back from death’s domain has shed his peaceful light on humanity
et vivit et regnat in saécula sæculórum. Amen. and lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Easter Proclamation (Exsultet)

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Exsultet, MP3, Recording Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The literal translation: “Lord, have mercy—Christ, have mercy,” does not offer much material for an acceptable song text. The words, not having any feminine syllables, are abrupt; the sounds are almost all muted and colorless; the rhythmic flow is too brief. So many people may prefer responses that further extend the song of the assembly, e.g., “Have pity on us, Lord” or “Pardon us and change our hearts.

— J. Gelineau attacking the KYRIE ELEYSON (page 64 in “Learning to Celebrate,” 1985)

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