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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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Richard J. Clark

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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Can You Spare 33 Seconds?

Here’s an audio excerpt (33 seconds) of a setting for Kyrie VIII which was recorded live last Sunday at our parish in Los Angeles. The setting (“Missa de Angelis”) is by composer Richard Rice, and you can download the free PDF if you click here and scroll to the bottom. I think Richard’s composition is marvelous. I missed a few notes on the organ, but I’ll get them right next time.

—Jeff Ostrowski
5 April 2021 • When Girls Sing

Covid restrictions here in California are still extremely severe—switching “two weeks to flatten the curve” into “two years to flatten the curve.” Since 2020, we’ve had police breaking into our church to check if everyone is wearing a mask…even when only 5-6 people are present! But we were allowed to have a small percentage of our singers back on Easter Sunday, and here is their live recording of the ancient Catholic hymn for Eastertide: Ad Cenam Agni Providi. The girls were so very excited to sing again—you can hear it in their voices!

—Jeff Ostrowski
29 March 2021 • FEEDBACK

“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families receiving Low Masses twice a month to several families (and many individuals) receiving Mass every Sunday, two Saturdays a month, and every Holy Day. Our priest has been incorporating more and more High Masses and various ceremonies into our lives, which has made my job as a huge newbie choir master very trying and complicated. CCWatershed has been an invaluable resource in helping me get on my feet and know what to do!!! Thank you more than I can express! May God bless you abundantly and assist you in your work and daily lives!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The main place should be given, all things being equal, to gregorian chant, as being proper to the roman Liturgy. Other kinds of sacred music, in particular polyphony, are in no way excluded, provided that they correspond to the spirit of the liturgical action and that they foster the participation of all the faithful.”

— ‘2011 GIRM, §41 (Roman Missal, 3rd Edition)’

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