Reflection 6: Treasures at the back of Catholic Book of Worship III

Reflection 6 of our Annual Musicians Retreat considers the canticles (biblical songs located outside of the Psalter) found at the back of Catholic Book of Worship III.

660 – Blessed Be the God of Israel (Luke 1: 65-79), the Canticle of Zechariah

674 – 678 Various settings of the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), the Canticle of Mary

680 – Lord God, You Now Have Set Your Servant Free (Luke 2: 29-32), the Canticle of Simeon.

683 – All Power Is Yours (Revelation 19:1-7)

684 – Bless the Lord (Daniel 3: 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)

685 – Splendour and Honour (Revelation 4:11, 5:-10, 13)

687 – Though in the Form of God (Philippians 2: 6-11)

687 – Though in the Form of God (Philippians 2: 6-11)

Anticipates in a shorter form St. Augustine’s meditation on the incarnation a few centuries later:

With the Father, 
he came before all time’s ages; 
from an earthly mother, 
on this day, 
he entered the cycle of the years. 
Humanity’s Maker
was made human 
so that the Ruler of the stars 
might suck at the breast, 
the Bread might go hungry, 
the Fountain be thirsty, 
the Light fall asleep, 
the Way tire from the journey, 
the Truth be accused 
by false witnesses, 
the Judge 
of the living and the dead 
be tried before a mortal judge, 
Justice be condemned 
by the unjust, 
Mastery be scourged with whips, 
the Grape-cluster 
be crowned with thorns, 
the Foundation 
be hung from a cross, 
Power be weakened, 
Salvation be wounded, 
and Life be brought to death.
(St. Augustine, (Sermon 191 1)

Questions for Reflection

Re-read St. Augustine’s reflection. Which “couplet” holds most meaning for you? What does it touch in you/for you?

What are your experiences of giving and receiving self-emptying love?

How does “self-empyting love” as the prism through which you see the paschal mystery shift your understanding of that mystery?

683 – All Power Is Yours (Revelation 19:1-7)

Another treasure in the back of the book is number 683, “All Power Is Yours.” 

Like “Though in the Form of God,” this setting is unique to Catholic Book of Worship III.

This piece is one of few examples for the Roman Catholic liturgy of the musical form, the troparion.

For more information on this form, and how to perform it, see the David Pitt article from Celebrate! The journal that make liturgy come alive.

Question for Discipleship

What might it mean to become these canticles?