For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters: and from the sharp word

The First Sunday of Lent features the longest Tract in the Gregorian repertoire from the Liber Usualis. The Second Sunday of the Passion, or Palm Sunday's Deus, Deus meus is of similar length and is of the same Mode II. It is as if they are book-ends from the beginning of Lent to the Holy Week. While both can be sung in psalm-tone, if it can be managed, they should be sung as above.

Here below, it is sung in the manner in which it would have sounded before the end of the first millennium and the change in style of western chant. The chant at this time was not written down, there were no neums, no staff to put them on. The Cantor would have followed those little red markings, as above, to give him his cues but you can imagine that it was much more fluid and free-wheeling, almost letting the real Spirit, lead him. Note the sound, it is Latin text sung "as the Easterns do," but it is not Byzantine, it is Syriac. The one above, which I and others will chant today, is in the version below. You can hear it smoothed out and structured in the Old Roman Chant.

Now, imagine this. The sound you hear below is the closest thing we know to what Our Most Blessed Lord would have heard in the Temple in Jerusalem and sung Himself.

To those of you trapped in the Nervous Disorder, the great liturgical error of the Church from which She will most surely repent, this is what you should have also heard today.

In 1974, under the orders of the Pope, the Monks of Solesmes published the revised Graduale Romanum for the new calendar. Over 30 years ago, I was told by the late Emeritus Archbishop of Ottawa, that "those who long for Gregorian chant suffer from nostalgia neurosis." Well, that is not what the Second Vatican Council's document on the sacred liturgy had to say, but I digress.

Many of the Mass chants remained intact, others were reordered with different Introits or Communion antiphons for the three-year lectionary, as they often theme with the Gospel. Yet, on this day, and for all of Lent, they are the same. The option of the "Gospel Acclamation" is only an option, it is the Tract that is meet and proper. 

And if you heard "On Eagles Wing's in the nervous disorder today, then you need to find a new parish.

Psalm 90 (91)

1 Laus cantici David Qui habitat in adiutorio Altissimi in protectione Dei caeli commorabitur          

The praise of a canticle for David. He that dwelleth in the aid of the most High, shall abide under the protection of the God of Jacob.

2 Dicet Domino susceptor meus es tu et refugium meum Deus meus sperabo in eum    

He shall say to the Lord: Thou art my protector, and my refuge: my God, in him will I trust.

3 Quoniam ipse liberabit me de laqueo venantium et a verbo aspero     

For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters: and from the sharp word.

4 Scapulis suis obumbrabit te et sub pinnis eius sperabis               

He will overshadow thee with his shoulders: and under his wings thou shalt trust.

5 Scuto circumdabit te veritas eius non timebis a timore nocturno            

His truth shall compass thee with a shield: thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night.

6 A sagitta volante in die a negotio perambulante in tenebris ab incursu et daemonio meridiano               

Of the arrow that flieth in the day, of the business that walketh about in the dark: of invasion, or of the noonday devil.

7 Cadent a latere tuo mille et decem milia a dextris tuis ad te autem non ad propinquabit              

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Verumtamen oculis tuis considerabis et retributionem peccatorum videbis      

But thou shalt consider with thy eyes: and shalt see the reward of the wicked.

9 Quoniam tu Domine spes mea Altissimum posuisti refugium tuum       

Because thou, O Lord, art my hope: thou hast made the most High thy refuge.

10 Non accedent ad te mala et flagellum non ad propinquabit tabernaculo tuo  

There shall no evil come to thee: nor shall the scourge come near thy dwelling.

11 Quoniam angelis suis mandabit de te ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis       

For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 In manibus portabunt te ne forte offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum

In their hands they shall bear thee up: lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis et conculcabis leonem et draconem 

Thou shalt walk upon the asp and the basilisk: and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon.

14 Quoniam in me speravit et liberabo eum protegam eum quia cognovit nomen meum              

Because he hoped in me I will deliver him: I will protect him because he hath known my name.

15 Clamabit ad me et exaudiam eum cum ipso sum in tribulatione eripiam eum et clarificabo eum            

He shall cry to me, and I will hear him: I am with him in tribulation, I will deliver him, and I will glorify him.

16 Longitudine dierum replebo eum et ostendam illi salutare meum       

I will fill him with length of days; and I will shew him my salvation.