The Offertory for this Sunday is from Psalm 40: “Make haste, O Lord, to help me: let them be ashamed and confounded together, that seek after my soul, to destroy it: make haste, O Lord, to help me.” Later in the Psalter, this plea for protection from one’s enemies is developed more extensively. The five verses of Psalm 70 read:
Haste Thee, O God to deliver me, make haste to help me.
O Lord, let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul.
Let them be turned backward and put to confusion that wish them evil.
Let them for their reward be soon brought to shame, that cry over me: “There, there.”
But let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee,
and let all such as delight in thy salvation say alway: “The Lord be praised!”
As for me, I am poor and in misery; haste thee unto me, O God.
Thou art my help and my redeemer; O Lord, make no long tarrying. Amen.
Many times in the past, on this Sunday, our choir has sung a setting of Psalm 70 by Adrian Batten (1591–1637). This week, we’re pleased to be singing a more accomplished setting of the text by an earlier English composer of note, John Sheppard (c.1515–1558). Here is a performance of this work sung by Stile Antico.
At Communion, we’ll sing a setting of O Sacrum Convivium, one of the Eucharistic hymns by St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274). Our setting this Sunday is by Giovanni Croce (1557–1609).
O sacrum convivium, in quo Christus sumitur; recolitur memoria passionis ejus; mens impletur gratia; et futurae gloriae nobis pignus datur.
O sacred banquet, wherein Christ is received; the memorial of his passion is renewed; the soul is filled with grace; and a pledge of future glory is given to us.
This motet is sung here by the choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria (B.C.).
Here is a list of this Sunday’s hymns:
Finally, once again I’ve prepared a brief introduction to one of the cantatas that J. S. Bach composed for this Sunday: Christus, der ist mein Leben, “Christ is my life” (BWV 95). You can learn about and listen to this work (and some related compositions) here.