Propers
Psalms from the Daily Office
Hymns for Trinity Sunday
Motets and cantatas
John Keble, “Trinity Sunday”
Propers
Introit
Benedicta sit. Tobit 12
Blessed be the holy Trinity, and the undivided Unity: we will praise and glorify him him, because he hath shewed his mercy upon us. [Psalm 8] O Lord our Governour: how excellent is thy Name in all the world. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen. Blessed be the holy Trinity . . .
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity: we beseech thee; that thou wouldest keep us stedfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.
Epistle
Revelation 4:1-11
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Gradual
[Daniel 3] Blessed art thou, O Lord, which beholdest the great deep, and sittest upon the Cherubim. Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven: and above all to be praised and glorified for ever.
Alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: and worthy to be praised for evermore. Alleluia.
Gospel
St. John 3:1-15
At that time: 1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Offertory
[Tobit 12] Blessed be God the Father, and the only-begotten Son of God, and blessed be the Holy Spirit: for the mercy he hath done unto us.
Communion
[Tobit 12] Let us bless the God of heaven, and in the sight of all living will we give thanks unto him: because he hath done to usward after his loving-kindness.
Psalms from the Daily Office
Below are plainsong renditions of the Psalms as published in the Saint Dunstan’s Plainsong Psalter.
Sunday
Afferte Domino, filii Dei
Dominus regnavit: irascantur populi
Exultate, justi
Cantate Domino canticum novum
Jubilate Deo, omnis terra
Laudate Dominum, de cælis
Laudate Dominum in sanctis ejus
Monday
Quare fremuerunt gentes?
Domine, quid multiplicati?
Cum invocarem exaudivit me
Domine Dominus noster quam admirabile
Tuesday
Verba mea auribus percipe
Conserva me, Domine
Exaudiat te Dominus
Wednesday
Domine Deus meus in te speravi
Ad te, Domine, levavi
Thursday
Confitebor tibi Domine, in toto corde meo
Dominus, illuminatio mea
Friday
Ut quid, Domine, recessisti longe?
Domine, ne in furore tuo
Judica me, Domine
Saturday
Usquequo, Domine, oblivisceris me?
Dixit insipiens in corde suo
Afferte Domino, filii Dei
Exaltabo te, Domine
Hymns for Trinity Sunday
“Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty” (#266)
“I bind unto myself today” (#268)
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord” (#270)
“Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty” (#266)
The processional hymns in our Trinity Sunday service is often “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty” (#266). It was written by Reginald Heber (1783-1826), a scholar (fellow of All Souls, Oxford), priest (rector of a parish in Shropshire for sixteen years), and bishop of Calcutta from 1823 until his death. As bishop of Calcutta, all of India was his diocese. An admirer of the hymns of John Newton and William Cowper, Heber was one of the first High Church Anglicans to write his own hymns.
The tune associated with this hymn is named NICAEA, and was composed especially for use with Heber’s text by John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876). A gifted organist and an ordained deacon, Heber composed a number of services (i.e., settings of all the canticles used in Morning and Evening Prayer), anthems, and hymn tunes. Our Hymnal contains 22 of his tunes, more than is included by any other composer.
Here is “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty” sung by the choir of King’s College, Cambridge, conducted by Stephen Cleobury.
“I bind unto myself today” (#268)
This vigorous hymn attributed to St. Patrick is discussed at length on this page.
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord” (#270)
This lesser-known hymn was written by Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885), the bishop of Lincoln, the nephew of the poet William Wordsworth, and the most celebrated Greek scholar of his day. In 1862, he published a collection of his verse in The Holy Year, or, Hymns for Sundays and Holy Days throughout the Year. “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord” was the Trinity Sunday hymn in that volume. The tune to which it is sung by Edward J. Hopkins (1818-1901) is named ST. ATHANASIUS, a fitting name as that saint was a great defender of orthodox belief concerning the Trinity.
Two of the stanza’s from Wordsworth’s original are omitted from our Hymnal;. they were placed before what we sing as the sixth, doxological stanza. All eight stanzas from the original are presented below.
1 Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord
God of hosts, Eternal King,
By the heavens and earth adored!
Angels and archangels sing,
Chanting everlastingly
To the blessèd Trinity.
2. Since by Thee were all things made,
And in Thee do all things live,
Be to Thee all honor paid;
Praise to Thee let all things give,
Singing everlastingly
To the blessèd Trinity.
3. Thousands, tens of thousands stand,
Spirits blest before Thy throne,
Speeding thence at Thy command;
And, when Thy command is done,
Singing everlastingly
To the blessèd Trinity.
4. Cherubim and seraphim
Veil their faces with their wings;
Eyes of angels are too dim
To behold the King of kings,
While they sing eternally
To the blessèd Trinity.
5. Thee, apostles, prophets, Thee,
Thee, the noble martyr band,
Praise with solemn jubilee,
Thee, the Church in every land;
Singing everlastingly,
To the blessèd Trinity.
6. In Thy Name baptiz’d are we.
With Thy Blessing are dismiss’d ;
And Thrice-Holy chant to Thee
In the holy Eucharist ;
Life is one Doxology
To the blessèd Trinity.
7. To the Father and the Son,
Who for us did deign to die;
And to God the Holy One,
Who the Church doth sanctify;
Sing we with glad Jubilee,
Hallelujah! Lord, to Thee.
8. Alleluia! Lord, to Thee,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Three in One, and One in Three,
Join we with the heavenly host,
Singing everlastingly
To the blessèd Trinity.
Motets and cantatas
Orlande de Lassus, Tibi laus, tibi gloria
Felice Anerio, Tibi laus, tibi gloria
Peter Philips, Tibi laus, tibi gloria
Luca Marenzio, Te Deum Patrem ingenitum
Tomás Luis de Victoria, Benedicta sit Sancta Trinitas
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Benedictus sit Deus
Mikołaj Zielenski, Benedicimus Deum coeli
Dieterich Buxtehude, O lux beata, trinitas et principalis unitas
J. S. Bach, Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott (“Praised be the Lord”)
James MacMillan, Benedicimus Deum cæli
Andrej Makor, O lux beata, trinitas et principalis unitas (two settings)
Orlande de Lassus, Tibi laus, tibi gloria
This is the text of a responsory traditionally sung during Matins (the earliest office of the day, historically sung around 2 AM) on Trinity Sunday:
Tibi laus, tibi gloria, tibi gratiarum actio in saecula sempiterna [saeculorum], O beata Trinitas.
To you be praise, to you be glory, to you be thanksgiving, for ever and ever, O blessed Trinity.
Et benedictum nomen gloriae tuae sanctum: et laudabile et super exaltatum in saecula.
And blessed is the Holy Name of your glory, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Amen.
Below are three settings of this text, the first by Orlande de Lassus (1532-1594). In the second half of his setting, Lassus substituted the text of a sequence hymn for Trinity Sunday. The text is joyous and Lassus’s music exessed the delight present in the words:
Da gaudiorum praemia,
Give the prize of joy,
da gratiarum munera,
give the rewards of grace,
dissolve litis vincula,
break the chains of conflict,
astringe pacis foedera.
bind fast the cords of peace.
The King’s Singers
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Felice Anerio, Tibi laus, tibi gloria
Felice Anerio (1560-1614) wrote an 8-part setting of this respsonsory. It alternates between passages where all eight parts sing at once and sections where one 4-part choir sings a phrase, answered by the other 4 parts.
The Huelgas Ensemble, Paul Van Nevel, conductor
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Peter Philips, Tibi laus, tibi gloria
Our choir has sung a setting of Tibi laus, tibi gloria by one of our favorite composers, the English-born Peter Philips (1560–1628). Philips’s setting expands the traditional responsory text by inserting between the two standard lines these three affirmations, which gives him a way of repeating those triumphant words, “O beata Trinitas.” The opening words are sung by 3 high voices (joined eventually by 2 lower voices), perhaps hinting at a Trinitarian texture to the opening proclamation or praise. Here is the entire text as Philips set it:
Tibi laus, tibi gloria, tibi gratiarum actio in saecula sempiterna [saeculorum], O beata Trinitas.
To you be praise, to you be glory, to you be thanksgiving, for ever and ever, O blessed Trinity.
Caritas Pater est, gratia Filius, communicatio Spiritus Sanctus, O beata Trinitas.
The Father is charity, the Son grace, the Holy Spirit imparting goodness: O blessed Trinity.
Verax est Pater, veritas Filius, veritas Spiritus Sanctus, O beata Trinitas.
The Father is conveying the truth, the Son is truth, the Holy Spirit truth: O blessed Trinity.
Pater et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus una substantia est, O beata Trinitas.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one substance, O blessed Trinity.
Et benedictum nomen gloriae tuae sanctum: et laudabile et super exaltatum in saecula.
And blessed is the Holy Name of your glory, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Amen.
The Tudor Consort, Peter Walls, Conductor
Luca Marenzio, Te Deum Patrem ingenitum
Luca Marenzio (also Marentio; October 18, 1553 or 1554 – August 22, 1599) was in his day one of the most highly regarded composer of Italian madrigals. He also set a number of sacred texts, including this Magnificat antiphon sung at Vespers on Trinity Sunday.
Te Deum Patrem ingenitum,
te Filium unigenitum,
te Spiritum Sanctum Paraclitum,
Sanctam et individuam Trinitatem,
toto corde et ore confitemur,
laudamus, atque benedicimus:
tibi gloria in saecula.
Thee, God the unbegotten Father;
thee, the only-begotten Son;
thee, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter;
holy and undivided Trinity:
with all our heart and voice, we confess,
praise, and bless thee;
to thee be glory forever.
Progetto Musica, conducted by Giulio Monaco
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Tomás Luis de Victoria, Benedicta sit Sancta Trinitas
One of the many settings for the Introit for Trinity Sunday is by Tomás Luis de Victoria (c.1548-1611).
Benedicta sit sancta Trinitas
Blessed be the holy Trinity,
atque indivisa Unitas
and undivided Unity:
confitebimur ei
we will give glory to Him,
quia fecit nobiscum misericordiam suam.
because He hath shown His mercy to us.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
Nordic Voices
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Benedictus sit Deus
Among the dozens of Offertory settings composed by Palestrina is this setting for Trinity Sunday. The text is from the book of Tobit, as are today’s Introit and Communion proper.
Benedictus sit Deus Pater,
Blessed be God the Father
unigenitusque Dei Filius,
and the only-begotten Son of God,
Sanctus quoque Spiritus,
and the Holy Spirit;
quia fecit nobiscum misericordiam suam.
for he has dealt with us according to his mercy.
Coro melos Gloriae, directed by Juan Manuel Lara Cárdenas
Mikołaj Zielenski, Benedicimus Deum coeli
Like the Introit and Offertory, the Communion proper for Trinity Sunday is from the book of Tobit. Below the text is a recording of this text in a setting by the late Renaissance Polish composer Mikołaj Zieleński. We don’t know exactly when he was born or when he died, but a body of his work was published in 1611, at which time he was probably still alive
Benedicimus Deum caeli,
Bless the God of heaven;
et coram omnibus viventibus confitebimur ei:
in the sight of all who live, we will praise Him:
quia fecit nobiscum misericordiam suam.
because he has shown us His mercy.
Collegium Zielenski, conducted by Stanislaw Galonski
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Dieterich Buxtehude, O lux beata, trinitas et principalis unitas
A Vespers hymn for Trinity Sunday is traditionally attributed to St. Ambrose (339-397), although it is probably not from his pen.
O lux beata Trinitas,
O blessed light, the Trinity,
Et principalis unitas,
And the primal Unity:
Iam sol recedat igneus,
Now the fiery sun is setting.
Infunde lumen cordibus.
Pour light upon our hearts.
Te mane laudum carmine,
To you in the morning with a song of praises,
Te deprecemur vespere:
To you let us pray in the evening.
Te nostra supplex gloria
You may our humble glory
Per cuncta laudet sæcula.
Praise through all the ages.
Deo Patri sit gloria,
To God the Father be the glory,
Ejusque soli Filio,
And to his only Son,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito,
With the Spirit, the Comforter,
Et nunc et in perpetuum. Amen.
Both now and forever. Amen.
As was the case for most German Protestant composers after the Reformation, most of the works of Dieterich Buxtehude (c.1637-1707) were in German. However, he did compose a Latin version of this great Trinitarian hymn. It is scored for two sopranos, three violins, and a continuo ensemble which includes a vigorous part for a bassoon player.
Sopranos Dorothee Wohlgemuth and Verena Gropper with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, conducted by Ton Koopman
J. S. Bach, Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott (“Praised be the Lord”)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) composed four cantatas to be sung on Trinity Sunday. The most festive of these — trumpets and timpani right out of the block — signals that a real celebration is happening — is Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott (“Praised be the Lord,” BWV 129). Composed in 1726, Bach took all five strophes or stanzas from a hymn by Johann Olearius (1611-1684). The first three stanzas speak in turn of each of the three persons of the Trinity, while the fourth and fifth stanzas concern the Trinity as such. The complete text is available here.
Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott is performed here by the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir conducted by Ton Koopman. The soloists are Johannette Zomer, soprano; Bogna Bartosz, alto; and Klaus Mertens, bass.
James MacMillan, Benedicimus Deum cæli
Composed in 2010 for use as a Communion motet on Trinity Sunday, Benedicimus Deum cæli takes its text from the Book of Tobit. In that Apocryphal text, the story is told of a young man, Tobias, who is aided by the angel Raphael while on a journey in service of his father, Tobit. The text for this motet is taken from the words of Raphael, who exhorts Tobias and Tobit to be faithful in praising God.
Benedicimus Deum caeli,
Bless the God of heaven;
et coram omnibus viventibus confitebimur ei:
in the sight of all who live, we will praise Him:
quia fecit nobiscum misericordiam suam.
because he has shown us His mercy.
MacMillan’s setting of this text is one of many works in the collection of works composed for church choirs, and originally sung in MacMillan’s parish, St. Columba’s Church, Maryhill, in Glasgow, Scotland. Services there were often graced with the singing of the Strathclyde University Chamber Choir, after whom the motets were christened.
Here is a recording of Benedicimus Deum cæli sung by The Sixteen, conducted by Harry Christophers.
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Andrej Makor, O lux beata, trinitas et principalis unitas
The young Slovenian composer Andrej Makor (b. 1987) has composed two settings of this text, the first (in 2013) for SATB choir.
BYU Singers conducted by Dr. Andrew Crane
In 2019, Makor put together another version of this text for unaccompanied women’s voices. The newer setting was dedicated to dedicated to conductor Kathleen Rodde and the Cantamus Women’s Choir at Iowa State University. They sang the premiere performance in March 2019, a recording of which is presented below.
Cantamus Women’s Choir at Iowa State University, conducted by Kathleen Rodde
John Keble, “Trinity Sunday”
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not,
how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things?
St. John iii. 12
Creator, Saviour, strengthening Guide,
Now on Thy mercy’s ocean wide
Far out of sight we seem to glide.
Help us, each hour, with steadier eye
To search the deepening mystery,
The wonders of Thy sea and sky.
The blessed Angels look and long
To praise Thee with a worthier song,
And yet our silence does Thee wrong.-
Along the Church’s central space
The sacred weeks, with unfelt pace,
Hath borne us on from grace to grace.
As travellers on some woodland height,
When wintry suns are gleaming bright,
Lose in arched glades their tangled sight;-
By glimpses such as dreamers love
Through her grey veil the leafless grove
Shows where the distant shadows rove;-
Such trembling joy the soul o’er-awes
As nearer to Thy shrine she draws:-
And now before the choir we pause.
The door is closed-but soft and deep
Around the awful arches sweep,
Such airs as soothe a hermit’s sleep.
From each carved nook and fretted bend
Cornice and gallery seem to send
Tones that with seraphs hymns might blend.
Three solemn parts together twine
In harmony’s mysterious line;
Three solemn aisles approach the shrine:
Yet all are One-together all,
In thoughts that awe but not appall,
Teach the adoring heart to fall.
Within these walls each fluttering guest
Is gently lured to one safe nest-
Without, ’tis moaning and unrest.
The busy world a thousand ways
Is hurrying by, nor ever stays
To catch a note of Thy dear praise.
Why tarries not her chariot wheel,
That o’er her with no vain appeal
One gust of heavenly song might steal?
Alas! for her Thy opening flowers
Unheeded breathe to summer showers,
Unheard the music of Thy bowers.
What echoes from the sacred dome
The selfish spirit may o’ercome
That will not hear of love or home!
The heart that scorned a father’s care,
How can it rise in filial prayer?
How an all-seeing Guardian bear?
Or how shall envious brethren own
A Brother on the eternal throne,
Their Father’s joy, their hops alone?
How shall Thy Spirit’s gracious wile
The sullen brow of gloom beguile,
That frowns on sweet Affection’s smile?
Eternal One, Almighty Trine!
(Since Thou art ours, and we are Thine,)
By all Thy love did once resign,
By all the grace Thy heavens still hide,
We pray Thee, keep us at Thy side,
Creator, Saviour, strengthening Guide!