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THE
PREFACE
The
Priest sings the Preface to a rather simple but very beautiful
tone. It is said that when St. Cuthbert the Wonder-worker would
raise his hands and sing the Preface, he was often so moved that he
could scarce continue, but with tears and sighs would pause and pray
profoundly. There are two common conclusions, the "Per quem,"
shown below, and the "Ideoque," "and therefore, with
Angels and Archangels, and with every army of the heavenly host, we sing
a hymn to Thy glory, without ceasing saying:" On Sept. 14 the
Preface is as follows.
Preface Qui per passionem
... everlasting God, through
Christ our Lord. Who by the suffering of the Cross redeemed the world, and
brought sweetness upon the taste of the ancient tree which was so bitter,
by the antidote of the Cross. For by His victory upon the Tree He trampled
down the death which had entered in by the tree forbidden, so that we who
were banished from His flowery Throne by tasting of a tree could return to
the joys of Paradise once more by the tree of the Cross. By Whom Angels
praise Thy majesty, Dominions worship, the Powers tremble. The heavens,
and the heavenly Virtues, and the blessed Seraphim, concelebrate in one
exultation. With whom command our voices also to have entrance, we beseech
Thee, humbly confessing Thee and saying:
Choir:
Holy, Holy, Holy, etc.
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