June 2, 2019 : 7th Sunday of Easter (see below for Ascension Day)
Today’s Gospel reading is John 17:20-26. Following the example of the Missal and Graduale which suggest various extracts from John 17, the Psallite antiphon comes from John 17:11, once again emphasizing the unity of those who take part in the Communion procession and share in the body and blood of the Lord. As suggested in the 1998 ICEL Antiphonal, the superimposed verses come from Jeremiah 31:10-14, on the theme of the Lord’s care for his people.
The antiphon can be sung as a two-part round. The accompaniment presents another option, with the canon appearing as a separate descant using the word “Alleluia”. Either option will generate the meditative atmosphere of a mantra during the Communion procession.
Ascension Day (in places where this is observed today)
The Collegeville Composers opted for an antiphon taking John 16:22. We do indeed “see God again” in Holy Communion and our hearts rejoice in it. The psalm verses — from John 14, 15, 16, Rev 1 and Acts 1 — are taken from the communion antiphons for the days between the Ascension and Pentecost: we will not be left as orphans, and we look forward to the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost.
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