Salus populi ego sum, dicit Dominus: de quacumque tribulatione clamaverint ad me, exaudiam eos: et ero illorum Dominus in perpetuum.
Click here to listen to an audio of the chant.
Sung by Br. Jacob Berns, OSB, of St. John’s Abbey.
“I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord. From whatever tribulation they may cry to me, I will answer them, and I will be their Lord forever.” (cf. Ps 37(36)39.40.28)
Once more, here is one of my favorite leitmotifs in Gregorian Chant: melodic directions up and down. Listen to the word exaudiam (“I will (hear and) answer them”). God rears up from deep down, slowly, dramatically, and when he has reached the highest note, he looks down to the crying people in mercy, like a giant who takes tiny people into his hands, saves them, and hugs them tenderly.
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