Judicant sancti gentes, et dominantur populis: regnabit Dominus Deus illorum in perpetuum.
“The saints shall judge nations and rule (over) peoples. Their Lord, God, will reign forever.” (Wisdom 3:8)
Click here to listen to an audio of the chant, sung by Liborius Lumma, Innsbruck (Austria).
Originally this introit was used on the feast days of the (little known) Saints Processus and Martinianus and of Protus and Hyacinthus. Like on other apostles’ days, Mihi autem – that we had several times before in this series – was used for Simon and Jude’s day, the Ordo Cantus Missae of 1970 switched to Judicant in 1970.
Old and New Testament know the image of a regime by saints; in Christianity the government by Mary and/or by the twelve apostles might be the most common, so it makes sense to take Judicant for an apostle’s feast. But do not forget the second sentence: Even the saints do not rule by their own will, but as an expression of God’s will.
Thus, this introit and every saint’s day can remind us of what the Lord taught: “Thy will be done.”
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