1st Sunday of Advent 2024
Processional hymn: Savior of the Nations, Come, 798
Recessional hymn: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, 801
Credo V, 784; Kyriale XVII, 762
Offertory motet: Ad Te Levavi, Reverend Franz Xaver Witt (1834–1888)
Communion motet: Veni Redemptor Gentium, Cristóbal de Morales
The hymn Veni, redemptor gentium was composed by St. Ambrose of Milan and two stanzas were set to music by Cristóbal de Morales. Only partial manuscripts remain for Morales’s setting and the score sung today was reconstructed by the chair of Boston College’s Music Department, Dr. Michael Noone. Some religious orders use the hymn during Christmastide while many areas in Germany traditionally sing it during Advent. The English-poetic translation of this hymn is this Sunday’s processional hymn, Savior of the Nations, Come.
Cristóbal de Morales (c.1500–1553) was an organist and composer regarded as the first Spanish composer of international renown. He sang and composed for the Papal choir in Rome for which he wrote many Mass settings. His compositions consist almost entirely of sacred vocal motets.