Septuagesima 2025
Processional hymn: Man To Christ’s Sacred Wound, 827
Recessional hymn: Thee, O Christ, the Prince of Ages, 859
Kyriale: Mass XI, 740; Credo V, 784
Offertory Motet: Bonus Est, G.P. Palestrina (c. 1525–1594)
Motet at Communion: Simile est regnum, Cristóbal de Morales
The Gospel for Septuagesima Sunday is from Matthew 20 where Our Lord imparts the parable of the vineyard laborers. Cristóbal de Morales set this parable to music and it was published while he directed music at the Cathedral in Toledo near the end of his life. The motet is in two parts, and the first part ends with a very dramatic rendering of verse four: the music has a grand pause and strong tutti entrance on, “Go ye into the vineyard…” Morales skips over a few verses and finishes the second part with the end of the parable, “…many be called, but few chosen.”
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 wrote many Mass settings. His compositions consist almost entirely of sacred vocal motets.