Dilexisti iustitiam: The Introit for The Baptism of Our Lord (January 13)

I'm very happy to post this terrific video of "the Choristers of St. Paul's Church Harvard Square" singing the Introit. They're really good!



The text for the Introit comes from Psalm (44/)45, verse 8 and then verse 2. Here's a translation from CPDL:

Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness.

Here's a nice mp3 of the Introit from the website of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Hildegard (yes, that St. Hildegard), in Eibingen, Germany.

Here's the chant score:

Here's the full complement of today's propers, including links to chant scores and audio files, from the Brazilian Benedictines. 

In Baptismate Domini
Introitus: Ps. 44, 8 et 2 Dilexisti iustitiam (2m43.2s - 1117 kb) 
Ad aspersionem aquæ benedictæ (In dominicis extra tempus paschale): 
                                Ps. 50, 9 et 3 Asperges me (I) (1m31.0s - 623 kb) 
Graduale: Ps. 71, 18. V. 3 Benedictus Dominus (3m48.5s - 1563 kb) 

                         vel Ps. 44, 8 Dilexisti iustitiam (not yet available)
Alleluia: Ps. 117, 26 Benedictus qui venit (2m19.2s - 952 kb)

                      vel Ps. 88, 21 Inveni David servum meum (not yet available)
Offertorium: Ps. 117, 26.27 Benedictus qui venit (2m01.2s - 830 kb) 
Communio: Gal. 3, 27 Omnes qui in Christo baptizati estis (47.4s - 325 kb) 

I'm not sure why they are making a point to include the Asperges Me here; it seems to me to be no different from the usual "Outside of Paschal Time" sprinkling-of-water chant (and is labeled that way besides).  Perhaps the idea is that this is to be done on this particular day, even in parishes that don't ordinarily do the Asperges?   I guess I should check the rubrics (although I'm not sure how to do it for the Catholic Church!).

I'm also not sure why the score includes the "T.P. Alleluia alleluia"  measures (not sung here).  I'm assuming "T.P." is Tempus Paschale - Easter time, which explains the Alleluias;  to me this implies that this chant is used again during Easter season at some point.  I'll have to check that.

Psalm (44/)45 is a love song (the note to the choirmaster - not in the BCP version below - says "To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil^[a] of the Sons of Korah; a love song."), and one of my favorites; I especially always like that reference to "cloth-of-gold."

Psalm 45 Eructavit cor meum

1	My heart is stirring with a noble song; let me recite what I have fashioned for the king; * my tongue shall be the pen of a skilled writer.
2	You are the fairest of men; * grace flows from your lips, because God has blessed you for ever.
3	Strap your sword upon your thigh, O mighty warrior, * in your pride and in your majesty.
4	Ride out and conquer in the cause of truth * and for the sake of justice.
5	Your right hand will show you marvelous things; * your arrows are very sharp, O mighty warrior.
6	The peoples are falling at your feet, * and the king's enemies are losing heart.
7	Your throne, O God, endures for ever and ever, * a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom; you love righteousness and hate iniquity.
8	Therefore God, your God, has anointed you * with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
9	All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia, * and the music of strings from ivory palaces makes you glad.
10	Kings' daughters stand among the ladies of the court; * on your right hand is the queen, adorned with the gold of Ophir.
11	"Hear, O daughter; consider and listen closely; * forget your people and your father's house.
12	The king will have pleasure in your beauty; * he is your master; therefore do him honor.
13	The people of Tyre are here with a gift; * the rich among the people seek your favor."
14	All glorious is the princess as she enters; * her gown is cloth-of-gold.
15	In embroidered apparel she is brought to the king; * after her the bridesmaids follow in procession.
16	With joy and gladness they are brought, * and enter into the palace of the king.
17	"In place of fathers, O king, you shall have sons; * you shall make them princes over all the earth.
18	I will make your name to be remembered from one generation to another; * therefore nations will praise you for ever and ever."

Of course, the Gospel for today is Christ's baptism in the Jordan by John the Forerunner - this year from Luke:

3:15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,

3:16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

3:17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,

3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

Interesting, too, that the reading from Isaiah includes this verse:

43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

It seems to me that what John says in Luke's gospel about fire and water may hearken back directly to Isaiah; will be looking at this.

This is not a named feast day in the Episcopal Church; it's called, in the BCP:  "The First Sunday after the Epiphany:  The Baptism of Our Lord."  I guess they wanted to split the difference there. This is the collect:

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

I couldn't find a Baptism image I liked, but here's a good one of John pointing out Christ to Andrew: "San giovanni che indica il Cristo a Sant'Andrea."  This is Ottavio Vannini, who painted it sometime in the first half of the 17th Century.  Dramatic - and a great John and Andrew.