The Sequence
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May 26, 2023In this Easter Season, you may have noticed some special elements in the mass. Most notable of which is the Sprinkling Rite, replacing the usual Penitential Rite as a reminder of baptism. “It is a wonderful way to reinforce the initiatory quality of Easter, and serves to tie the dying and raising of the faithful in the waters of baptism to the dying and rising of Christ.” (PrayTell)
But there is another special element that you will notice this Pentecost – the Sequence. The Roman Missal requires two Sequences during the year - Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday. Its historical origin is difficult to trace. It is generally thought to have begun as a genre of poetry around the ninth century when Gregorian Chant was flourishing and spreading throughout Europe. As Roman chant was intended primarily as a musical meditation upon the Word of God, so the Sequences at Mass were intended as musical, meditative extensions of the Alleluia verse.
This is most obvious in the Alleluia verse for Easter Sunday, which is, “Christ, our Paschal Lamb, has been sacrificed; let us then feast with joy in the Lord.” The Easter Sequence begins with this theme and builds on it with its opening line: “Christians, to the Paschal Victim, offer your thankful praises!” Likewise, the Sequence for Pentecost develops the verse for the Alleluia, which is, “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.” The Pentecost Sequence picks up this verse and develops it into one of the most beautiful poetic masterpieces of our time. In fact, literary scholars, musicians and liturgists have sometimes referred to it as the “Golden Sequence.”
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine.
You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul's most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.
O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!
Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thoughts,
Nothing free form taint of ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away.
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.
On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
In your sevenfold gift descend;
Give them virtue's sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end.
Amen. Alleluia.