The Parish Book of Motets

Motets by Title

Regina caeli — Palestrina

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Regina caeli laetare, alleluia; quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia; resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia; ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia; he whom you were worthy to bear, alleluia, is risen as he said, alleluia; pray for us to God,  alleluia.

(Marian antiphon for Eastertide)

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Sacerdotes Domini — Byrd

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Sacerdotes Domini incensum et panes offerunt Deo, et ideo sancti erunt Deo suo et non polluent nomen eius, alleluia.

The priests of the Lord offered incense and loaves to God, and therefore they shall be holy to God and will not defile his name, alleluia.

(cf. Leviticus 21:6, offertory for Corpus Christi in editions of the Roman Missal before 1969)

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Salve Regina — Rheinberger

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Salve regina, mater misericordiae, vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus, exules filii Evae. Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. Eia ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exilium ostende. O clemens, O pia, O dulcis virgo Maria.

Hail, Holy Queen, mother of mercy; hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we sigh, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Ah then, most gracious advocate, turn your eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile, show to us the most blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.

(Marian antiphon at Compline)

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Sancta Maria — Victoria

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Sancta Maria, succurre miseris, juva pusillanimes, refove flebiles, ora pro populo, interveni pro clero, intercede pro devoto femineo sexu, sentient omnes tuam juvamen quicumque celebrant tuam commemorationem. 

Holy Mary, help the wretched, aid the fearful, strengthen the weak; pray for the people, plead for the clergy, intercede for all women religious; that all who keep your solemn commemoration might feel the strength of your assistance.

(Fulbert of Chartres)

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Scio enim — Lassus

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Scio enim quod redemptor meus vivit, et in novissimo die de terra surrecturus sum. Rursum circundabor pelle mea, et in carne mea videbo Deum salvatorem meum, quem visurus sum ego ipse, et oculi mei conspecturi sunt, et non alius. Reposita est haec spes mea in sinu meo. 

For I know that my redeemer lives, and on the last day I shall rise again. I shall be clothed again with my flesh, and in my body I will look on God my saviour, whom I myself will see, and my eyes will behold, and not another. This is the hope that I hold within my heart.

(Job 19: 25-27)

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Sicut cervus — Palestrina

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Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus. 

As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. 

(Psalm 42/41:1-3; canticle for Holy Saturday)

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Sitivit anima mea — Palestrina 

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Sitivit anima mea ad Deum fontem vivum; quando veniam et apparebo ante faciem Dei? Fuerunt mihi lacrimae meae panes die ac nocte, dum dicitur mihi quotidie, ubi est Deus tuus? 

My soul thirsts for God the living font; when shall I come to appear before the face of God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me daily: where is your God?

(Psalm 42/41:1-3; canticle for Holy Saturday)

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Tantum ergo — Bruckner

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Tantum ergo Sacramentum Veneremur cernui: Et antiquum documentum Novo cedat ritui: Praestet fides supplementum Sensuum defectui.

Genitori, Genitoque Laus et iubilatio, Salus, honor, virtus quoque Sit et benedictio: procedenti ab utroque Compar sit laudatio. Amen. 


Therefore let us venerate so great a sacrament with heads bowed, and let the old law give way to the new rite; may faith be a supplement for the defects of the senses.

To the Begetter and the Begotten be praise and jubilations, worship, honor, virtue, and blessing; to the one proceeding from both let there be equal praise. Amen. 

– St. Thomas Aquinas

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Tu pauperum — Josquin

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Tu pauperum refugium, tu languorum remedium, spes exulum, fortitudo laborantium, via errantium, veritas et vita. Et nunc redemptor Domine, ad te solum confugio, te vere Deus adoro. In te spero, in te confido, salus mea, Jesu Christe, adjuva me, ne unquam obdormiam in morte anima mea.

You are the refuge of the poor, the remedy for those who languish, the hope of exiles, the strength of laborers, the way for the erring, the truth and the life. And now, redeemer Lord, to you alone I fly; I adore you the true God. In you I hope, in you I confide, my health, Jesus Christ: help me, lest my soul sleep in death.

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Voce mea — Croce

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Voce mea ad Dominum clamavi, et intendit mihi.

Translation
With my voice I have cried to the Lord, and He has heard me.

Psalm 76:2 (Vulgate)

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