When Thomas Merton entered the Abbey of Gethsemani on December 10, 1941 he began living the monastic schedule known in the Trappist monasteries as the "Horarium." Prior to the Second Vatican Council (1962 - 1965) the prayers of the hours (Vigils [Matins], Lauds, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline) centered around the recital of the Psalms most often sung in Gregorian Chant. The etymology of “psalm” has a long rich history and can be traced to the Greek word for “song sung with a harp.”
After the Vatican Council many Trappist monasteries in the United States adapted their liturgy to a simple plainsong sung in English. What was gained in clarity using the English language (or other native languages) did not replace what was lost in the Gregorian melodies. It is difficult to replace the joy expressed in the Introit of the Christmas Day Mass, the Puer Natus Est Nobis, nor the mournfulness of the Requiem Eternam of the Mass of Christian Burial with English words.
Contemplative monks are a quiet community; yet in their everyday life, they sing. Perhaps, for Merton, there was a connection between singing chant and meditative breathing for the Buddhist monk. There is a great reservoir of Buddhist wisdom in the simple admonition, “Take a deep breath.” Rather than count to ten one might add, “And sing.”
Merton writes in Confessions of a Guilty Bystander: "Last evening at Vespers, singing the Magnificat antiphon of the Invention of the Holy Cross1, I was happy with the splendor of the Gregorian setting, its rhythm, its verve, its strength and entrain." The italics are Merton's and he is highlighting the word's meaning in French, enthusiasm. Merton continues describing his own feelings of loss. "Only when we were singing the last alleluia did I realize that this was probably the last time we would ever have this antiphon. The feast has been done away with."
As one liturgical year comes to an end and another begins with the season of Advent many Christians in our American culture will ignore the season of hope and anticipation and advance mindlessly to Christmas. Even less attention will be paid to the seven days just before Christmas Day when the Magnificat antiphon, sung at Vespers, will be replaced each day by the Great O Antiphons.
Here is the musical notation (Gregorian Chant) for the first of the Great Antiphons, O Sapientia which is sung on December 17.
Here is the English translation.
O Wisdom,
coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other,
mightily and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.
Here is a link to listen to the singing of the antiphon.
Reflection
“Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.”
Martin Luther - An Augustinian Friar
Response
Do not read a psalm - sing it.
This feast is more often known as “the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.”