Quos Pretioso Sanguine Redmisti

Salve, nobilis, et pretiose sanguis, de vulneribus crucifixi

July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. I would like to offer only a short reflection here from a couple of saints, as we listen to one section of Bruckner’s magnificent setting of the Te Deum. The Te Deum is the Church’s hymn of thanksgiving, supposedly sung by St. Ambrose himself on the joyous occasion of the baptism of St. Augustine. Whatever the origin, the text is magnificent, and it is sung at the end of Matins, at priestly ordinations, religious professions, returning home from a journey, indeed any occasion that would warrant thanksgiving. In the Rite of the Holy Sepulchre, more commonly known as the ‘Carmelite Rite,’ the priests prays the Te Deum from memory as he returns to the sacristy after each and every Mass.

Many a composer have written choral settings of the Te Deum, and I present just a small portion of Anton Bruckner’s. It is the second movement, and deals with the following portion of text.

Te ergo quǽsumus, tuis fámulis súbveni,
  quos pretióso sánguine redemísti.

This translates roughly to:

We therefore pray thee, help thy servants :

whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.

Listen to the lamentation in the voice of the tenor in particular, as he contemplates the price of our redemption. The whole composition comes to a halt for these two lines. These line play a particular role in the Te Deum. Whilst reciting, in honour of the shedding of Christ’s blood, all genuflect at this line. It is the only line in the hymn that receives such a privilege. I offer you a quotation from another great Doctor, St. John Chrysostom, to meditate on the Blood of Christ whilst listening to this piece:

"This blood, when worthily received, drives away demons and puts them at a distance from us, and even summons to us angels and the Lord of angels. This blood, poured out in abundance, has washed the whole world clean. This is the price of the world; by it Christ purchased the Church"

Furthermore, here are three short prayers that were once indulgenced if recited at the elevation of the chalice during Holy Mass:

Salve, salutaris victima, pro me et omnia humano genere in patibulo Crucis oblata.

Praise to Thee saving sacrifice, offered on the wood of the cross for me and for all mankind.

Salve, nobilis, et pretiose sanguis, de vulneribus crucifixi Domini mei Iesu Christi profluens, et peccata totius mundi abluens.

Praise to the noble and precious Blood, flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ and washing away the sins of the whole world.

Recordare, Domine, creaturae tuae, quam tuo Sanguine redemisti.

Remember, Lord, Thy creature, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy blood

Sancta Caecilia, ora pro nobis!