Ecce sacerdos / Lauda anima

Use: Bishop's Visit, Confirmation
Required Resources: 2-pt choir, organ
Optional Resources: trumpet, congregation
Language: Latin and English

The episcopal visitation (or the annual visit of the bishop to a parish) was always an occasion of great celebration and festivity, with solemn music and dignified ceremony. And now, it can be again, even in the smallest of parishes. Bernard Kirkpatrick has written a simple setting of the traditional antiphon for the Solemn Liturgical Reception of a Bishop:

Ecce sacerdos magnus!
trans: Behold a great priest

The piece is scored for two-part choir (one can use either mixed or equal voices) and organ, with optional trumpet and congregation. Between repetitions of the antiphon, the choir sings two verses:

1. Bishop, priest, and pastor of God's holy people, may you be pleasing unto God.
2. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

These antiphon/verse "fanfare" can serve as the introduction to an Entrance Hymn.

The composer has included a descant and free harmonization for the final verse of the hymn tune Lauda anima, which is commonly sung with the text "Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven." CNP offers five different texts that can be sung to the tune Lauda anima, which will be useful for any occasion when the bishop visits:

1. Confirmation — Holy Father, Great Creator
2. Episcopal Visitation (apart from any sacrament) — Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us
3. Installation of a Pastor — Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation
4. Dedication of a Church and/or Altar — O Jerusalem the Blessed
5. Ordination — Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor

The descant is printed with the final verse of all five options for use by the choir. A Congregation Setting for each of the five hymns is provided, with melody line and verses in a format that can easily be copied on a liturgy sheet.

Bernard Kirkpatrick is a well known Sydney organist and choral director, with 30 years experience in liturgical music. He is Director of Music at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Paddington (Sydney), where he is responsible for the parish music program consisting of a large SATB choir, cantors and musicians. He serves as a member of the Music Advisory Committee of the Archdiocese of Sydney and in 2004 he was appointed a Music Advisor to the National Liturgical Commission of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference.