Communion 
Song 

* 

by the 
Monks of Conception 

CONCEPTION ABBEY PRESS. CONCEPTION. MISSOURI 





NOTE TO ORGANISTS! In order to enable a larger group 
to participate more easily, we have reduced the psalmodic 
pa t te rns to three. In the accompaniment of the second 
mode, it will be necessary to imagine a " f a " clef in place 
of the "do" clef. Wi th regard to the other modes, no 
fu r the r ad jus tment will be necessary. 

IMPRIMATUR 

+ C. H. LeBlond, D.D. 
Bishop of St . Joseph 

IMPRIMI POTEST 

>fr Stephen, O.S.B. 
Abbot of Conception Abbey 





I t 
g Speda f t 

rphis booklet is designed to serve as a text for song 
during the communion procession. Verses of the 

three psalms selected may be sung alternately with 
the communion antiphon. In each case the mode of 
the antiphon will determine the psalm to be used. 

The Eucharist is the plan conceived by the Son 
of God Himself to unite us with God and with each 
other. Individualism, individualism in our devo-
tion, individualism even in our attitude toward the 
Eucharist, the symbol and bond of our unity in the 
one Mystical Body, too often thwarts its full effect. 
The joy and solidarity of eucharistic unity, which 
finds its highest expression in common song, is in 
turn deepened and strengthened by common song. 
The psalms are the most treasured songs of the 
Church, Gregorian chants her most treasured mel-
odies. Hence this little booklet. We hope that it may 
make some contribution to the realization of the 
earnest plea of our Holy Father "that at last men 
should allow the Eucharist to work, particularly as 
root and principle of unity, recalling all to their 
obligation of loving each other, of uniting as broth-
ers, insofar as they wish to appear before the same 
Altar, offer the same Offering, drink from the same 
Chalice, eat of the same Bread, and adore in com-
mon prayer: 'My Sacrifice and yours.'" 



Modes 2, 3, 5, and 8: 

C - • • 

n 
* • • • 

PSALM 33 
( f i r s t half of verse) 

DENEDICAM Dominum in omni TEMpore 
Blessing God with song unceasing, 

In Domino laudabitur anima MEa 
I invite all loving Spirits 

Magnificate Dominum MEcum 
Our good Lord with me exalting, . 

Exquisivi Dominum, et exa.uDIvit me 
When I call in tribulation, 

Accedite ad eum et illumiNAmini 
Come to Him and be illumined. 

Iste pauper clamavit et Dominus exaudivit Eum 
Poor we are, bu t He has heard us, 

Immittet Angelus Domini in circuitu timentium 
Round His loved ones angels rally, E u m 

Gustate et videte, quoniam suavis est DOminus 
Taste and see God's - unmatched sweetness, 

Timete Dominum omnes sancti Ejus 
All those hands you raise in worship 

Divites eguerunt et esuriErnnt 
Pride from Him shall go for th empty, 

Venite filii, auDIte me 
Come, my sons, to Me and hear Me, 



Modes 2, 3, 5, and 8 : 
• • • ft 

PSALM 33 
(second half of verse) 

semper laus ejus in Ore MEo. 
Mid all change of t ime and weather, 

audiant mansueti ET laeTENtur. 
Let no chain our gladness t e the r : 

et exaltemus nomen ejus IN idlPsum. 
Let us all praise Him together. 

et ex omnibus tribulationibus meis eRIpuIT me. 
Me He frees without delusion; 

et facies vestrae non CONfunDENtur. 
From your faces drive confusion: 

et de omnibus tribulationibus ejus salVAvit 
Foes are strong, but He will catch t h e m ; E u m 

et eriPIet Eos. 
Bright ^with sword from foes to snatch them. 

beatus vir, qui speRAT in Eo. 
All His sons with t r u s t surrounding; 

quoniam non est inopia timenTIbus Eum. 
He will fill with good abounding: 

inquirentes autem Dominum non minuentur 
To the humble wealth redounding. OMni BOno. 

timorem DomiNI doCEbo vos. 
How to love Me I will teach you; 



PSALM 33 cont'd 

Quis est homo, qui vult YItam 
How by goodness death escaping 

Prohibe linguam tuam a MAlo 
Let thy tongue speak naught of evil 

Diverte a malo, et fac BOnum 
Turn from evil, live in goodness, 

Oculi Domini super JUStos 
Mine eyes gaze down on jus t in goodness 

Vultus autem Domini super facientes MAla 
My frown on those whose joy is evil, 

Clamaverunt justi, et Dominus exaudivit Eos 
The jus t cry out, and God e'er hears them. 

Juxta est Dominus iis, qui tribulato sunt CORde 
The Lord is nigh when hearts are troubled, 

Multae tribulationes juSTOrum 
Many the trials of those who live in goodness, 

Custodit Dominus omnia ossa eOrum 
The Lord stands guard when loved ones are in danger. 

Mors peccatorum PESsima 
How wretched is the death-hour of the wicked, 

Redimet Dominus animas servorum suOrum 
From such dire stroke God keeps His fa i th fu l servants , 

Gloria Patri et FIlio 
To Father and to Son be glory, 

Sicut erat in principio et nunc et SEMper 
As in the beginning, so now, and in eternal ages. 



PSALM 33 cont'd 

diligit dies viDEre BOnos? 
Ripe and good old age may reach you: 

et labia tua ne loQUANtur DOlum. 
Lips t ha t lie Bhall surely rue it, 

inquire pacem, et perseQUEre Earn. 
Follow peace, and close pursue it . 

et aures ejus in preCES eOrum. 
Their cry ne'er finds Mine ears disdaining; 

ut perdat de terra memoriAM eOrum. 
Of them no memory on earth remaining: 

et ex omnibus tribulationibus eorum libeRAvit 
Prom Him in need comes liberation; E O S . 

et humiles spiriTU salVAbit. 
No humble soul can miss salvation. 

et de omnibus his liberabit Eos DOminus. 
In God they ever find commiseration. 

unum ex his non CONteREtur. 
No bone of theirs shall e 'er be broken: 

et qui oderunt juSTUM, deLINquent. 
God's wrath sends evil end as token: 

et non delinquent omnes qui speRANT in Eo. 
Of them shall ne 'er the fa ta l word be spoken. 

et SpiriTUi SANCto 
And to the Holy Spirit 

et in saecula saecuLOrum. Amen. 
World without end. Amen. 



Modes 1, 4, and 6. 

PSALM 112 

I AUDATE PUeri DOminum 
Sing: to the Lord, ye children, 

Sit nomen Domini BEneDICtum 
Sing- to His name all blessed 

A solis ortu usque AD ocCAsum 
From sunrise unto sunset 

Excels us super omnes GENtes DOminus 
On high above all nations 

Quis sicut Dominus Deus noster, qui in ALtis 
HAbitat 

Who like this God, our Master, who dwells above 
the heavens: 

Suscitans a TERra INopem 
Beggar He lifts f rom dustheap 

Ut collocet eum CUM prinCIpibus 
To seat him with His princes, 

Qui habitare facit steriLEM in DOmo 
And she, once barren mother, 

Gloria PAtri et FIlio 
To Father and to Son be glory, 

Sicut erat in principio et NUNC et SEMper 
As in the beginning, so now, and in eternal ages. 



Modes 1, 4, and 6 : 

/ 

• • • • • • „ a o frf 

PSALM 112 

laudate NOmen DOmini 
Sing ever Alleluia: 

ex hoc nunc et usQUE in SAEculum 
Forever Alleluia: 

laudabile NOmen DOmini. 
His name with Alleluia. 

et super coelos gloRIa Ejus. 
His glory 'bove all heavens: 

et humilia respicit in coelo ET in TERra? 
Who looks forever downwards, on earth and on the 
heavens. 

et de stercore eRIgens PAUperem: 
The t r amp from dunghill raises, 

cum principibus poPUli SUi. 
Where he with them God praises: 

matrem filioRUM laeTANtem. 
With joy on children gazes. 

et SpiriTUi SANCto 

And to the Holy Spirit -

et in saecula saecuLOrum. Amen. World without end. Amen. • 



Mode 7: 

t-k a • • • ' i ° ' • ° 

Q 
PSALM 83 

lUAM dilecta tabernacula TUa DOmine 
How lovely are Thy mansions , God of a rmies , 

Cor itieum et CAro MEa 
My inmos t soul, m y body 's ou tward f r amework , 

Etenim passer invenit SIbi DOmum 
Like spar row finding: home fo r her dear nes t l ings , 

Altaria tua DomiNE virTUtum 
T h u s , God of a rmies , a r e to m e Thine a l t a r s , 

Beati, qui habitant in domo TUa DOmine 
How blessed those who in Thy home f ind dwelling:, 

Beatus vir cujus est auxilium abs te, t ascensio-
nes in corde suo disposuit invalle LAcryMArum 

How blessed he who sees Thy g r ace descending. 
Whose hea r t and f e e t a re e 'er to Thee ascending 

Etenim benedictionem dabit legislator ibunt 
de virtute IN virTUtem 

Blessings on him shall f low f r o m g rea t Law-giver , 
S t ronger shall grow his s teps and ever s t ronger , 

Domine Deus virtutum exaudi oratiOnem MEam 
O God of a rmies , hear my cry of longing, 

Protector noster, Aspice DEus; 
Look down on us, O God, Thou our Pro tec tor , 

Quia melior est dies una in Atriis TUis 
Bet t e r by f a r one day within T h y mans ions 



Mode 7 : 

I / 
• • i • • D • • • V | | 

PSALM 83 

concupiscit et deficit anima mea in Atria 
DOmini. 

How loves my longing soul Thy courts l ife-giving; 

exultaverunt in DEum VIvum. 
Leap up in song to God the ever living: 

et turtur niduni sibi, ubi ponat PULlos SUos. 
Like turt le-dove a nest fo r her brood thronging; 

Rex meus et DEus MEus. 
O King forever mine,, God of my longing. 

in saecula saecuLOrum lauDAbunt te. 
Who sing Thy songs forever and forever : 

in LOco quem POsuit. 
From vale of tears to God of his endeavor. 

videbitur Deus deOrum in Slon. 
Until a t Sion's gates he sees the vision: 

auribus percipe DEus JAcob. 
O God of Jacob, hear and make provision. 

;t respice in faciem CHRIsti TUi. 
Look here upon the face of Thine Anointed: 

SUper MILlia. 
Than thousand days elsewhere in world appointed. 



Elegi abjectus esse in domo DEi MEi 
In God's dear house to be the least I 've chosen, 

Quia misericordiam et veritatem Dlligit DEus 
Our God loves shielding t ru th and shining; mercy, 

Non privabit bonis eos qui ambulant in 
INnoCENtia 

No grace He them denies who walk in goodness, 

Gloria PAtri et Fliio 
To Fa the r and to Son be glory, 

Sicut erat in principio et NUNC et SEMper 
As in the beginning, so now, and in eternal ages. 



magis quam habitare in tabernaculis 

PECcaTOrum. 
Than there where sinners dwell e'er disappointed. 

gratiam et gloriam DAbit DOminus. 
Glory s treams for th from Him and grace abiding. 

Dominevirtutum beatus homo, qui SPErat IN te. 
Blessed the man with heart in Thee confiding. 

et SpiRItui SANCto 
and to the Holy Spirit 

et in saecula saecuLOrum. Amen. 
World withont end. Amen.