"Christ is Risen, Alleluia"
"He is Risen Indeed, Alleluia, Alleluia"
With these joyous words Christians have greeted one another on Easter Day for nearly two thousand years. Every Easter, the world proclaims anew the faith and hope of every Christian in the Good News of God's profound love of mankind, a love that conquers death. This Easter greeting is still used today. Mass on Easter Day is the most splendid and exuberant celebration of the Church. For this is the Sunday of Sundays, the day of Resurrection of Christ, the centre and foundation of our faith. Easter is the pinnacle of all feasts of the Church year. The culmination of the entire liturgy is the Easter feast.
As in prevoius years Schola Cantorum Jubilate ends this hectic musical week, by singing this joyous affirmation of our redemption through the love of Christ, our hope of salvation and our faith in the resurrection from the dead and the life of the world to come. Infact the choir animated a High Mass at the Basilica of Maria Bambina during its usual Sunday choral mass at 11am. This High Mass was presided by Archprist Carmelo Refalo. The magnificient baroque Basilica of Xagħra was embelished with adorning white Easter flowers and special festive liturgical apparatus.
Schola Cantorum Jubilate welcomed the Minister of God by singing a jubilant ‘Surrexit Christus Alleluia’ while during today’s liturgy ‘Missa de Angelis – quattro voci’ by Terenzio Zardini was performed. This mass has a very beautiful counterpoint setting alternating with plain chants from the ‘Missa de Angelis’. Between readings Cantor Stefan Attard led the congregation with the Psalm: ‘Dan hu l-jum li għamel il-Mulej’ composed by Paul Portelli. The gospel acclamantion together with a piognant easter Halleluia set to music by the same Portelli were interpreted. During the sprinkling rite the choir sang ‘Vidi Aquam’, while during the offering prossecion Gustalv Holst’s hymn ‘L-ikel tal-Ħajja’ was performed. When holy communion was distributed the choir interpreted Mgr. Liberto’s ‘Io Sono Risorto and the hymn ‘Ir-rgħaj u s-sid tiegħi’. The mass ended with a rapturous rendition of Card. Domenico Bartolucci’s ‘Regina Coeli’.
