Christ the King
Processional hymn: To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King, 856
Recessional hymn: Crown Him with Many Crowns, 858
Credo III, 776
Prelude: Christus Vincit, Ambrosian Chant (c. 700)
Kyriale: Missa O quam gloriosum, Tomás Luis de Victoria (c.1548–1611)
Motet at Offertory: O quam gloriosum, Tomás Luis de Victoria
Motet at Communion: Jesu Rex, Admirabilis, G.P. Palestrina (c. 1525–1594)
The hymn Christus Vincit is sung in Churches at solemn events, such as the inauguration of a pope or, in centuries past, at the coronation of the Holy Roman Emperor. It consists of sections invoking prayers for the Church, the Holy Father, our Bishop and is punctuated by the refrain, “Christ conquers! Christ reigns! Christ commands!”
Missa O quam gloriosum is a parody Mass by Tomás Luis de Victoria. This means that the musical foundation for the Mass setting is mirrored in various ways off of the motet of the same name, today sung after the Offertory chant. Victoria uses various motifs from the motet and “quotes” them to give added meaning to the Kyriale’s text. For example in the Benedictus, Victoria takes the melody from the motet where the voices sing, “they follow the Lamb wherever He goes” and repurposes it for the text, “blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Tomás Luis de Victoria (c.1548–1611), along with Palestrina and de Lassus, is one of the greatest composers of the 16th C., famous for its ethereal polyphony. Ordained a priest at age 27, he lived in Rome for years, and assisted St. Philip Neri as chaplain of San Girolamo della Carità.