Ubi Caritas

Today, we’ll talk about Ubi Caritas.

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exsultemus et in ipso jucundemur.
Timeamus et amemus Deum vivum.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.

Where there is charity and love, God is there.
The love of Christ has gathered us as one.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Let us honor [fear] and love the living God.
And from a sincere heart let us love one another.

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Simul ergo cum in unum congregamur:
Ne nos mente dividamur, caveamus.
Cessent iurgia maligna, cessent lites.
Et in medio nostri sit Christus Deus. 

Where there is charity and love, God is there.
As we are gathered into one body,
Beware, lest we be divided in mind.
Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease,
And may Christ our God be in our midst. 

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Simul quoque cum beatis videamus,
Glorianter vultum tuum, Christe Deus:
Gaudium quod est immensum, atque probum,
Saecula per infinita saeculorum. Amen. 

Where there is charity and love, God is there.
And may we with the saints also,
See Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:
The joy that is immense and good,
Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen. 

In several ways, this piece is a continuation of our recent discussions of singing (praying) the psalms. The text is newer than the psalms, originating sometime around the 10th or 11th century (we think), from France. The version we are doing (November 4th in the 11:00 service and November 18th at the 8:30 service) is arranged by Maurice Duruflé (1902–1986) and uses just the first verse, set to the Gregorian chant melody. That melody is likely much older, perhaps as old as the 300’s[1]. In the Catholic church, this piece is often used on Maundy Thursday services, as well as other mass forms. A version of Ubi Caritas by Paul Mealor was used as a part of the service music for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton[2].

• Listen to Duruflé version of Ubi Caritas[3]

Discussion points:
What do you hear in the music?
What do you see in the lyrics?
Thoughts about fear versus honor?
This piece is traditionally done during the washing of feet in Maundy Thursday. Does that change or add anything for you?

• Listen to YouTube presentation of Ubi Caritas (Mealor) from the Royal Wedding[2]

Does this change the piece at all for you?

• There is an interview with Mealor in the Guardian, talking about the commission for this piece and his thoughts. Read and discuss_[4]

• Listen to Taizé meditation on Ubi Caritas[5]

This is just the first line, repeated over and over. Does that work for something meditative?

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1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubi_caritas  ↩

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAUuLclU5w8  ↩

3. “Duruflé - Ubi Caritas”, Track 3 from Music from Erskine & American (Erskine Chamber Choir, 2010). https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/music-from-erskine-american/id415580999 and see http://www.erskine.edu/academics/music/ensembles.shtml  ↩

4. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/29/royal-wedding-music-paul-mealor  ↩

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R448WVra9ww&feature=related or “Ubi Caritas”, Track 6 from Laudate Omnes Gentes (Taizé, 2003) https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/laudate-omnes-gentes/id74419259  ↩