The Canticle from the Letter to the Philippians 3 arrangements
1 Though Jesus Christ Tune: My God Loves Me (Plaisir d’amour)
Though Jesus Christ was in the form of God, he did not count such equality to be grasped.
Instead, he freely emptied out himself, and took the form of a servant, was born like us.
In human form he chose humility, and gave himself up to dying upon a cross.
Because of this our God exalted him, and raised him gave him a name above every name.
At Jesus’ name now every knee should bow be they in heav’n or on earth or creation’s depths.
arranged and (c) by Stephen Eric Smyth from Philippians 2: 6-11
Especially useful for singing during Holy Week and Eastertide
This Canticle is one of the most important of the biblical songs. It is a hymn placed in the second chapter of the Letter of St Paul to the Christians of Philippi, the Greek city that was the Apostle’s first stop of missionary proclamation in Europe. The Canticle is thought to belong to an original Christian Liturgy and there is something special in us being able to share, after 2000 years, in the prayer of the Apostolic Church.
The Canticle unfolds thus: on one hand, there is the humbling descent of the Son of God when, in the Incarnation, he shares our humanity out of love for us. In his death on the cross he empties himself accepting the punishment of a slave to become a true brother of suffering humanity, sinful and rejected. Then he is raised and exalted and given ‘the name which is above all names.’
Cant SS Phil Plaisir – Full Score
2 With a new tune:and with choir
3 a choral setting by Noel Donnelly
audio – pending
