First to the tomb, first Apostles sent: Magdalen and the other Mary

 

 Easter 2023: Surrexit!

Maria Magdalena et altera Maria  ibant di luculo ad monumentum.

Jesus quem queritis non est hic: surrexit, sicut dixit precedit vos in Galileam ibi eum videbitis.

Translation

Mary Magdalen and the other Mary went to the place of the Sepuchre (Matthew 28:1)

Jesus whom you seek is not here. He is risen as He said and goes before you to Galilee.

There you will see Him  (Matthew 28: 6-7)

Amidst a violent earthquake unleashed by a Fiery Angel, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary crept  to the tomb. To their astonishment they saw the the Angel/Messenger move the stone and sit upon it. Then they heard the Message, " He is not here. He is Risen." Straightaway the Angel sent them on  their way  and commanded them to proclaim the Good News to the  disciples. The Angel sent the Marys FIRST.

Sulpitia Cesis (b. 1577) set the Angel's proclamation to music, creating one of the first liturgical dramas. Cesis was a composer, lutenist, and nun in Modena, Italy at the convent of St. Gemiano, known for the quality of its music. She composed this  motet, Maria Magdalena et alter Maria,  as part of a collection,  Motetti Spirituali, for use in the convent.  Her work is preserved in the Biblioteca Estanse in Modena.  This motet is set for two voices, perhaps as a duet.  She presents it as a dialogue between a narrator (perhaps Mary) and the Angel.  She included a bass voice.  It is unclear how a bass line would have been performed by cloistered nuns.   Some scholars think it would have been performed by an instrument. But  perhaps the nuns found a way to include a male singer or priest.  We do not know. On this album,  we recorded "Maria Magdalena et alter Maria" with bass singer as Cesis directed.  

Meditation

Read the full text found in Matthew 28 below.  Maybe Cesis wrote that bass line to represent the voice of the Angel. We could  imagine that the women broke into song,  singing with the Angel as they exulted in the Good News! Cesis wrote a jubilant melisma for Surrexit, a word painting of joy.

How would you share the Angel's Good News?

Can you think of any Angels, or Messengers of God  in your life? Did they help you?

Listening

As you listen to the recording, think of  the grieving women who came forlornly to the tomb.   Imagine their terror encountering God's Angel.  Can you feel their exultation  hearing "He is not here. He is risen. " Would you sing?

How could you share that song with others?

This is the full Biblical text in the New International Version:

Matthew 28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

Maria Magdalena et altera Maria by Sulpitia Cesis

is published in the hymnal Voices Found at #48.  It is recorded on the CD  album Magdalen and the other Mary track # 13.  Both the hymnal and the recording are available from Church Publishing, Inc. in New York