The Maundy Thursday Offertory: Ubi Caritas

The Offertory for the Maundy Thursday Evening Mass (Missa Vespertina in Cena Domini) is Ubi Caritas - "Where Love is, there is God." This is one of the few chants not based directly on Scripture, and for most of its history, it was used as one of the antiphons for the footwashing rite at the Maundy Thursday Eucharist. (It was assigned by the Roman Catholic Missal as the Offertory only in 1970.)



Here's the chant score, with the Latin text and one English translation below. (There are differences in the Latin text, according to manuscript used; one version has Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est ("Where Love and Charity are, there is God"), and another version - the one given below - has Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est. ("Where Charity is true, there is God").)

Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est.

Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.

Exultemus, et in ipso jucundemur.

Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.

Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.

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.

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 charity and love are, God is there.

Christ's love has gathered us into one.

Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.

Let us fear, and let us love the living God.

And may we love each other with a sincere heart.

Where charity and love are, 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.

Where charity and love are, 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.

Here's Marucie Durufle's choral version, hewing closely to the Gregorian chant melody, sung by the King's College Choir:



This is Morten Lauridsen's lovely version, via the "Poznan Chamber Choir, Dir.: Bartosz Michalowski at 11th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf 2009":




Here, 'Composer/pianist Ola Gjeilo joins the CWU Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director) in presenting Gjeilo's "Ubi Caritas"':



And here is the Taize version of this song:



Here's a post on the Introit for today, Nos autem gloriari (also used on Holy Cross Day), and another on all the chants for today.