In these troubled and difficult times, it is important to anchor oneself even more deeply in God's love and protection. All human efforts to live in security and all attempts to find solutions in the most difficult crises (however justified they may be) are not capable of granting man a definite and stable security. 

In this video, we sing the Tractus (a chant sung in penitential seasons before the Gospel) which puts melody to Psalm 91 in Latin. We hope that the serene flow of this sacred chant will touch souls deeply, offering them God's comfort, whether in times of epidemic, war or whatever situation threatens us. 

According to the ancient monastic tradition, the Catholic Church intones this psalm at Compline (prayer at the end of the day). However, it goes back much further, to the time of the Old Covenant. Even in our own day it can convey to us the comfort that only the Heavenly Father is able to give us: to dwell in the shelter of the Most High in the midst of all tribulations.

Gregorian Psalm 90/91

Gloria

Victimae paschali laudes

Sanctus Spiritus

Gregorian Chants

Ave Maris Stella

Dominus Vobiscum

Credo Deum

Sacra Scriptura

Sanctus

Recorded at the Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral
Basilica Schola
New York City, 12/12
Recorded by Malcolm Addey

The oldest hymn to the Theotokos (BVM), found in a Coptic Orthodox Christmas liturgy of the third century. 

Under thy protection
we seek refuge,
Holy Mother of God;
despise not our petitions
in our needs,
but from all dangers
deliver us always,
Virgin Glorious and Blessed.

Sub tuum praesidium
confugimus,
Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias
in necessitatibus nostris,
sed a periculis cunctis
libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.

Ὑπὸ τὴν σὴν εὐσπλαγχνίαν,
καταφεύγομεν, Θεοτόκε.
Τὰς ἡμῶν ἱκεσίας,
μὴ παρίδῃς ἐν περιστάσει,
ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ κινδύνων λύτρωσαι ἡμᾶς,
μόνη Ἁγνή, μόνη εὐλογημένη.

Sub Tuum Praesidium

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Credo Deum

Santum