MEDITATION for Maundy Thursday: Durufle's "Ubi Caritas"

After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.---Matt. 26:30

"Ubi Caritas" is an ancient hymn of the church, that has been regularly used for Maundy Thursday services. According to Wikipedia,

The Gregorian melody was composed sometime between the fourth and tenth centuries, though some scholars believe the text dates from early Christian gatherings before the formalization of the Mass. It is usually sung at Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and on Holy Thursday evening at the Mass of the Lord's Supper.......Maurice Duruflé's choral setting makes use of the Gregorian melody, using only the words of the refrain and the first stanza.

 I have long loved the music of Maurice Duruflé  (11 January 1902 – 16 June 1986). A perfectionist, he only published 13 works in his lifetime. "Ubi Caritas" is one of the  Quatre Motets sur des thèmes grégoriens, Op. 10.  His version only uses the first stanza:


Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.   / Where charity and love are, God is there.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.   / Christ's love has gathered us into one.
Exultemus, et in ipso jucundemur.  / Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum. /  Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.  / And may we love each other with a sincere heart.

I can think of no better hymn to sing before following Jesus to the Mount of Olives.

Latin Text

Ubi caritas et amor, 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.

 English Translation


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.