Here are some musical “settings” for a few portions of the Chaldean Mass. They’re set to the traditional melodies, but in English, with close attention given to the stress of the syllables so it sounds as not-awkward as possible. If you’re used to hearing these melodies in Aramaic, it’s a little jarring the first couple times you hear them in English, but after that they grow on you. Please excuse the quality of my voice.
1.
May this our sacrifice be accepted with unveiled face;
and sanctified by the word of God
and by the Holy Spirit, for salvation,
eternal life in heaven through the grace of Christ.
2.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and forever.
Amen.
Lift up your minds.
To you, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, O glorious King!
The Oblation is offered to God the Lord of all.
It is right and just.
3.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty,
heaven and earth are filled with his glories,
hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is he who came and will come
in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!
4.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and forever.
* Let us, with awe and respect / approach the My-stery
of the saving Body and / precious Blood of our Re-deemer.
* With a pure heart and true faith, let us recall his cross
and be comforted by his / resurrection from the dead.
* Let us with abounding love / and in humi-lity,
approach and receive the Gift / which was given for life without end.
* Praying with sincerity, / contrite for all our sins,
let us now participate / in the Church’s Mysteries.
* In penitential hope, let / us leave behind our sins,
asking for forgiveness as / we forgive our brethren their faults.
Lord, forgive the sins and faults of your servants.
* Let us cleanse our conscience of all divisive conflicts.
Lord, forgive the sins and faults of your servants.
* Purified of hatred, let us receive the Sacrament.
Lord, forgive the sins and faults of your servants.
* May these Mysteries be / for the resurrection of our bodies and the salvation of our souls.
And for life everlasting.
Let us pray. Peace be with us.
5.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil,
for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, now and forever.
This was very much a group effort including myself, Fr. Simon Esshaki, some other priests, Monica Yousif (whose voice you heard in the Our Father recording), Mary Nissan, some other people I probably don’t know about, and of course whoever wrote the original melody back in the day. Enjoy.