Psalm Offering 7, Opus 3
This Psalm Offering is a musical representation of the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt. When the Magi returned to their homes, each going their separate ways, King Herod was greatly angered. He, very much aware of the prophecy around the Messiah, was eager to kill the newborn Jesus. He ordered his soldiers to go to Bethlehem and slaughter all male children 3 years of age and younger. Melody A is Joseph, warned of Herod’s plans by an angel in a dream, quickly roused his young family to escape. Melody B is the Holy Family journeying through strange land to Egypt. Melody A returns as the Holy Family arrives in Egypt, safe from all harm.
I wrote this as a Christmas present for Sharon Olejnicak, a piano accompanist for St. Hubert. Sharon and her family were only parishioners of St. Hubert for a couple of years. By the time that Sharon was there, the number of “old St. Hubert families” began to dwindle and new families began to flood into the parish. Some put down roots and settled in the parish, others, like the Olejnicak family, would be only in the parish for a short period of time before job relocations would move them on to another place and another parish. I am very grateful for the time Sharon devoted to St. Hubert as a musician while she and her family were there.
Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
