Vas Electionis (Vessel of Election)

heavy metal, Gregorian chant, symphonic metal

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[Intro – Slow, menacing chant over chains and distant screams]
Saulus adhuc spirans minarum…
(Acts 9:1 – “Saul, still breathing threats and murder…”)
[Verse 1 – Brutal, fast groove]
I dragged them from houses, mothers and sons,
Bound for the council, bound for the stones.
Stephen’s face shone like an angel’s that day,
Yet I held the cloaks while they crushed him away.
(Acts 7:58–8:1)
[Pre-Chorus – Choir snarls]
Ego sum Iesus quem tu persequeris
(Acts 9:5 – “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”)
[Chorus – Blinding light riff drop, soaring vocals]
Vas electionis!
Struck blind on Damascus road!
Vas electionis!
From murderer to martyr’s load!
Scales on my eyes, blood on my hands,
Grace took the worst of men and made him stand!
[Verse 2 – Galloping, triumphant]
Ananias trembled, yet laid his hands on me,
“Brother Saul, receive your sight, the Lord has set you free.”
Three days in darkness, then water and flame,
I rose from the Jordan with a brand-new name.
(Acts 9)
[Verse 3 – Progressive, haunting]
Shipwrecks and stonings, whips thirty-nine,
Beaten with rods, left for dead three times.
Nights in the deep, chains in Philippi’s cell,
Yet in every prison the gospel rang like a bell.
(2 Corinthians 11:23-27)
[Verse 4 – Crushing half-time]
To the Jews a stumbling block, to the Greeks pure folly,
I preached Christ crucified in synagogue and Areopagite glory.
Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, Thessalonica;
Thirteen scrolls of fire from a tent-maker’s hand.
(1 Corinthians 1:23)
[Bridge – Choir in Latin, then English]
Mihi vivere Christus est
Et mori lucrum
(Philippians 1:21 – “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”)
[Breakdown – Brutal growls + soaring choir]
I fought the good fight!
I finished the race!
The sword is coming down;
Yet I behold His face!
[Final Chorus – Massive, victorious]
Vas electionis!
From persecutor to prisoner of grace!
Vas electionis!
Beheaded in Rome, I won the prize of faith!
The worst of sinners saved,
To show the patience of the Lord,
Now I lay my head beneath the Roman sword;
Lucrum! Lucrum!
To die is gain!
[Outro – Gregorian chant over fading heartbeat]
Expecto resurrectionem mortuorum
Et vitam venturi saeculi
Amen.
Deus vult.

2190/7500

[Intro – Slow, menacing chant over chains and distant screams] Saulus adhuc spirans minarum… (Acts 9:1 – “Saul, still breathing threats and murder…”) [Verse 1 – Brutal, fast groove] I dragged them from houses, mothers and sons, Bound for the council, bound for the stones. Stephen’s face shone like an angel’s that day, Yet I held the cloaks while they crushed him away. (Acts 7:58–8:1) [Pre-Chorus – Choir snarls] Ego sum Iesus quem tu persequeris (Acts 9:5 – “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”) [Chorus – Blinding light riff drop, soaring vocals] Vas electionis! Struck blind on Damascus road! Vas electionis! From murderer to martyr’s load! Scales on my eyes, blood on my hands, Grace took the worst of men and made him stand! [Verse 2 – Galloping, triumphant] Ananias trembled, yet laid his hands on me, “Brother Saul, receive your sight, the Lord has set you free.” Three days in darkness, then water and flame, I rose from the Jordan with a brand-new name. (Acts 9) [Verse 3 – Progressive, haunting] Shipwrecks and stonings, whips thirty-nine, Beaten with rods, left for dead three times. Nights in the deep, chains in Philippi’s cell, Yet in every prison the gospel rang like a bell. (2 Corinthians 11:23-27) [Verse 4 – Crushing half-time] To the Jews a stumbling block, to the Greeks pure folly, I preached Christ crucified in synagogue and Areopagite glory. Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, Thessalonica; Thirteen scrolls of fire from a tent-maker’s hand. (1 Corinthians 1:23) [Bridge – Choir in Latin, then English] Mihi vivere Christus est Et mori lucrum (Philippians 1:21 – “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”) [Breakdown – Brutal growls + soaring choir] I fought the good fight! I finished the race! The sword is coming down; Yet I behold His face! [Final Chorus – Massive, victorious] Vas electionis! From persecutor to prisoner of grace! Vas electionis! Beheaded in Rome, I won the prize of faith! The worst of sinners saved, To show the patience of the Lord, Now I lay my head beneath the Roman sword; Lucrum! Lucrum! To die is gain! [Outro – Gregorian chant over fading heartbeat] Expecto resurrectionem mortuorum Et vitam venturi saeculi Amen. Deus vult.

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