Aperuit Christus mentem discipulorum

Alexander Utendal, a composer of the late Renaissance, wrote this sacred motet for SSATTB voices. The Latin text draws from the Gospel accounts of the resurrected Christ appearing to his disciples. It opens with Christ opening their minds to understand the scriptures, explaining his suffering and resurrection. The second part of the text has Christ showing his wounds to the disciples, affirming his physical presence and divinity. The text's message of revelation and the disciples' recognition of the risen Christ is powerfully conveyed through the intricate polyphony characteristic of sacred motets from this era, culminating in joyous Alleluias.