Erravi sicut ovis

Carolus Hacquart's motet Erravi sicut ovis is a sacred work for SSATB choir, sung in Latin. The text, drawn from scripture, expresses a profound plea for divine guidance and redemption. The singer confesses to having strayed "like a lost sheep" and implores the "good and merciful Jesus" to seek them out and return them to the path of righteousness. It references Christ's promise to seek out the lost and heal the broken, asking for forgiveness of countless sins and a return to the fold of the elect, where eternal praise will be sung. Hacquart's setting of this deeply personal and universal text offers a rich opportunity for expressive choral performance.