PRESENTATION OF THE LORD (Candlemas)

II-2-14

Traditionally known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, on its fixed date of February 2, takes the place of the regularly numbered (in this case, Fourth) Sunday of Ordinary Time when it falls on a Sunday.

The liturgy for the Presentation of the Lord begins in a way somewhat similar to the way that the liturgy for Palm Sunday begins, that is, something is blessed, then there is a procession.  In the Palm Sunday liturgy, the priest and ministers enter to a short chant, the palms are blessed, a short Gospel is read, and a grand procession takes place during which a hymn is sung. Mass continues with the collect.  In the liturgy for the Presentation of the Lord, a short chant is sung, candles are blessed (no extra Gospel reading), then a procession takes place during which a hymn is sung.  Mass continues with the Gloria.

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass: Messa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe", music by Federico Caudana (the setting we sang last Fall), for this special Feast.

Entrance chant: The Lord will come, Worship #1023

Hymn at the Procession: Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates, Maroon #484

Responsorial Psalm: Who is this King of glory? It is the Lord!, music by Owen Alstott

- The melody is as written in the missalette along with the readings for February 2.

Alleluia: same as last Sunday (music in Worship, #360)

Offertory hymn: Hail to the Lord who comes, Maroon #115 (Listen)

Communion anthem: Nunc dimittis, music by Christopher Upton

- except 7:30 AM, at which there will be an organ improvisation.

- It wasn't until just less than a week ago that I learned that I am 14-1/2 years older than the composer (courtesy of the organist/choirmaster of a parish in Norwalk, CT, who I know via none other than Facebook, that is also using this same setting)!

- The Nunc Dimittis, proper to the liturgy of the Presentation of the Lord, is also used for Compline (Night Prayer), just as the Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel is used for Lauds (Morning Prayer) and the Magnificat is used for Vespers (Evening Prayer).

Meditation hymn: In his temple now behold him, hymn section of missalette #139

- sung to the same hymn as the Tantum Ergo that we use most.

Recessional hymn: O Sion, open wide thy gates, Maroon #116 (Listen)

Peace,

BMP

SUNDAY III

I-26-14

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

All numbers given are in the Maroon hymnal, except where noted.

Mass Ordinary: same as last week

Entrance hymn: To the Name of our salvation, #326 (Listen)

Responsorial Psalm: The Lord is my light and my salvation, music by Richard Proulx (antiphon) and Pére Joseph Gelineau, SJ (verses) (Worship, #871)

Alleluia: same as last week

Offertory hymn: They cast their nets in Galilee, #437 (Listen)

- This is a lesser known tune.  This listen link plays about a verse and a half, the actual verse ending at about the 24-second mark.

Communion anthem:

- (Saturday) Be thou my vision, music by Jean-Hubert Desrocquettes

- (9 and 11:15) Cantate Domino canticum novum, music by Vincent d'Indy

- (7:30) organ improvisation

Meditation hymn: At the name of Jesus, #356 (verses 1-3)

Recessional hymn: Ye holy angels bright, #600

- same tune as the more familiar Rejoice, the Lord is King 

Peace,

BMP

SUNDAY II

I-19-14

A SEASON OF MANY NAMES

"Ordinary Time" (which the liturgical calendars in English and French call it), "Ordered Time" (a little more accurate in a sense that the Sundays are numbered in order), "of the Year" (more faithful to the Latin, "per Annum").  In the traditional liturgical calendar (used before 1969), this Sunday would have been named the "Second Sunday after the Epiphany" (which would have really been accurate, given this Sunday's Gospel reading).

As a composer whose concentration as of late has been re-working my own settings of responsorial Psalms, in using the Sunday or feast as a sub-header (the Psalm number being the title), I have been using the phrase "of the Year", which is, as I mentioned above, more faithful to the Latin.  Thus, "Dominica II per Annum" translates "2nd Sunday of the Year".

As for the "Second Sunday after the Epiphany" reference - last Sunday, the Baptism of the Lord, we heard Matthew's account of John the Baptist about to baptize Jesus.  This Sunday, we hear that story, one more time, according to John.  For that reason, three of the four hymns we sang last Sunday are repeated this Sunday (the meditation was the only change).

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass: Gloria (if sung) will be the chant setting from Mass VIII, which we have sung before.  The music is in Worship (red), #341.  The rest (Sanctus through Agnus Dei) will be from A Community Mass, by Richard Proulx, which we introduced last summer. (Listen)

The hymns for this Sunday come from the Maroon hymnal.

Entrance hymn: On Jordan's bank the baptist's cry, #10

Responsorial Psalm: Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will, music by Richard Proulx and Pére Joseph Gelineau, SJ.  (Listen)

- The listen link is one I created from the First Friday Mass of December 6, 2013, the feast of St. Nicholas, here at Sacred Heart.

Alleluia: music by Dom Anthony Gregory Murray, OSB.  (This is in Worship, #360)

Offertory hymn: Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding, #9

Communion anthem: In thee is gladness, a tune with a German title (In der ist Freude), written by an Italian (Giovanni Giacomo Gastoldi).

Meditation hymn: Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless, #213

Recessional hymn: Songs of thankfulness and praise, #53

Peace,

BMP

THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

January 12, 2014

The last day of Christmas!

One may notice a couple of hymns of an Advent nature here - the entrance and the offertory.  The reason being is that these hymns remind us of John the Baptist, that "herald's voice in the voice crying out, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths" ready to baptize his cousin, Jesus, that "one mighter than I" that John proclaims the coming of, that John also proclaims "I am unfit to even loosen his sandal straps".

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

All numbers given are found in the maroon hymnal.

Ordinary of the Mass and Alleluia: same as last Sunday (the last day for these!)

Entrance hymn: On Jordan's Bank, #10

Responsorial Psalm: The Lord will bless his people with peace, music by Gregory Evans.

Offertory hymn: Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding, #9

Communion anthem: Lorica of St. Patrick, Irish tune.

- This seems to be more of a Trinitarian hymn.  However, the second verse mentions "His incarnation" and "His Baptism in the Jordan River".  Although this is being sung during Communion as an anthem, you may follow along in the maroon hymnal at #268 if you wish.

Meditation hymn: Let all mortal flesh keep silence, #197 (Listen)

- The rendition on this listen link was nicely crafted at the historic Church of Saint Peter in Columbia, South Carolina. Mark Husey (who I never met personally but is a "Facebook friend") is the organist and choirmaster.

Recessional hymn: Songs of thankfulness and praise, #53 (Listen)

- This tune, but a little slower, but just as grand.  The congregation there (the famed Saint Bartholomew's in New York City) is singing the Easter hymn At the Lamb's High Feast we sing, using the same tune.

Peace,

BMP