THE MOST HOLY TRINITY

I made a somewhat strategic "switch-a-roo" in the usual selection of hymns for this weekend.  Normally, O God, almighty Father was placed at the recessional and Father Bucci would give us all three verses, not processing out until the third verse.  This enabled all three Persons of the Trinity to get their rightful praise, especially on this feast, as each Person (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) got his own verse in which he is praised.  Not many priests will hang around for even one verse these days.  I think in my 43 years as an organist only two would give at least a three-verse recessional.  Father Bucci was one of those two.  This year, with no Father Bucci, I felt it proper to move O God, almighty Father to the Offertory, where all three verses have a much better chance of being sung.

I moved Holy, holy, holy, previously programmed for the Offertory, to the Entrance slot, so that even if we do get just one verse, at least the first verse ends with "God in three Persons, blessed Trinity," and it isn't "one verse per Person of the Trinity" like O God, almighty Father.

As for the Recessional hymn, I went with Go, make of all disciples, which meshes well with the day's Gospel in which Jesus sends forth his disciples thus, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations.  Baptize them in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Messa Popolare "Laus Tibi Christe" (Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei)

- The music for the Memorial Acclamation and Amen are adaptations thereof, just as they were to the Mass setting we did throughout Easter.  Why do I say that?  Because at the time these two settings were written (late 1930s-early 1940s), there was no Memorial Acclamation in the Mass, nor an Amen to end the Canon (Eucharistic Prayer) other than a single simple Amen with a slight slur in the "men" syllable.  Those didn't become part of the Mass until 1969.

ALLELUIA: setting by Dom Anthony Gregory Murray, OSB (1905-1992)

The rest:

Entrance hymn: Holy, holy, holy ("Nicaea"/Pew Missal, #155)

Psalm 33: R./ Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own (Columba Kelly, OSB and Joseph Gelineau, SJ) (Worship hymnal, #860)

Offertory hymn: O God, almighty Father ("Gott Vater, sei Gepriesen/Pew Missal, #205)

Music during Communion:

- responsory: Psalm 78, R./ Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, alleluia (BMP) (PDF)

- or motet: Psalm 150 (Charles Villiers Stanford)

Recessional hymn: Go, make of all disciples ("Ellacombe"/Pew Missal, #137)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!

BMP

PENTECOST and HYMN ANNOUNCEMENTS REVISITED

As of the evening Mass of the Ascension, instead of announcing all of the hymns, I revisited the idea of only announcing the entrance hymn and to please consult the Mass Guide for all other hymns.  As many may know, this Mass Guide is usually tucked in the bulletin.  This time I tucked the bulletin inside the Mass Guide.  I now use letter-sized (8-1/2 x 11) paper for the Mass Guide instead of the ledger- (or tabloid-) sized (11 x 17) paper for the Mass Guide.  So by tucking the bulletin (which is 11 x 17) inside the smaller Mass Guide, both can easily be seen.

There are some (not many) parishes that make the practice of not announcing hymns at all, and with great success, whether they use a Mass Guide (or as some call it, a "worship aid") or a number board, or both.  Announcing the hymns (especially every single one) is an interruption of the liturgy pretty much the same as a eulogy being an interruption of a funeral Mass.  Another argument against announcing the hymns is one I heard in my first week of doing a Traditional Latin (Extraordinary Form) Mass.  We did sing an entrance and recessional hymn in English at the time.  After Mass, the pastor said to me, "They didn't do that in '62."  We had a number board, and they followed, and they sang.  In fact, they might not have even done it in '65 (shortly after the vernacular tongues were introduced in the Mass).  So why now, in '24?

So, for this weekend, the announcement will be, "Our entrance hymn is in the Red Worship hymnal, #482, Come, Holy Ghost.  For all other hymns and Mass music, please follow the Mass guide that came with today's bulletin."  Hopefully, soon enough, that announcement will go away, too.  The liturgy deserves a steady flow, just as it did "in '62."

And now, without further ado...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Sung Ordinary of the Mass

Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei: Missa Christo Risusciti (Luigi Picchi, 1899-1970).

Memorial Acclamation and Amen: adaptations from the same Mass setting.

Alleluia O Filii (Mode II/BMP)

The rest...

Entrance hymn: Come, holy Ghost (Worship hymnal, #482/"Lambillotte")

- Tune named after the composer, Fr. Louis Lambillotte, SJ, a 19th century French Jesuit.

Psalm 104: R./ Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth (Owen Alstott)

Sequence: Come, thou Holy Spirit, come (Mode I)

Offertory hymn: Fire of God, undying flame (Worship hymnal, #474/"Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland")

- The Advent hymn "Savior of the nations, come" uses this same tune.

Communion hymn: Veni, Creator Spiritus (Pew Missal, #272/Chant, Mode VIII)

- Depending on singer's availability, the setting by Oreste Ravanello may be used in alternating verses.  Incidentally, "Veni, Creator Spiritus" is the hymn from which the entrance hymn, "Come, Holy Ghost" is translated.

Meditation hymn: Regina Caeli (English and Latin) (in Mass Guide/Chant, Mode VI)

- This is the last week for this hymn until next Easter.  "Regina Caeli" is the Marian antiphon appointed for the Easter Season.

Recessional hymn: Now thank we all our God (Pew Missal, #197/"Nun Danket")

- The tune "Nun Danket" is named after the original German "Nun danket alle Gott", from which "Now thank we all our God" is translated.

The entrance, offertory, meditation and recessional hymns today are those picked by Father Bucci over the years.

Quod scripsi, scripsi!

BMP

ASCENSION and VII EASTER

This Thursday, the Ascension of the Lord, is a Holy Day of Obligation.  Masses are at 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM, both in the Church.

At the 11:15 AM Mass on Sunday, the CCD students will crown the Blessed Virgin Mary during the Entrance procession.

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Sung Ordinary of the Mass

Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei: Missa Christo Risusciti (Luigi Picchi, 1899-1970).

Memorial Acclamation and Amen: adaptations from the same Mass setting.

Alleluia O Filii (Mode II/BMP)

The rest...

May 9 - The Ascension of the Lord (9 AM and 7 PM)

Entrance hymn: Hail the day that sees him rise ("Llanfair"/Pew Missal, #149)

Psalm 47: R./ God mounts his throne to shouts of joy; a blare of trumpets for the Lord (Robert Twynham/Joseph Gelineau, SJ)

Offertory hymn: Crown him with many crowns ("Diademata"/Pew Missal, #119)

Communion responsory: Christus Vincit (BMP) (PDF)

- This version, which I wrote in 1999 and used successfully at Mass in the Extraordinary Form at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Providence, contains verses from Psalm 93 (Psalm 92 in the Vulgate numbering).  Some influences of the late Alexander Peloquin lurk in this composition.

Meditation hymn: Regina Caeli (English/Latin) (Mode VI/in Mass Guide)

Recessional hymn: Go, make of all disciples ("Ellacombe"/Pew Missal, #137)

- Closely related to the day's Gospel (Go and make disciples of all the nations...Baptize them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit...)

May 12 - Sunday VII of Easter

Entrance hymn: Hail, holy Queen enthroned above ("Salve Regina Caelitum"/Worship hymnal, #702)

Psalm 103: R./ The Lord has set his throne in heaven (BMP, adapted from the tune "Lauda Anima" by John Goss) (PDF)

- Many will find this melody as the opening line of the hymn "Praise, my soul, the King of heaven", thus the Latin tune name, "Lauda Anima".

Offertory hymn: Lord, who at thy first Eucharist didst pray ("Unde et Memores"/Pew Missal, #190)

- Closely related to the day's Gospel

Communion music:

- responsory: Psalm 122, R./ Father, now I come to you, alleluia, alleluia (BMP) (PDF)

- or motet: Ave Maria (Lorenzo Perosi)

Meditation hymn: Regina Caeli (English/Latin) (Mode VI/in Mass Guide)

Recessional hymn: Hail the day that sees him rise ("Llanfair"/Pew Missal, #149)

- Keeping with the Ascension theme.  In the traditional calendar, Ascension had an Octave, and this Sunday was known simply as "The Sunday in the Octave of the Ascension."

Quod scripsi, scripsi!

BMP

THE THREE DAY WEEKEND (SS. Philip and James and VI Easter)

This Friday (May 3) is our First Friday Sacred Heart Community Mass.  It is also the Feast of the Apostles SS. Philip and James.  Two of the hymns are seasonal in nature, and hymns that Fr. Bucci certainly would have picked during Paschaltide.  The other, the offertory hymn, Come, my way, my truth, my life, reflects the Alleluia verse in which Jesus tells Philip, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; Philip, whoever sees me has seen the Father."  The tune used for this hymn, "The Call," is taken from Five Mystical Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Sung Ordinary of the Mass

Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei: Missa Christo Risusciti (Luigi Picchi, 1899-1970).

Memorial Acclamation and Amen: adaptations from the same Mass setting.

The rest...

May 3 - Sacred Heart Community Mass (First Friday/6 PM)

Feast of SS. Philip and James

Entrance hymn: He is risen, he is risen ("Neander"/Maroon hymnal, #90)

Psalm 19: R./ Their message goes out through all the earth (BMP) (PDF)

Offertory hymn: Come, my way, my truth, my life ("The Call"/Pew Missal, #112)

Communion responsory: Psalm 33, R./ I am in the Father, and the Father in me, alleluia, alleluia (BMP) (PDF)

Recessional hymn: This joyful Eastertide ("Vreuchten"/Worship hymnal, #449)

May 5 - Sunday VI of Easter

Entrance hymn: Ye watchers and ye holy ones ("Lasst Uns Erfreuen"/Pew Missal, #287)

Psalm 98: R./ The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power (Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB) (PDF)

Offertory hymn: In heav'nly love abiding ("Nyland"/Maroon hymnal, #431)

Communion hymn: Daily, daily, sing to Mary ("Omni Die Dic Mariae"/Pew Missal, #120)
- Verses from the Latin Omni die dic Mariae may be sung in alternation from the choir loft.  The tune has a couple of other different names:  the German title "Alle Tage Sing und Sage", and simply "Sunrise."  This is the tune used in many a hymnal here in the United States.  In the United Kingdom and other English speaking countries, the popular tune there is "Daily, Daily", which is often heard from the belltower.  Listen links: Omni Die (USA) | Daily, Daily (UK, et al)

Meditation hymn: Regina Caeli (in English and Latin/in Mass Guide)
Recessional hymn: Go, make of all disciples ("Ellacombe"/Pew Missal, #137)

- I chose this based on the passage that appears late in the Gospel, "Go and bear fruit that will last".  This will also be the recessional for the Ascension (May 9), in which the same hymn alludes to even more of that day's Gospel reading.

Quod scripsi, scripsi!

BMP