THE SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST

This weekend we finish off the Easter Season with the Solemnity of Pentecost, the first in a series of solemnities taking place in the month of June, a month dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The series goes like this:

    June 8 (this Sunday): Pentecost, traditionally known as "Whitsunday"
    June 15 (next Sunday): The Most Holy Trinity
    June 22: The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, traditionally known as "Corpus Christi"
    June 24: The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (not a holyday of obligation, but still a solemnity)
    June 27: The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (always the Friday after Corpus Christi Sunday)                                     (Mass will be in the Church that day at 9 AM).  While not a holyday of obligation, it is
                    our parish's Patronal Feast.
    June 29: Saints Peter and Paul (trumps what normally would be Sunday XIII through the Year)

The Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, is always the day after Pentecost.  The Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is always the day after the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, this year falling on June 28.

On this weekend, the Solemnity of Pentecost, the Saturday Mass is the Vigil of Pentecost, with its own set of readings and propers.  There is an Extended Vigil and a Short Vigil.  The Extended Vigil has four Old Testament readings plus Epistle and Gospel.  Like the seven Old Testament readings in the Easter Vigil, each reading the Extended Vigil of Pentecost has its own Responsorial Psalm attached to it.  This Saturday, we will be using the Short Vigil, which, like any other normal weekend Mass, only the usual three readings (First, Second and Gospel) are read.  Any one of the four Old Testament readings may be chosen for the First Reading.  The Psalm is that attached to the fourth Old Testament reading, that is, Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth (Psalm 104).

There is also a Sequence that is chanted on Sunday (required), but omitted on Saturday.

Finally, congratulations to Mr. Michael Prew, who will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at the 10 AM Mass this Sunday.  The confirmation name he chose is Francis.

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Missa Cristo Risusciti (Luigi Picchi) (Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus)

- Memorial Acclamation and Amen are adapted from parts of the above Mass.

ALLELUIA "O Filii" (Mode II, arr. and versicle music BMP)

The rest...

Entrance hymn: Come, Holy Ghost ("Lambillotte")
- I really don't think we need a listen link for this one.

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

- NOTE: The same response applies for both the Vigil and Sunday Masses.  However, the versicles differ.

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

Offertory hymn: O breathe on me, thou breath of God ("St. Columba") (Listen)
- The tune is the same as the tune we sing for "The King of love my Shepherd is".

Communion hymn: Veni, Creator Spiritus (Mode VIII)

- On Sunday, the verses will alternate between the chant tune and that of Oreste Ravanello. Incentally, the entrance hymn, "Come, Holy Ghost", is a translation of select verses of "Veni, Creator Spiritus".
Meditation hymn: Regina Caeli (Mode VI/English and Latin)
- The final day of this Marian Antiphon
Recessional hymn: Creator Spirit, by whose aid ("St. Catherine") (Listen)

- The listen link is to the familiar hymn "Faith of our fathers".  The hymn we will be singing, "Creator Spirit, by whose aid" is the same tune.

Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth!

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP