Revisiting a good chunk of an article I wrote two years ago, also for the Second Sunday of Easter.
Liturgical Tidbits from Brian Michael Page
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
This Second Sunday of Easter, the eighth day of the Easter Octave, is traditionally known as “Low Sunday.” The origin of the name is unknown, but is meant to contrast between that first and final days of the Octave, between the high feast of Easter Sunday (and its Great Vigil) and the finale (Low Sunday) (source: newadvent.org).
Another name traditionally given is “Quasimodo Sunday,” not after the lead character in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but after the first word of the Introit in Latin: “Quasi modo geniti infantes, rationabile, sine dolo lac concupiscite” (Like newborn babes, crave for pure spiritual milk). Incidentally, the names “Gaudete Sunday” (for the Third Sunday of Advent) and “Laetare Sunday” (for the Fourth Sunday of Lent) are also after their respective Introits’ first words, both meaning “Rejoice.”
Today we name this day “Divine Mercy Sunday,” as decreed by Pope John Paul II in 2000 upon the canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska, who had received revelations from Our Lord Jesus Christ on the Divine Mercy (source: ewtn.com).
THREE SONGS OF THOMAS
In today’s Gospel, the Apostles revealed to Thomas, “We have seen the Lord.” Thomas replied that he will not believe it until he has put his finger into the nail marks or touch his hands or his side. Jesus replied, “You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me! Blessed are those who have not seen me but still believe!” (also repeated in today’s Alleluia verse). Three of today’s hymns reflect this.
Ye Sons and Daughters (Pew Missal, #286) – At the Offertory, we will skip the first three verses today and go right to the Gospel allusion, which begins with verse 4, which directly depicts the scene I mention in the above paragraph (which goes from verses 4 through 8).
Adoro Te Devote (Pew Missal, #75) – This hymn, which will be sung during Communion, has a couple of allusions. Although this hymn as sung today is in Latin, I call your attention to a couple of verses (I will use the most directly translated hymn, Godhead Here in Hiding.) Verses 2 and 4:
How says trusty hearing? That shall be believed;
What God’s Son has told me, take for truth I do;
Truth himself speaks truly, or there’s nothing true.
4. I am not like Thomas, wounds I cannot see,
But I plainly call thee Lord and God as he.
This faith each day deeper be my holding of,
Daily make me harder hope and dearer love.
Incidentally, the hymn text in Latin comes from another Thomas, that is, St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), author of several Eucharistic hymns, including the beloved Tantum Ergo.
We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight (on a sheet stapled to the bulletin) – The title here is self-explanatory. Here, while not calling out Thomas directly, we still “call out” his doubt in singing these words (Verses 1 and 2 are as follows):
Of him who spoke as none e’er spoke, But we believe him near.
2. We may not touch his hands and side, Nor follow where he trod,
But in his promise we rejoice, And cry, “My Lord and God!”
This is our recessional hymn today, set to the familiar tune, “St. Anne,” most commonly used with the hymn, O God, Our Help in Ages Past. The author is Henry Alford, who also gave us the beloved Thanksgiving hymn, Come, Ye Thankful People, Come.
And now, without further ado, the music for this Sunday
BMP
