ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Masses Wednesday, August 14, at 6 PM,
and Thursday, August 15, at 9 AM and 7 PM

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

All numbers are in the red hymnal, Worship, all of which are familiar.  The Alleluia and sung Ordinary from the Sanctus through the Agnus Dei remain the same.

Entrance hymn: 702 Hail, holy Queen enthroned above

Gloria: Gloria VIII (chant), or recited (Father's discretion)

Responsorial Psalm: The queen stands at your right hand arrayed in gold, music by yours truly

- Click here for instructional video I created about this Psalm setting for my own podcast series "iSNARK! TV" two years ago (That year, the holy day fell on a Monday, and the obligation was lifted).

Offertory hymn: 712 O Sanctissima

Communion anthem: 

- (Evening Masses): Ave Maria, setting by Franz Schubert (cantor: Elaine)

- (Morning Mass): Ave Maria, setting by Jacob Arcadelt (cantor: yours truly)

Meditation hymn: 703 Salve Regina 

Recessional hymn: 708 Immaculate Mary

Peace,

BMP

SUNDAY XIX

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Alleluia and Sung Mass Ordinary same as the previous few weeks.

Entrance hymn: Maroon #780 (in the back "supplement" section) Christ is made the sure foundation

Responsorial Psalm: Worship #921 Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own, music of the antiphon by Fr. Columba Kelly, OSB; music of the versicles by Pére Joseph Gelineau, SJ

Offertory hymn: Maroon #4 Rejoice, rejoice, believers (Listen)

Communion anthem: Soul of my Savior, music by William J. Maher, arrangement from the Pius X Hymnal

Meditation hymn: Maroon #356, first tune At the Name of Jesus (Listen)

Recessional hymn: Maroon #600 Ye holy angels bright
- Same tune as Rejoice, the Lord is King, which we sang a couple of weeks ago.

Peace,
BMP

FIRST FRIDAY and SUNDAY XVIII

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Sung Alleluia and Ordinary of the Mass same as the last few weeks.

VIII-2-13 at 6 PM: FIRST FRIDAY

Entrance hymn: O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine

Responsorial Psalm: Sing with joy to God, our help, music by yours truly.

Offertory hymn: Back of missalette, #38, Soul of my Savior (Listen)

- Those who frequent our First Friday Masses will get a head start on this one.  It will also be our meditation hymn for this Saturday and Sunday.  Also, the duet and I have sung this piece before as an anthem during Holy Communion.  The hymn is a translation of the beloved Anima Christi. 

Communion hymn: Cor Jesu Trinitatis, music: altered form of Gott Soll Gepriesen

Recessional hymn: To Jesus' Heart, all-burning

VIII-4-13: SUNDAY XVIII of ORDERED TIME

Entrance hymn: Maroon hymnal, #301, Immortal, invisible, God only wise (Listen)

Responsorial Psalm: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts, music by Owen Alstott

- music as written in the missalette for August 4

Offertory hymn: Maroon hymnal, #424, I heard the voice of Jesus say (Listen)

- Neither of the two tunes in the Maroon hymnal are familiar, so we are singing the words from the hymnal to the more familiar tune (see Listen link above)

Communion anthem: Cantate Domino Canticum Novum, music by Vincent d'Indy

Meditation hymn: Back of missalette, #38, Soul of my Savior

- See First Friday list, above, for notes on this hymn.

Recessional hymn: Maroon hymnal, #288, O worship the King (Listen)

Peace,
BMP

SUNDAY XVII and the so-called INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE

One of the most loved hymns sung in Catholic and Protestant churches alike is Faith of Our Fathers.  The text was written by Frederick W. Faber, who was raised Anglican, but became a Catholic priest.  In fact, Fr. Faber was a Catholic priest at the time he wrote Faith of Our Fathers, and many other hymns.  His second most popular is probably There's a Wideness in God's Mercy.  However, it is Faith of Our Fathers that we will be singing at the Offertory this Sunday.

As many have probably seen in our Worship hymnal (this edition of Worship we use is the third edition, 1986), there is a sizable number of hymns whose texts have been altered so that they contain this so-called inclusive language.  A couple of things must be understood.  1) Hymn texts are poetry.  They are not conversation.  2) In such poetry, that is, the hymn texts, words such as "mankind", "fathers", "brothers", were intended to include women, too.  "Man" is treated as a translation of the Latin word "homo" (and its more popular form "hominis"), which pertains to the human being, as opposed to the more masculine "vir", which pertains to the male gender.  Despite this explanation I give, a number of left wingers, circa 1980, decided that the hymn texts "weren't fair" to women and needed a change.  Just like many politicians these days feel our Constitution needs a change.  The need for such change is a myth, for the two reasons I stated above.

Putting two-and-two together, how many remember the book Monthly Missalette?  This is the missalette that was used in many a parish before Today's Missal and its infamous Music Issue became popular.  Until about 1987, Faith of Our Fathers appeared in every edition of Monthly Missalette (which, by the way, became Seasonal Missalette around 1985).  Anyways, for about a year, there was no Faith of Our Fathers, and I chatted with someone from the publisher, J. S. Paluch Company of Chicago, Illinois.  When I asked about the absence of the beloved hymn, the rep from Paluch said, "Oh, the ladies have been screaming over that!"  I found that awfully hard to believe, as many ladies sang (and still sing) this hymn boldly.  The hymn was eventually restored.

Worse scenario: Since 1997, GIA Publications, the publishers of our Worship hymnal, have removed Faith of Our Fathers and replaced it with A Living Faith, which is an ill-fated attempt to eliminate the entire meaning of the former.  Thankfully, the edition of Worship we have kept Faith of Our Fathers pretty much intact.  However, we'll be using the authentic text, which is in our maroon hymnal.

Moral of the story: the need for so-called "inclusive language" is a myth, and nothing but.

That said...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Numbers for this Sunday will once again be from the Maroon hymnal.

Alleluia and Mass Ordinary will be the same throughout July and August.

Entrance hymn: 484 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates (which we've done before)

Responsorial Psalm: Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me, music by Frs. Ralph Verdi (antiphon) and Joseph Gelineau (verses).  Can be found in Worship at #415.

Offertory hymn: 393 Faith of our fathers (Yes, the REAL Faith of our fathers)

Communion anthem: To you I lift my soul, text by John Dunn, music by John Ireland
- John Dunn was assistant to Ted Marier at the Boston Archdiocesan Choir School (now St. Paul's Choir School) at St. Paul's Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Marier was the Choir School's founding director and wrote a good number of hymn tunes, as well as a good number of accompaniments to Gregorian chant tunes.  Dunn wrote a good number of hymn texts, many based on Psalms, many of which appear in the hymnal Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Canticles, which was published at the Choir School (latest edition, 1984) and still used at St. Paul's and a handful of other parishes today.

Meditation hymn: 211 Come with us, O blessed Jesus (Listen)
- The tune used here, Werde Munter, is also used for the classic Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, arranged by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Recessional hymn: 277 From all that dwell below the skies (familiar tune)
- Another memory from the aforementioned Monthly Missalette:  All those issues I grew up with in the 1970's and 1980's contained Praise God, from whom all blessings flow as the first verse and From all that dwell below the skies (a hymn in itself) as the next two verses.  In the maroon hymnal, it's flip-flopped - From all that dwell is the first two verses and Praise God is the final verse.

Peace,
BMP

SUNDAY XVI

VII-21-13; MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Numbers for this Sunday will once again be from the Maroon hymnal.

Alleluia and Mass Ordinary will be the same throughout July and August.

Entrance hymn: 326 To the Name of our salvation (Listen)
- Hymn linked is Joseph, be our guide and pattern, which uses the same tune.

Responsorial Psalm: He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord, music by Owen Alstott (melody can be found in the missalette under July 21)

 

Offertory hymn: 438, first tune I need thee every hour (Listen)

 

Communion anthem: Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All, music by Mother Alexis Donnelly of the Sisters of Mercy.  Special thanks to David Sylvester, my predecessor and good friend, for furnishing me the music to this.

 

Meditation hymn: 462, first tune Jesus, the very thought of thee (Listen)

 

Recessional hymn: 355, first tune All hail the pow'r of Jesus' Name (Listen)

- Sorry, we don't use crashing cymbals.  But a nice triumphant tune just the same without them. ;)

 

Peace,

BMP

SUNDAY XV

VII-14-13; MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

The sung Ordinary of the Mass and the Alleluia are the same settings as we did last Sunday.  We'll be using these throughout July and August.

 

The hymn numbers for this Sunday are all in the Maroon Hymnal.

 

Entrance hymn: 479, first tune Love divine, all loves excelling

- familiar tune, same as Alleluia! sing to Jesus.

 

Responsorial Psalm: Turn to the Lord in your need and you will live, music by Owen Alstott.

- musical setting as found in the missalette under "July 14".

 

Offertory hymn: 415, first tune Jesus, lover of my soul

- We last sang this on June 16.

 

Communion anthem: Ubi caritas, chant, Mode VI

- Although intended to be used as an anthem, it's easy enough for the people to join in.  You can find this in the Worship hymnal at #598.  We will be singing the text in Latin.  The English text is there as a guide.

 

Meditation hymn: 345, first tune The King of love my shepherd is (Listen)

 

Recessional hymn: 350 Rejoice, the Lord is king (Listen)

- Note: The Maroon hymnal uses two different tunes for this text.  However, we are using the tune in the listen link given, as it is far more familiar.  Please follow the hymnal, however, for the words.

 

Peace,
BMP

FIRST FRIDAY and SUNDAY XIV

The three-day weekend!

For the months of July and August, we'll be using A Community Mass by Richard Proulx for the sung settings of the Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation (When we eat this bread...), Amen, and Agnus Dei (all in English).  If the Gloria is sung, it will be Latin, using the chant setting from Mass VIII, which we have done before.

VII-5-13 (6 PM); SACRED HEART COMMUNITY MASS
(First Friday)

Entrance hymn: sheet in pew, O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine

Responsorial Psalm: missalette (Daily Mass section, July 5), psalm tone 8G

Alleluia: music by Owen Alstott

Offertory hymn: Cor Jesu Trinitatis
- Those who were at the 11:15 Mass last Sunday heard this at the offertory.

Ordinary of the Mass: A Community Mass, music by Richard Proulx

- Click here to hear the complete Mass.  As for the music we're singing from it, the Sanctus starts at the 3:45 mark, the Memorial Acclamation (When we eat this bread...) starts at the 5:30 mark, the Amen starts at the 6:40 mark, and the Agnus Dei starts at the 7:00 mark.  I know it's been a few months since we've sung an English setting, and for that reason I should remind everyone that the English Sanctus is "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts", (not "God of power and might").

 

Communion hymn: Panis Angelicus, music from a Hungarian source

 

Recessional hymn: sheet in pew, To Jesus' Heart, all-burning

 

VII-7-13; Sunday XIV

 

Hymn numbers today will all be found in the red Worship hymnal.

 

Entrance hymn: 615 The kingdom of God (Listen)

- The hymn Ye servants of God, which is heard in the listen link, is the same tune as the hymn we will be singing.  This tune is also used for Sing praise to the Lord (or it's original title, O praise ye the Lord).  It is one a few tunes in the Worship hymnal that are written by English composer Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry.  Sir Parry's choral music has been used at many a royal ceremony at Westminster Abbey, and is a favorite composer of Prince Charles.

- The source of the listen link given here is the Shrine of the Little Flower, Baltimore, Maryland.

 

Gloria (if sung): Mass VIII

 

Responsorial Psalm: Let all the earth cry out to God with joy, music by yours truly

 

Alleluia: see First Friday list, above

 

Offertory hymn: 470 Lord, you give the great commission (Listen)

- The above-listed Gloria is also included in the listen link.  The organist and conductor in this video is an internet friend of mine, Mr. Mark Husey.  This was taken at his parish, St. Peter's in Columbia, South Carolina.

 

Ordinary of the Mass: see First Friday list, above

 

Communion anthem: In the cross of Christ I glory, melody from Southern Harmony, arranged by yours truly

- Southern Harmony is an Early American collection of hymn tunes.  You may sing along if you wish.  The melody is in the maroon hymnal, #777.

 

Meditation hymn: 728 Shepherd of souls

 

Recessional hymn: 628 Go, make of all disciples

 

Peace,

BMP

SUNDAY XIII

...and a special 11:15 Mass in honor of two great saints,
Peter and Paul!

As a result, there will be some special music and our brass trio at the 11:15 Mass this Sunday!

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Introit (11:15 only): Proper Introit in Latin for VI Pentecost, music from the Liber Usualis

- Translation: (ANTIPHON) The Lord is the strength of his people, and the protector of the salvation of his anointed: save, O Lord, thy people, and bless thy inheritance and rule them for ever.

(PSALM) Unto thee will I cry, O Lord: O my God, be thou not silent to me, lest if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen. (Repeat ANTIPHON)

 

Entrance Hymn (all Masses): Maroon hymnal, #279 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

 

Kyrie (sung at 11:15 only): Missa "Te Deum Laudamus", music by Lorenzo Perosi

 

Gloria:

- except 11:15: recited, or Missa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe", music by Federico Caudana

- 11:15 only: Missa "Te Deum Laudamus", music by Lorenzo Perosi

 

Responsorial Psalm (all Masses): You are my inheritance, O Lord, music by Owen Alstott

- Music is in the missalette, under "June 30".

 

Alleluia (all Masses): Chant, mode VI (the Alleluia that we've been singing throughout June)

 

Credo (sung at 11:15 only): Credo III, music can be found in Worship, #345 (Listen)

 

Offertory:

- except 11:15: HYMN: Maroon hymnal, #570, second tune O Jesus, I have promised (Listen)

- - (Notes: 1. The title in the link is different, but the tune is the same.  2. We sing this tune one step lower than played in the link.)

- 11:15 only: TWO PIECES - 1. Proper Offertory in Latin for VI Pentecost, music from The Complete Proper of the Mass, by Koch and Greene, and 2. Cor Jesu Trinitatis, tune: "Gott Soll Gepriesen", arranged by yours truly (We sang this at our Patronal Feast.)

- - Translation of the Proper: Perfect thou my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps not be moved: incline thy ear and hear my words: show forth thy wonderful mercies, thou who savest them that trust in thee, O Lord.

 

Sanctus:

- except 11:15: Missa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe", music by Federico Caudana

- 11:15 only: Missa "Te Deum Laudamus", music by Lorenzo Perosi

 

Memorial Acclamation:

- except 11:15: When we eat this bread..., adapted from excerpts of the Gloria from the "Laus Tibi Christe" Mass

- 11:15 only: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine, music in Worship, #349

 

Amen:

- except 11:15: the Amen that ends the Gloria from the "Laus Tibi Christe" Mass

- 11:15 only: single Amen (two notes: Do Do-Re, or, if you like modes, Fa Fa-So)

- - Note: The single two-note Amen is the Amen that traditionally ends the Roman Canon (now "Eucharistic Prayer I"), and to this day still ends the Roman Canon in many Masses where the Roman Canon is prayed in Latin.

 

Agnus Dei:
- except 11:15: Missa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe", music by Federico Caudana
- 11:15 only: Missa "Te Deum Laudamus", music by Lorenzo Perosi

Communion:
- except 11:15: Be thou my vision, music by Jean-Hubert Desrocquettes, arranged by yours truly
- 11:15 only: TWO PIECES: 1. Proper Communion in Latin for VI Pentecost, music from the Liber Usualis, and 2. Ave Verum, music by Camille Saint-Saëns.
- - Translation of the Proper: I will go round, and offer up in his Tabernacle a sacrifice of jubilation; I will sing and recite a Psalm to the Lord.

Meditation hymn (except 11:15): Maroon hymnal, #405 I sought the Lord, (Listen)

Recessional hymn (all Masses): Worship, #524, Holy God, we praise thy Name

Peace,
BMP

SUNDAY XII

...and some more lessons on liturgical nomenclature

As I present the music for this coming weekend, I'm going to notate on some "terms" used when compiling a music list for Holy Mass.

 

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

 

Sung Ordinary of the Mass: Messa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe", music by Federico Caudana (the setting we've been using throughout the month of June)

 

- The sung Mass has two different categories of chants.  The aforementioned "Ordinary" is the collective name given to the fixed texts of the Mass - they are the same throughout.  The Ordinary would consist of such pieces as the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei.

- The other category of Mass chants is the "Proper".  These chants vary from day to day.  The Proper includes the Responsorial Psalm and Alleluia, and more traditionally, the Introit, Gradual, Offertory, and Communion chants that are appointed by the Church.  (Yes, the Alleluia is a Proper.  Although the response of the people is the same, Alleluia, except during Lent, the verse still varies from day to day.)

 

Entrance hymn: Maroon 343 Praise to the holiest in the height (First tune) (Listen)

 

- A good number of parishes will announce a "gathering song" instead.  As I mentioned a few months ago in a post, there is no such thing as a "gathering song".  If you're singing and gathering at the same time, you're probably late for Mass.  "Entrance hymn", or even more accurate, "Entrance chant" comes from the Latin "Introitus", from where we get our "Introit" in the traditional Mass.  It focuses on the procession of the priest "in persona Christi" (in the person of Christ), as to where "gathering song" simply focuses on the people gathered.

 

Responsorial Psalm: My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord, my God, music by Fr. Samuel Weber

 

Alleluia: Mode VI chant (same as last few weeks)

 

- Again, the Alleluia is the Proper, not the Ordinary, as the verse text (sung by the cantor(s)) varies from day to day.

- "Mode VI" is one of eight Gregorian modes used in chant melodies.  Other modes that "sound" major are Modes V, VII, and VIII.  Modes I and II "sound" blatantly minor.  Modes III and IV seem like they could go either way, but the tonic of those two modes are ultimately minor (that is, should you use actually put the melody over its tonic chord, which is minor).

 

Offertory hymn: Worship 634 Take up your cross

 

- Sorry, I don't have a listen link available.  We have done this one before.  Nice Italian tune: O Jesu, mi dulcissime. 

- Mainstream parishes will refer to the Offertory as the "Preparation Song", or "Song at the Preparation of the Gifts", or the grammatically insipid "Preparation of the Gifts Song".  No matter which way you slice it, the "Preparation of the Altar and Gifts" is the action taking place by Father.  The hymn or chant being sung is still, even to this day, the "Offertory", as we offer our gifts (the money, to a minor extent, as that helps a parish operate, but to a far greater extent, the Bread and Wine which become the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ).  Consider the words spoken by the celebrant (aloud when there is no singing, silently when there is singing): Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread/wine we OFFER you..."

 

Communion anthem:

- (5:00 Saturday): TBA

- (7:30 Sunday): organ improvisation

- (9:00 and 11:15): O Sacrum Convivium, music by Roberto Remondi

 

- In many "mainstream parishes", at this time you may hear some pop ditty that focuses on "we are gathered as one" (there we go with that word "gather" again), instead of giving reverence to our Eucharistic Lord.  Here at Sacred Heart, we are firm believers that the spoken word and music must agree.  As the spoken word reverences our Eucharistic Lord, so must our music.  "Come and sit at my table and be one in this banquet hall on holy ground" just does not satisfy that reverence.  It's more focused on the people receiving the Lord.  Our music here should focus on the Lord we receive.

 

Meditation hymn: Worship 728 Shepherd of souls (Listen)

 

- A meditation hymn is completely optional, but certainly good to have.  Some parishes sing a "hymn of praise" in this spot (both nomenclatures here are fine, according to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal).  Some parishes use a Marian Antiphon (as we do throughout Easter Season with the Regina Caeli), also perfectly fine.

 

Recessional hymn: on the sheet in the pew, To Jesus' Heart, all-burning

 

- Often mis-named in many churches as a "Sending Forth Song" (more insipid grammar) or "Song of Sending Forth", or some just say, a "Sending Song".  Again, we need to re-shift our focus off the people and back onto Christ.  Thus the "Recessional Hymn", which focuses on, once again, the priest celebrant "in persona Christi" as he leaves the sanctuary.

 

Some fellow bloggers, along with myself, started use of a really good saying about eight years ago:

SAVE THE LITURGY, SAVE THE WORLD!

 

The goal is to bring us closer to heaven, not to bring heaven to us.  The former is my goal as a parish organist.  It is (obviously) the goal of Fr. Bucci, our pastor.  I think I can safely say it is our goal as a parish.  It should be the goal of all parishes.

 

Peace,

BMP

SUNDAY XI

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Numbers refer to the Maroon hymnal ("The Hymnal").

The sung Ordinary of the Mass (Gloria, if sung, and from Sanctus to Agnus Dei), and the Alleluia before the Gospel are the same as the past three weeks.

Entrance hymn: 282 Praise, my soul, the King of heaven (Listen)

- Note about the performance on the listen link: the two organists preforming this at the Methuen Music Hall (Methuen, Massachusetts) are using the grandiose Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ of the Hall, and a smaller Rodgers digital organ (our organ at Sacred Heart is a Rodgers).  The two performers themselves, Douglas Marshall and David Ogeltree, are partners of an organ firm that until not long ago was the New England representatives for the Rodgers Organ Company.  They have been concentrating as of late on building their own digital organs, many to high-profile clients such as Ave Maria University, Florida, and Trinity (Episcopal) Wall Street, New York City.

 

Responsorial Psalm: Lord, forgive the wrong I have done, music by Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB

- Fr. Weber is at the Institute of Sacred Music at the Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.  Many of his settings, like those of Richard Rice that we often use, are chant-style.

 

Offertory hymn: 415 (First tune) Jesus, lover of my soul (Listen)

- An Advent-themed tune, titled Watchman, tell us of the night, often is sung to this tune as well.

 

Communion anthem: 431 In heav'nly love abiding

- Being used as an anthem by our duet for this weekend, but can also be used as a hymn.  Number here is given.  Feel free to sing along.  ;)

 

Meditation hymn: 418 Blest are the pure in heart (Listen)

 

Recessional hymn: on sheets in the pew, To Jesus' Heart, all-burning

- Reminder: please leave the sheets in the pew when Holy Mass is finished.

 

Peace,

BMP

 

 

THIS COMING THREE-DAY WEEKEND

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
VI-7-13 / 6 PM

The patronal feast of our parish.  Also the First Friday of June.  Two years ago, you might remember, the patronal feast fell on the First Friday of July (July 1, to be exact).  Why is this?  The same reason that the dates of Ash Wednesday, Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity, and Corpus Christi vary so widely - they all depend on the date of Easter, which depends on the date of the spring equinox for that year.  Thus, Easter can fall anytime from March 22 to April 25, meaning that the patronal feast of the Sacred Heart can fall anytime from May 29 to July 2.

 

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

 

There will be music sheets provided for the entrance and recessional hymns for this day.  We ask that you please leave them in the pew after Mass, as the recessional hymn will be repeated for the Saturday and Sunday Masses.

 

Entrance hymn: O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine

 

Gloria: same as last Sunday

 

Responsorial Psalm: Worship, #32 My shepherd is the Lord; nothing indeed shall I want, music by Pére Joseph Gelineau, SJ

 

Alleluia: same as last Sunday

 

Offertory anthem (singers and brass): Cor Jesu Trinitatis, sung to an altered form of the German hymn tune Gott Soll Gepriesen, which is often associated with a "Lost 45" titled Accept, Almighty Father, which probably hasn't appeared in a hymnal or missalette since the mid 1970's (last appearances would have been Worship II, an earlier edition of the Worship hymnal currently in our pews, and Monthly Missalette, now known as Seasonal Missalette).

 

Sanctus through Agnus Dei: same as last Sunday, including the Fanfare in B-flat by John Ferguson as music during the elevations.

 

Communion anthem (singers): Ave Verum, music by Camille Saint-Saëns

 

Meditation hymn: Worship, #488 Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All

 

Benediction music:

757 O Salutaris Hostia and 758 Tantum Ergo (both in Latin)

Fanfare in B-flat (organ and brass), music by John Ferguson

 

Recessional hymn: To Jesus' Heart, All-Burning

 

 

Sunday X / VI-9-13

 

"Sunday X" - shorthand for "The Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time", or really "Ordered Time" - ordered numbering of those weeks that are not within one of the actual seasons in the liturgical calendar (Advent, Christmas, Lent, or Easter).  The resuming of Ordinary Time actually began with the Seventh Week on the Monday after Pentecost (remember, Pentecost closes Easter Season; it does not resume Ordinary Time).  Most Holy Trinity and the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ superseded (trumped, if you will) the Eighth and Ninth Sundays.

 

By no means should "Ordinary Time" be defined as "plain old, run-of-the-mill, less sacred, less solemn, etc.", or (using a word that I think emanated from the late Fr. Rene Gagne, a former pastor of mine) "anti-climactic".

 

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

 

Numbers will be from the red Worship hymnal.  The Gloria may be sung or said, at Father's discretion.  If it is sung, it will be the same as we've been doing the past few weeks.  The sung Alleluia, and sung Ordinary from the Sanctus through the Agnus Dei will also be the same as the previous couple of weeks.

 

The rest of the music:

 

Entrance hymn: 617 Christ is made the sure foundation (Listen)

 

Responsorial Psalm: I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me, music in Worship, #894

 

Offertory hymn: 750 Your hands, O Lord, in days of old, Sorry I don't have a listen link available, but rest assured that this is a hymn we have sung before.

 

Communion anthem: Soul of my Savior, a translation of the Anima Christi set to music by William Maher.  The arrangement we are using comes from the Pius X Hymnal.

 

Meditation hymn: 491 To Christ, the Prince of Peace (Listen)

 

Recessional hymn: To Jesus' Heart, all-burning (provided on sheet in pew)

 

Peace,
BMP

The MOST HOLY BODY and BLOOD of CHRIST and FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

VI-2-13

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, or, as we traditionally know it, Corpus Christi.  In addition, six children will receive Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist for the first time at the 11:15 AM Mass this Sunday, appropriately dated on a solemnity that is Eucharistically themed to begin with.

 

Also, at the 5:00 Saturday and 11:15 Sunday Masses, we will conclude with Benediction.

 

HOW DID THE NAME CHANGE COME ABOUT?

 

Some may ask: If it's Corpus Christi, then why does the missalette say Body and Blood of Christ?  The full Latin name in the liturgical calendar as we know it today would actually be Corpus et Sanguis Christi.  But in the liturgical calendar before 1969, the Body of Christ (Corpus Christi) and the Blood of Christ (designated as "Precious Blood") fell on two separate dates.  Corpus Christi, whose date is movable and (like Ascension, Pentecost, and Trinity) depends on the date of Easter, until the late 1960's did not fall on a Sunday at all.  It was the Thursday after Trinity Sunday (the Sunday after that was merely the Second Sunday after Pentecost).  The feast of the Precious Blood fell on the fixed date of July 1.

 

Since 1969, Corpus Christi and Precious Blood have been consolidated to one date, that Second Sunday after Pentecost.  Even in Masses celebrated in the Extraordinary Form (the Traditional Latin Mass according to the Roman Missal of 1962), where Corpus Christi would still fall on the Thursday date, some parishes will celebrate the traditional Mass of Corpus Christi on Sunday as an external solemnity.  Thus the new name, Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

 

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS:

 

The brass trio (dubbed by yours truly, "The Plumbers") will be on hand to enhance all Masses this weekend except for the 7:30 AM.  Numbers given are in Worship (red hymnal).

 

Entrance hymn: 363 Lift up your heads, O mighty gates (same tune as Christ is alive, which we sang during Easter Season).

 

Gloria: Messa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe", music by Federico Caudana (which we've been singing all along)

 

Responsorial Psalm: You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek, music by Richard Rice

- ("Melchizedek", pronounced "Mel-KEE-zeh-deck").

 

In place of the Sequence: 758 Tantum Ergo (in Latin)

 

Alleluia: chant, Mode VI

 

Offertory hymn: 737 Alleluia! sing to Jesus

 

Sanctus through Agnus Dei: same as last weekend

(In addition, at the 5:00 and 11:15 Masses: during the Elevation of the Host and Chalice, the brass will lead the short Fanfare in B-flat by John Ferguson.)

 

Communion anthem: Ave Verum by Camille Saint-Saëns

 

Meditation hymn (7:30 and 9:00 Masses): 488 Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All

 

Benediction music (5:00 and 11:15 Masses):

757 O Salutaris Hostia and 758 Tantum Ergo (both in Latin)

 

Recessional hymn (ALL Masses): 524 Holy God, we praise Thy Name

 

Peace,

BMP

The SOLEMNITY of the MOST HOLY TRINITY

Two beloved hymns I can never imagine going without on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (or as many of us still call it for short, Trinity Sunday): Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty and a translation of the German hymn Gott Vater! sei Gepriesen.  You'll recognize the refrain in English that is part of the Gott Vater!:

- - O Most Holy Trinity, Undivided Unity, Holy God, mighty God, God immortal, be adored!

 

The great news is that these two familiar hymns are part of the list of hymns for this Sunday's Mass!

 

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

 

The sung ordinary of the Mass for this weekend and throughout the month of June is from Messa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe" by Federico Caudana.  These are sung parts of the Mass that we have sung before.  (Listen links: Gloria - Agnus Dei).

 

While the sung Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei are in Latin in this setting, the Memorial Acclamation (our response to the celebrant's call, Mysterium fidei, or The Mystery of faith) is in English, using the second of the three English options: When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again.  The Mass setting was written long before the "Memorial Acclamation" was introduced to the Mass (hint: the composer died in 1963, six years before the Memorial Acclamation was added).  Therefore, the music to the Memorial Acclamation is an adaptation of a couple of brief passages of the Gloria.

 

The music for the Amen, which concludes the Eucharistic Prayer, is simply the same as the triple Amen that concludes the Gloria.

 

The rest of the music (numbers are from the red hymnal, Worship):

 

Entrance hymn: 487 Come now, almighty King (Listen)

 

Responsorial Psalm: O Lord, our God, how wonderful your Name in all the earth!, music by Owen Alstott (found in the missalette along with the readings for May 26).

 

Alleluia: chant setting, mode VI (Listen - you'll recognize this instantly!)

 

Offertory hymn: 485 Holy, holy, holy

 

Communion anthem: Psalm 150 (O praise God in His holiness), music by Charles Villiers Stanford

 

Meditation hymn: 488 Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All

 

Recessional hymn: 484 O God, almighty Father

- the translation of the aforementioned Gott Vater! that is in Worship and several other hymnals!

 

Peace,

BMP

PENTECOST

The day of Pentecost, the birth of the true Church, our Church, founded by Jesus Christ.  As Father Bucci said last weekend in his homily, it is Christ that built our Church, our "city of God".  We don't "build it", despite what Dan Schutte wrote in his little ditty, "City of God", which (thankfully) is fading in popularity as more priests faithful to Catholic teaching are emerging, filled with that same Holy Spirit that Jesus sent to his disciples ("Receive the Holy Spirit").

 

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS:

 

Sung Mass parts (Alleluia and Ordinary) are the same as the previous seven weekends.  This will be the last weekend of these musical settings (except for the Gloria), as these settings are based on hymns normally sung during Paschal Time (Easter to Pentecost).  Numbers given are from the red Worship hymnal.

 

The rest of the music:

 

Entrance hymn: 482 Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest

 

Responsorial Psalm: Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth, setting by Owen Alstott, music in the missalette with the readings for "May 19, Pentecost".

 

Sequence: Veni, Sancte, Spiritus, a Mode I Gregorian chant, music found in the missalette with the readings for "May 19, Pentecost".  This is sung just after the second reading, and the Alleluia immediately follows the Sequence.  As per custom at Sacred Heart, we sang the Easter sequence in English, and we sing the Pentecost sequence in Latin. (Listen)

 

Offertory hymn: 474 Fire of God, undying flame (Listen)

- A well-known Advent hymn, Savior of the nations, come, is sung to the same tune.

 

Communion anthem: Spirit seeking light and beauty (Gaelic tune, Dohnmach Trionoide)

 

Meditation hymn: 443 O Queen of Heaven/Regina Caeli

- Side note for those not familiar with "Marian Antiphons": There are four "Marian Antiphons", really they are hymns to Mary and not actual antiphons (an antiphon is normally associated with a Psalm passage, or verse).  These hymns are usually sung seasonally and are as follows:

- - Advent through February 2 (Presentation of Our Lord): Alma Redemptoris Mater

- - February 2 through Good Friday: Ave Regina Caelorum

- - Easter through Pentecost: Regina Caeli

- - Day after Pentecost through the last Saturday before Advent: Salve Regina

 

Recessional hymn: 560 Now thank we all our God

 

Peace,
BMP

SUNDAY VII of EASTER

V-12-13

 

Many dioceses outside of the Northeast celebrate the Ascension on the Sunday that follows.  Luckily, we're in the Northeast, which means we celebrated the Ascension last Thursday, the proper day - that is, 40 days after our Lord's Resurrection.  Traditionally, the Ascension had an octave which would run until next Thursday (16 May).  Scripturally, our readings for this Sunday, the Seventh Sunday of Easter, still reflect the theme of the Ascension.  The hymns of the day reflect that.

 

On another note, a happy and blessed Mother's Day for all mothers reading it.  At the 7:30 AM Mass, the CCD children will crown the Blessed Mother during the entrance procession.

 

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

 

All numbers listed refer to the red Worship hymnal.   Alleluia and sung Mass Ordinary is the same musical settings as the previous few Sundays.

 

Entrance hymn:

- (except 7:30) 471 Hail the day that sees him rise (our entrance last Thursday as well)

- (7:30 only) 702 Hail, holy Queen enthroned above (to accompany the crowning)

 

Responsorial Psalm: The Lord is King, the Most High over all the earth, music by Richard Proulx and Joseph Gelineau, SJ.  (Music is in Worship, #854)

 

Offertory hymn: 466 Christ is alive (Listen)

- Same tune as a hymn used often at Advent and at First Communion as well, Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates. 

 

Communion anthem: Ave Maria

- (5:00 Sat. and 9:00) music by Lorenzo Perosi (soprano/alto duet)

- (7:30) music by Jacob Arcadelt (bass solo)

- (11:15) music by Franz Schubert (soprano solo)

 

Meditation hymn: 443 O Queen of heaven/Regina Caeli (English/Latin)

 

Recessional hymn: 469 A hymn of glory let us sing (our recessional last Sunday as well)

 

Peace,

BMP

BUSY WEEK!

First Friday: V-2-13 at 6 PM
SACRED HEART COMMUNITY MASS

Numbers refer to Worship - mostly stuff that is familiar.  Alleluia and sung Mass Ordinary is the same musical settings as the previous few Sundays.

Entrance hymn: 449 This joyful Eastertide
Responsorial Psalm: Their message goes out through all the earth, music: Psalm Tone 8G
Offertory hymn: O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine
Communion anthem: Panis Angelicus, sung to a Hungarian tune
Recessional hymn: 469 A hymn of glory let us sing
- same tune as Ye watchers and ye holy ones, which we sang last Sunday

Sunday VI of Easter: V-5-13

Numbers refer to Worship - mostly stuff that is familiar.  Alleluia and sung Mass Ordinary is the same musical settings as the previous few Sundays.

Entrance hymn: 449 This joyful Eastertide
Responsorial Psalm: O God, let all the nations praise you, music in missalette for May 5
Offertory hymn: 451 The strife is o'er
- using the tune of Christ is the King, a tune we used a couple of weeks ago
Communion anthem: Omni die dic Mariae/Daily, daily sing to Mary (alternating Latin and English)
Meditation hymn: 443 O Queen of heaven/Regina caeli (English/Latin)
Recessional hymn: 469 A hymn of glory let us sing

Tuesdays in May: 7 PM, Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Numbers refer to Worship

Entrance hymn: 708 Immaculate Mary
Exposition hymn: O Salutaris Hostia
- Tune is an altered form of the tune used mainly with the hymn O Jesus, joy of loving hearts
Rosary and Litany are recited.
Benediction hymn: Tantum ergo, music by Oreste Ravanello
- This is a tune we used on Good Friday, as well as during Devotions last October
After the Divine Praises: 443 O Queen of heaven/Regina caeli (English/Latin)
Recessional hymn: 702 Hail, holy Queen enthroned above

Confirmation; V-8-13, 7 PM (also Vigil of Ascension)
The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ; V-9-13, 9 AM, 7 PM

The Mass for Confirmation falls on the eve (Vigil/Anticipated Mass) of the Ascension (Bishop availability just happened to work that way).  Therefore, the music is the same for both Wednesday and Thursday.  Our brass trio will be with us on Wednesday (Confirmation).

 

Numbers refer to Worship - mostly stuff that is familiar.  Alleluia and sung Mass Ordinary is the same musical settings as the previous few Sundays.

Entrance hymn: 471 Hail the day that sees him rise
- same tune as Christ the Lord is risen today, alleluia, which we sang two weeks ago.
Responsorial Psalm: God mounts his throne to shouts of joy, a blare of trumpets for the Lord, music by Robert Kreutz and Joseph Gelineau, SJ.

Anointing (Confirmation Mass only): 479 Veni, Creator Spiritus (Listen)
Offertory hymn: 496 Crown him with many crowns
Communion anthem: Christus Vincit, music by yours truly
Meditation hymn: 443 O Queen of heaven/Regina caeli (English/Latin)
Recessional hymn: 628 Go, make of all disciples
- same tune as The Day of Resurrection, which we sang on Easter Day.

Peace,
BMP

SUNDAY V OF EASTER

IV-28-13

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

The Alleluia setting and the music for the Ordinary of the Mass (Gloria, Sanctus through Agnus Dei) are the same as the previous four Sundays.

Entrance hymn: Maroon 90 - He is risen, he is risen! (Listen)

 

Responsorial Psalm: I will praise your name for ever, my King and my God, music by yours truly

 

Offertory hymn: Maroon 599 - Ye watchers and ye holy ones (a familiar tune)

 

Communion anthem: Cantate Domino Canticum Novum, music by Vincent d'Indy

- This particular anthem could almost be considered a responsory, except it's intended for choral singing (the top note in the melody is a high F).  Cantate Domino canticum novum; cantata Domino, omnis terra.  This translates as Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.  The entire piece is based on Psalm 96 (Psalm 95 in the Vulgate version).

 

Meditation hymn: Worship 443 - O Queen of Heaven / Regina Caeli, chant, Mode VI (familiar)

 

Recessional hymn: Maroon 88 - Jesus lives! Thy terrors now (which we sang three Sundays ago)

 

Peace,
BMP

IV SUNDAY OF EASTER

aka, GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY

After all, the Gospel passages (and the Alleluia verse that precedes it) for this day in all three years of the Lectionary cycle mentions Jesus as the Good Shepherd.  The Communion proper in the Roman Gradual for this day repeats what is said in the Alleluia verse: I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.

 

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

 

All numbers for today refer to the red Worship hymnal.

Entrance hymn: 459 At the Lamb's high feast we sing
- This is the same tune as Songs of thankfulness and praise, which we sang on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Gloria: same as the last three Sundays

Responsorial Psalm: We are his people, the sheep of his flock, music by Royce Nickel

Alleluia: same as the last three Sundays

Offertory hymn: 496 Crown him with many crowns (Should be familiar, but Listen anyways!)

Sung Mass: same as the last three Sundays

Communion anthem: He shall feed his flock, from Messiah, by George Frederic Handel
- This is an air that Handel composed in two portions: He shall feed his flock, in the key of F for alto, followed by Come unto Him, in the key of B-flat for soprano (similar melody).

Meditation hymn: 443 O Queen of Heaven/Regina Caeli (in English and Latin)

Recessional hymn: 463 Christ the Lord is ris'n today, alleluia (Listen)
- Listen link is to another hymn, Hail the day that sees him rise, an Ascension hymn which uses the same tune.  This is yet a third "ris'n today" hymn that gets used regularly during Easter Season.  On Easter Sunday and the Octave, we sang the most familiar Jesus Christ is ris'n today.  Last Sunday, we sang another Christ the Lord is ris'n today, but without the alleluia, which is a paraphrase of the Sequence Victimae Paschali Laudes.  This Sunday, we sing a text that I particularly enjoy singing:

Christ the Lord is ris'n today, alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, alleluia!
Sing, ye heav'ns, and earth reply, alleluia!

Peace,
BMP

SUNDAY III of EASTER

IV-14-13: MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

All numbers this weekend will be found in the red hymnal, "Worship".

Entrance hymn: 455 Rejoice, angelic choirs, rejoice
- Uses the same tune as Sing praise to God who reigns above (Listen)

Gloria (if sung): same as last Sunday

Responsorial Psalm: I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me, music by Chrysogonus Waddell (antiphon) and Joseph Gelineau (versicles).  Can be found in Worship, #841.

 

Alleluia: same as last Sunday

 

Offertory hymn: 461 Christ the Lord is risen today (Listen)

- This hymn is a metrical paraphrase of the Easter sequence Victimae Paschali Laudes (which we sang in chant form the past two weekends).

 

Sanctus through Agnus Dei: same as last Sunday

 

Communion anthem: O Sacrum Convivium, music by Roberto Remondi

- Translation: O sacred banquet! in which Christ is received, the memory of his Passion is renewed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory to us is given. Alleluia.

 

Meditation hymn: 443 Regina Caeli (in English and Latin)

 

Recessional hymn: 449 This joyful Eastertide (Listen)

 

Peace,
BMP

THREE DAY WEEKEND

IV-5-13, 6 PM; First Friday - Friday in the Octave of Easter

For this month's First Friday Mass, we will also be using some seasonal music for Easter.

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Entrance hymn: Maroon 96 The Day of Resurrection (which we opened with on Easter Day)

Responsorial Psalm: The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone, music by yours truly, based on O Filii et Filiae (below)

Alleluia: based on O Filii et Filiae (the setting we used for Easter and the Vigil)

Offertory hymn: O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine (sheets provided)

Sung Mass (Sanctus through Agnus Dei): Messa "Cristo Risuciti", music by Luigi Picchi
- the setting we used for Easter and the Vigil

Communion hymn: O Filii et Filiae, in Latin.  You may join in the alleluias that follow each verse.  It's the same as the Alleluia before the Gospel for this day.  For a translation, you may follow in the Worship (red) hymnal at number 447.

Recessional hymn: Maroon 85 Jesus Christ is ris'n today

IV-7-13; Second Sunday of Easter

Declared by Blessed Pope John Paul II as Divine Mercy Sunday in 2000.  Traditionally known as Low Sunday or Quasimodo Sunday, after the word "Quasimodo" which begins the day's Introit: Quasimodo geniti infantes, alleluia: rationalbiles, sine dolo lac concupiscite, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (As newborn babes, alleluia: long for pure spiritual milk, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.)

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Numbers refer to the Maroon hymnal.

Entrance hymn: 88 Jesus lives, thy terrors now (Listen)

Gloria: Messa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe", music by Federico Caudana
- We did this setting on Holy Thursday and on Easter Day (last minute change, explanations later).

Responsorial Psalm: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love is everlasting, music by Owen Alstott (music in missalette for Second Sunday of Easter)

Alleluia: same as Friday, above

Offertory hymn: 91 The strife is o'er, but using a different tune than what is written, the tune normally used for Christ is the King. (Listen)

Sanctus through Agnus Dei: same as Friday, above

Communion anthem: Adoro Te Devote, chant, Mode V
- This hymn is a nice match to the Gospel passage of this day, which speaks of the doubting Thomas.  Let's look specifically at the fourth verse:
- - Plagas, sicut Thomas, non intueor, Deum tamen meum te confiteor: Fac me tibi semper magis credere, In te spem habere, te diligere.
- - Translation (from the hymn Godhead, here in hiding): I am not like Thomas, wounds I cannot see, But can 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.

Meditation hymn: 97 Christians, to the Paschal Victim
- The Easter Sequence, which we chanted on Easter Morning before the Gospel Alleluia.

Recessional hymn: 85 Jesus Christ is ris'n today

Peace,
BMP