MARY, MOTHER OF GOD and THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

This Wednesday, January 1 (New Year's Day) is also the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and a Holyday of Obligation.  Mass will be held at 10 AM this Wednesday.

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:
Mass of the Shepherds (Pietro A. Yon) (Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei)
Mortem Tuam... (Memorial)
Dresden Amen

Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (BMP) (PDF)

- The Alleluia is adapted from the Mode V hymn tune "Divinum Mysterium", most often sung with the hymn "Of the Father's love begotten".

The rest:

January 1 - Mary, Mother of God (10 AM)

Entrance hymn: Hark! the herald angels sing ("Mendelssohn")

- The tune is named after, of course, the composer, Felix Mendelssohn.

Psalm 67: R./ May God bless us in his mercy (Owen Alstott)

Offertory hymn: What child is this ("Greensleeves")

Communion hymn: O little town of Bethlehem ("Forest Green" and "St. Louis")

- Those who came to the 10 AM Mass on Christmas morning a few minutes early experienced this in the prelude, in which we alternated between the tune "Forest Green", familiar amongst Anglicans here in the USA and all Christians abroad, including Catholics, and the tune "St. Louis", familiar amongst Catholics here in the USA and the tune you hear on most Christmas records.  This morning, I included verses 2 and 4 to the tune "St. Louis" (the tune more familiar to you).  I will sing verses 1 and 3 to the other tune, "Forest Green", while those in the pew may join in for verses 2 and 4 to the more familiar "St. Louis" tune.

Recessional hymn: Sing of Mary, pure and lowly ("Pleading Savior")

January 5 - The Epiphany of the Lord

Entrance hymn: The first Nowell (trad. English)

- One of the few hymns whose tune name is the same as the first words of the hymn text.

Psalm 72: R./ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you (BMP) (PDF)

Offertory hymn: We three Kings of Orient are ("Kings of Orient")

Communion responsory: Psalm 72, R./ We have seen his star in the east, and have come with our gifts to worship the Lord (Adam Bartlett)

- or anthem: Break forth, O beauteous heav'nly light ("Emuntre Dich")

Recessional hymn: As with gladness men of old ("Dix") (Listen)

Happy and blessed 2025!

Quod scripsi, scripsi!

BMP

CHRISTMAS and HOLY FAMILY at SACRED HEART

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:
Mass of the Shepherds (Pietro A. Yon) (Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei)
Mortem Tuam... (Memorial)
Dresden Amen

Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (BMP) (PDF)

- The Alleluia is adapted from the Mode V hymn tune "Divinum Mysterium", most often sung with the hymn "Of the Father's love begotten".

The rest:

Christmas - The Nativity of the Lord

Tuesday, December 24 at 5 PM / Wednesday, December 25 at 10 AM

Pre-Mass (subject to change):

1. Gaudete Christus Est Natus (16th century)

2. Tu scendi della stelle (Traditional Italian)

3. Away in a manger ("Cradle Song"/Kirkpatrick)

HOLY MASS:

Entrance hymn: O come, all ye faithful ("Adeste Fideles") (v. 1 in Latin, v. 2-4 in English)

Psalm 96 (5 PM): Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord (Richard Proulx/Pérè Joseph Gelineau, SJ)

Psalm 98 (10 AM): All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God (Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB)

Offertory hymn: Hark! the herald angels sing ("Mendelssohn")

Music during Communion:

- anthem: Nina Nanna di Natale (Italian)

- or responsory: The word of God became Man; we have seen his glory (Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB)

Meditation hymn: Silent night ("Stille Nacht")

Recessional hymn: Joy to the world ("Antioch")

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Saturday, December 28 at 5 PM / Sunday, December 29 at 10 AM

Entrance hymn: Once in royal David's city ("Irby")

Psalm 84: Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord (Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB)

Offertory hymn: What child is this ("Greensleeves")

Communion hymn: Of the Father's love begotten ("Divinum Mysterium")

- Reminder: the melody of Alleluia before the Gospel is based on this tune.

Recessional hymn: Angels we have heard on high ("Gloria")

- Special attention to the verse, "See him in a manger laid, whom the choirs of angels praise.  Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while our hearts in love we raise."

Merry and blessed Christmas season to all!

Buon Natale!

Quod scripsi, scripsi!

BMP 

RORATE SUNDAY at SACRED HEART, Oh, and "O!"

OK, so the Fourth Sunday of Advent doesn't quite have a name like "Gaudete" on the Third Sunday of Advent, or "Laetare" on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, but if the Fourth Sunday of Advent was to have a name, "Rorate" would be it, as, like the other two, it's the first word of the Introit of the day in Latin.

Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum.

Let the heavens drop down dew, and the clouds rain down the Just One.

For this Fourth Sunday, we will once again be singing O come, O come, Emmanuel, which is based on the "O" Antiphons.  There are seven "O" Antiphons, and while they're not specifically used at Holy Mass, they are used at Vespers (Evening Prayer) along with the Magnificat from December 17-23, with a different antiphon assigned for each date.

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei: Mass XVII

The Gloria is OMITTED.

Memorial Acclamation: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine... (Jubilate Deo chant)

Amen: adapted from the Sanctus melody from Mass VIII

ALLELUIA "Conditor Alme" (BMP) (PDF)

The rest:

Entrance hymn: O come, O come, Emmanuel ("Veni, Emmanuel")

Psalm 80: R./ Lord, make us turn to you, let us see your face, and we shall be saved. (Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB)

Offertory hymn: Come, thou long-expected Jesus ("Stuttgart")

Music during Communion:

- Responsory: Psalm 19, R./ Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and his Name shall be called Emmanuel. (BMP) (PDF)

- - The text is that assigned for Communion by the Graduale Romanum.  The melody given is based on the hymntune "O Heiland, Reiss", the German translation of the Rorate caeli mentioned at the top of this post.

- or hymn: Alma Redemptoris Mater (sung to an altered form of the Samuel Webbe tune "Consolation").

- - Every season has a Marian antiphon assigned to it, even that "green season" known to many as "Ordinary Time".  "Alma Redemptoris Mater" is the Marian antiphon given for Advent and Christmas seasons, and up to February 2, the Presentation of the Lord (or traditionally known as the Purification of Mary).

Recessional hymn: O come, divine Messiah ("Venez, Divin Messie") (Listen)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

GAUDETE SUNDAY at SACRED HEART

Gaudete in Domino semper; iterum dico, "Gaudete!"

That is how the introit appointed for the Third Sunday of Advent begins.  Its translation is "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, "Rejoice!"  St. Paul writes to the Philippians in this Sunday's Epistle reading those same words.  The Lesson from Zephaniah for the day says, "Be glad and exult (synonym for "rejoice") with all your heart."  And even the Psalm response (note that the Responsorial Psalm is not a Psalm but a passage from Isaiah (12:2-6): "Cry out with joy and gladness", and doubles up on the third versicle.

The offertory and recessional hymns, as well as the responsory I selected for Communion, all bid "Rejoice!" in some way, shape or form, while the entrance hymn mentions John the Baptist's announcement of the Lord's coming.  The Second and Third Sundays of Advent could easily be called "John the Baptist Sundays", eh?  Yea, I say!

That said...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei: Mass XVII

The Gloria is OMITTED.

Memorial Acclamation: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine... (Jubilate Deo chant)

Amen: adapted from the Sanctus melody from Mass VIII

ALLELUIA "Conditor Alme" (BMP) (PDF)

The rest:

Entrance hymn: On Jordan's bank ("Winchester New")

- John's announcement of the coming of our Lord.

Responsorial Psalm (Isaiah 12:2-6): R./ Cry out with joy and gladness, for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. (Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB)

Offertory hymn: O come, O come, Emmanuel ("Veni, Emmanuel")

- Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Communion responsory: Magnificat anima mea Dominum (Tone 8g/Ciro Grassi)

- Translation: My soul rejoices in my God.  The first verse continues: "My spirit rejoices in God my Savior."

Recessional hymn: Rejoice! the Lord is King ("Darwall's 148th"), verses 1 and 4

- The refrain concludes: Rejoice, again I say, "Rejoice!"  While this hymn is normally used for the Solemnity of Christ the King, the refrain and the fourth verse are especially fitting here.  Verse 4 sings, "Rejoice in glorious hope; Our Lord the Judge shall come and take his servants up to there eternal home.  Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; Rejoice, again I say, 'Rejoice'"

Gaudete in Domino semper!  Iterum dico, "Gaudete!"

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

II ADVENT at SACRED HEART and an "IMPORTANT CONVERSATION"

Got into an interesting conversation with a parishioner after the 10:00 Mass last Sunday in which she wished she had access to the Memorial Acclamation Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine.  She obviously had no problem with the Latin, it was just a matter of singing along.  Once I pointed out that the acclamation in question, as well as ALL other music for the congregation (hymns, Mass Ordinary and Proper, etc.) is in the Mass Guide that is printed each week and is attached to the bulletin at the church entrances (follow it for best results), she was very much elated.

Another question that was asked in this conversation is "Whatever happened to Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again?"  In the Mass, written in Latin first, then translated (friendly reminder), the acclamation Christ has died... never existed, even in the 1969 Missal, except (by some fluke and for whatever reason) in English.  The other three, Dying you destroyed our death..., When we eat this bread..., and Lord, by your cross..., albeit very loose translations of the Mass, are in the 1969 Missal.  When the Mass in English was retranslated in 2011, Christ has died... was dropped completely.  The Episcopalians still use it in the current Book of Common Prayer, but that is all.  So now we have We proclaim your death, O Lord... (the official English translation of Mortem tuam..., much more literal), When we eat this bread..., and Save us, Savior of the world... (Lord, by your cross... retranslated, and again, more literal).

If you read my last post at all, you remember that in 1974, Pope St. Paul VI gave to the Church throughout the world a set of chants in Latin that all parishes should know (which many have ignored, sadly).  That set is called Jubilate Deo, which includes the three memorial acclamations in Latin, including Mortem tuam..., the first of the three given.

At the end of the talk, incidentally, the parishioner was enlightened and said to me, "This was a very important conversation."  Very important, indeed, and very much satisfying.

And now, without further ado...

 

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei: Mass XVII

The Gloria is OMITTED.

Memorial Acclamation: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine... (Jubilate Deo chant)

Amen: adapted from the Sanctus melody from Mass VIII

ALLELUIA "Conditor Alme" (BMP) (PDF)

The rest:

Entrance hymn: On Jordan's bank ("Winchester New") (Listen)

- In this listen link, the hymn begins with a two-minute fanfare, the hymn itself beginning at about the 2:09 mark.

Psalm 126: R./ The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. (Alfred Calabrese) (PDF)

Offertory hymn: Comfort, comfort, ye my people ("Geneva 42") (Listen)

Communion hymn: Lo! how a rose e'er blooming ("Es Ist Ein' Ros Entsprungen") (Listen)

Recessional hymn: Immaculate Mary ("Lourdes Hymn")

- I hardly think we need a listen link for "Immaculate Mary".  One note, however: instead of the usual devotional text found in most books, I included verses that relate to the Immaculate Conception, which feast takes place the following day.

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP