Let me begin this post by proclaiming...
ANNUNTIO VOBIS GAUDIUM MAGNUM!
HABEMUS ORGANUM!
Just in time to end the liturgical year with a bang, our organ has been repaired and is up and running as just before noon today! David Ogeltree of Rogers Organs of New England replaced two sound boards (read: these are to a digital organ as a motherboard is to a computer). Upon their arrival to his facility, he came to the church last Tuesday to collect our old boards, program the voices of those boards to the new boards, test them (of course) and today (Friday, November 21) the new boards are installed. David then took the organ for a test drive and all sounds good.
Thank you to David Ogeltree for getting it done, and thank you to our sexton Paul Boisclair for letting him in on my day off. :)
Thus endeth the preamble. Now the post as titled...
Our last Sunday of the Year is affectionately known as Christ the King (sometimes branded as "Christus Rex" or "X-Rex"). The formal title is "Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe", faithful to the Latin title that appears in the Graduale Romanum, "Dominus Noster Jesus Christus Universorum Regis". Traditionally this Solemnity was celebrated on the last Sunday in October. In 1969, with the advent of the Novus Ordo, we changed from a one-year liturgical cycle to a three-year liturgical cycle, and a good amount of feasts changed dates. "X-Rex" is one of those.
One hymn I can never in good conscience do without on Christ the King is To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King. Sure, there are a number of hymns dedicated to Christ the King, including the ones we're singing this weekend. But To Jesus Christ... particularly stands out for me.
One of the antiphons still heard in many high churches, whether it be the chant setting, the Roman/Vatican setting or even a more modern setting (including my own) is Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat! Literally translated, that is, Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ commands! In writing the text of To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King, Msgr. Martin B. Hellreigel included a paraphrase of that antiphon: Christ Jesus victor, Christ Jesus ruler, Christ Jesus Lord and Commander. Of course in just about every hymnal, the ending is now Christ Jesus Lord and Redeemer, however, Msgr. Hellreigel originally wrote "Commander", which literally corresponds with "Christus imperat". When it got changed to "Redeemer", I don't know, and I couldn't find anything on it in my grasp, but nonetheless, Christ is our victor, ruler, commander and Redeemer! This will be our recessional hymn this weekend.
That said:
MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS
(CUM ORGANUM)
ORDINARY OF THE MASS:
Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei: Missa Popolare "Laus Tibi Christe" (Federico Caudana)
Memorial Acclamation (When we eat...) and Amen: adapted from Laus Tibi Christe
PROPER OF THE MASS:
Readings begin on page 269 in the Pew Missal
Psalm 122: R./ Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord (BMP)
Alleluia: the refrain of the hymn Christ is the King ("Gelobt sei Gott") (Listen)
Hymns, etc.
Entrance hymn: Worship hymnal, #493 Rejoice! the Lord is King ("Darwall's 148th") (Listen)
Offertory hymn: Worship hymnal, #500 Christ is the King ("Gelobt sei Gott")
- The listen link is above with the Alleluia, as the Alleluia also serves as the refrain of the hymn.
Communion responsory: Christus Vincit (BMP) (PDF)
- A 1999 setting by yours truly using somewhat modern harmonies inspired by C. Alexander Peloquin, who served the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul and our diocese as music director for forty years (1950-1990). Dr. Peloquin was a renowned composer of Catholic liturgical music as well and was excellent at his craft.
Recessional hymn: Pew Missal, #268 To Jesus Christ, our sov'reign King ("Ich Glaub an Gott") (Listen)
- The listen link is played on a five-manual behemoth of a pipe organ in Chicago. :)
CHRISTUS VINCIT! CHRISTUS REGNAT! CHRISTUS IMPERAT!
Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP
