IV ADVENT and an "O" REFRESHER

A Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall name him Emmanuel - "God with us." (Matthew 1:23).

The Year A version of the IV Advent Gospel reading echoes the last few verses of the Gospel of the Vigil of Christmas.  The difference is the first 17 verses of the Christmas Vigil Gospel give the detailed geneology of Christ, beginning with Abraham.

Some of the hymnody for this weekend contains kind of a "pre-Christmas" theme without being Christmas (which is just four days later).

Also, one more round of O come, O come, Emmanuel, as it is based on the "O" Antiphons.  There are seven such antiphons - each one assigned to a particular day from December 17-23.  The antiphon for December 21 (this Sunday) is thus:

    O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:

        come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.

This leads us to verse 6 of O come, O come...

    O come, thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by thy drawing nigh.

    Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadow put to flight.

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

Without further ado...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei: Mass XVII (as customary for the Sundays of Advent and Lent)

Memorial Acclamation: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine (#19 on page 26 in the Pew Missal)

Amen: single (do do-re, or fa fa-so, or so so-la, whatever you're in the "mode" for)

PROPER OF THE MASS:
Readings are in the Pew Missal on page 66.
Psalm 24: R./ Let the Lord enter; he is King of glory. (Richard Proulx)
Alleluia "Conditor Alme" (BMP/adapted from "Conditor Alme Siderum", Mode IV)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: Pew Missal, #203 O come, O come, Emmanuel ("Veni, Emmanuel")
Offertory hymn: Pew Missal, #187 Lo! how a rose e'er blooming ("Es ist ein ros'") (Listen)

Music during Communion:

- Responsory: Psalm 19, R./ Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and his Name shall be callèd Emmanuel. (BMP)
- or Hymn: Alma Redemptoris Mater (Samuel Webbe)

Recessional hymn: Pew Missal, #201 O come, divine Messiah ("Venez, Divin Messie") (Listen)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP