SUNDAY III at EIGHT!

"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men!" The base of this Sunday's recessional hymn, Go, make of all disciples.

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Gloria: Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (or recited, celebrant's discretion)

Sanctus and Agnus Dei: People's Mass (Jan Vermulst) (Listen)
Memorial Acclamation: Save us, Savior of the world (ICEL chant)

Amen: Danish Amen

PROPER OF THE MASS:

Readings: Breaking Bread hymnal, page 63

Psalm 27: R./ The Lord is my light and my salvation. (Richard Proulx/Joseph Gelienau, SJ)

Alleluia I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: #540 The Church's one foundation ("Aurelia") (Listen)

Offertory hymn: #721 At the Name of Jesus ("King's Weston") (Listen)

Communion hymn: #424 Be thou my vision ("Slane") (Listen)

Recessional hymn: #196 Go, make of all disciples ("Ellacombe") (Listen)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

BACK TO "GREEN SEASON" - SUNDAY II (8:00 Edition)

Most people hear the word "green" these days in an ecological sense.  "Going green" as in "saving the planet" and related causes.

"Going green" takes a different meaning when it comes to gaming. My wife Ann for a long time played an online computer game called "Toontown" (yes, adults play this game too), though after her longtime "Toontown" partner died, she hasn't played as much.  But anyhoo, "Going green" in "Toontown" has a negative spin to it.  It means that your character ran out of energy and died.

To help demonstrate my age, "Sesame Street" was in its premiere season when I was in kindergarten (or as we called it then, "junior first"), and occasionally the teacher would wheel the TV into the classroom.  Kermit the Frog used to sing this song during that season called It Ain't Easy Being Green.

It really ain't easy being green (and contrary to popular opinion and proper grammar, "ain't" is a word in my dictionary).  Unless you've been experienced with the liturgical calendar (most likely as a priest, catechist or even a musician in a Catholic church), you may not know what to expect as to the "theme" of a given day's Mass, that is, what Scripture gives us for the day during what is often known as the "green season", that is, Ordinary Time, or, in fidelity to what the Roman Missal calls it in Latin, "Time through the Year" (literal translation).

What gives Ordinary Time the "green season" nickname is not "going green" in an ecological sense or even in a gaming sense.  It's not being that famous "Sesame Street" frog who went on to host "The Muppet Show".  In the liturgical sense, green is the vestment color worn by the priest celebrating Mass during Ordinary Time.  And considering Advent only has four Sundays, Lent five Sundays, Easter eight Sundays (including Easter Sunday itself and Pentecost), and Ordinary Time has 32 Sundays (numbered 2-33, Week 1 begins on the day after the Baptism of the Lord, which is a Monday or Tuesday, and Sunday 34 is Christ the King, in which the priest wears white), The priest wears a green vestment for Mass for more than half the Sundays throughout the liturgical year.

Two "seasonal hymns" in "green season"???

In last week's Gospel reading (Baptism of the Lord), we heard Matthew's account of John the Baptist's announcment that Jesus is coming to be baptized.  In this week's Gospel reading (Sunday II through the Year), we hear John's account of the same.  We begin today's Mass with the hymn On Jordan's bank, which begins "On Jordan's bank the baptist's cry announces that the Lord is nigh."  Though On Jordan's bank is often considered an Advent hymn (the second verse definitely has Advent themes), it is really fitting for the Baptism of the Lord and even this Sunday.

Another hymn that may appear to be off-season also fits well, Songs of thankfulness and praise (normally fitting for Epiphany and Baptism of the Lord), with its second verse which begins, "Manifest at Jordan's stream, Prophet, Priest and King supreme."  

That said...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Gloria: Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (or recited, celebrant's discretion)

Sanctus and Agnus Dei: People's Mass (Jan Vermulst) (Listen)
Memorial Acclamation: Save us, Savior of the world (ICEL chant)

Amen: Danish Amen

PROPER OF THE MASS:

Readings: Breaking Bread hymnal, page 61

Psalm 40: R./ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will. (Richard Proulx/Joseph Gelienau, SJ)

Alleluia I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: #41 On Jordan's bank ("Winchester New") (Listen)

Offertory hymn: #368 Shepherd of Souls ("St. Agnes") (Listen)

Hymn during Communion: #678 Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All ("Sweet Sacrament") (Listen)

Recessional hymn: #112 Songs of thankfulness and praise ("Salzburg") (Listen)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

THE EPIPHANY AND BAPTISM OF THE LORD at EIGHT O'CLOCK

OOPS!  I dropped the ball as to blogging last weekend's music selections for the Epiphany of the Lord (a solemnity).  So I am including them here along with this weekend's music selections for the Baptism of the Lord a feast).

So, without further ado...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS (both weekends):

Gloria: Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (or recited, celebrant's discretion)

Sanctus and Agnus Dei: People's Mass (Jan Vermulst) (Listen)
Memorial Acclamation: Save us, Savior of the world (ICEL chant)

Amen: Danish Amen

January 4 - The Epiphany of the Lord

PROPER OF THE MASS:
Readings begin on page 57 in the Breaking Bread book.
Psalm 72: R./ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you (BMP)
Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (Mode V, adapted by BMP)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: #1159 The first Nowell (Trad. English)

Offertory hymn: #117 We three kings of Orient are ("Kings of Orient")
Hymn during Communion: #112 Songs of thankfulness and praise ("Salzburg") (Listen)

Recessional hymn: #113 As with gladness men of old ("Dix") (Listen)

- The tune name, "Dix" is named after the author of "As with gladness...", William Chatteron Dix.  Another well-known hymn, "For the beauty of the earth", is often sung to this tune.

January 11 - The Baptism of the Lord

PROPER OF THE MASS:
Readings begin on page 59 in the Breaking Bread book.
Psalm 29: R./ The Lord will bless his people with peace (Gregory Evans)
Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (Mode V, adapted by BMP)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: #120 When Jesus comes to be baptized ("Winchester New") (Listen)
- Same tune as "On Jordan's bank", which is the listen link.

Offertory hymn: #112 Songs of thankfulness and praise ("Salzburg") (Listen)

Hymn during Communion: #208 Let all mortal flesh keep silence ("Picardy") (Listen)
- This gorgeous arrangement in the listen link given comes from Gustav Holst, who also gave us "The Planets", from which his "Jupiter" movement includes the tune used for such hymns as "O God, beyond all praising" and "I vow to thee, my country".

Recessional hymn: #90 Joy to the world ("Antioch")

- How appropriate it is to end Christmas season with a Christmas Carol.  Let us all receive the King, just as John the Baptist did.

This Monday begins the First Week of the Year (aka "Ordinary Time" or "Green Season", or to some, "Boring Time" lol).

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH (8:00 version) and THE EVOLUTION OF THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR

The liturgical calendar up until 1969 is far different from what it is today, especially in terms of Christmastide.  Of course, Christmas has always been December 25 for as long as many of us, even those twice my age (I'm 61, lol) can remember.  However, let's look at how the rest of the season evolved...

The Sunday in the Octave of Christmas now is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  Until 1969, it was simply the "Sunday in the Octave of Christmas."

New Year's Day: January 1, the Octave Day of Christmas is the same on the most part in terms of Scripture.  However, the feast title evolved from Christ-focused (The Circumcision of the Lord) to Mary-focused (Mary, Mother of God).

The Sunday after January 1 is the Epiphany of the Lord.  However, until 1969, the Epiphany was celebrated on the fixed date of January 6.  For those not exactly familiar with the story behind The Twelve Days of Christmas (always one of my favorite Christmas songs outside of Mass), those days are December 25 to January 6.  Also, in the traditional calendar, if the Sunday after January 1 fell from January 2-5, it was simply the Second Sunday after Christmas.

The Sunday after January 6 in the traditional calendar was the Feast of the Holy Family (unless the Sunday after January 6 is January 13), moved to this Sunday since 1969.  In the current calendar, it is the Epiphany if it falls on January 7-8, otherwise, the Baptism of the Lord (if on January 9-13).  In the traditional calendar, the Baptism of the Lord fell on the fixed date of January 13.

It should be known also that for those parishes who celebrate the Mass in the Extraordinary Form (that is, the Traditional Latin Mass according to the Roman Missal of 1962), the traditional (pre-1969) calendar is still followed.  For the rest of us (Mass in the Ordinary Form), the modern calendar is followed.

Having served four years (1999-2003) at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Providence, Rhode Island, where Mass is still to this day held in both forms, I let my experience do the talking. ;)

That said, here is the music for Holy Family:

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Gloria: Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (or recited, celebrant's discretion)

Sanctus and Agnus Dei: People's Mass (Jan Vermulst) (Listen)
Memorial Acclamation: Save us, Savior of the world (ICEL chant)

Amen: Danish Amen

PROPER OF THE MASS:

Readings begin on page 53 in the Breaking Bread hymnal.
Psalm 128: R./ O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways (Pérè Joseph Gelineau, SJ)
- This Psalm setting is most often my go-to when playing at nuptial Masses.
Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (Mode V, adapted by BMP)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: #110 Once in royal David's city ("Irby") (Listen)
Offertory hymn: #101 What child is this ("Greensleeves") (Listen)

- While the arrangement in the listen link is not one I'd use at Mass, ever, it's a cool arrangement to listen to at home.  I grew up hearing this arrangement by the Brothers Four.  This is from one of two Christmas albums my parents got from Goodyear back in the 1960s (they also had two albums from Firestone back then).
Hymn during Communion: #92 Of the Father's love begotten ("Divinum Mysterium")(Listen)

- The first lines of the melody is from which the Alleluia response is adapted.

Recessional hymn: #109 Angels we have heard on high ("Gloria")
- Do we really need a listen link for this hymn?

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

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 (if sung): parrot Father (read: repeat what he sings/says)
THE GLORIA IS OMITTED IN ADVENT
Sanctus: #9 on page 14, ICEL chant
Memorial Acclamtion: #10 on page 16, We proclaim your death, O Lord, ICEL chant
Amen: single (do do-re, or fa fa-so, or so so-la, whatever you're in the "mode" for)
Agnus Dei: #843, Mass XVIII

PROPER OF THE MASS:
Readings are in the Breaking Bread hymnal on page 42.
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: #39, O come, O come, Emmanuel ("Veni, Emmanuel")
Offertory hymn: #52 The angel Gabriel from heaven came ("Gabriel's Message") (Listen)
Hymn during Communion: #97 Lo! how a rose e'er blooming ("Es ist ein ros'") (Listen)
Recessional hymn: #44 O come, divine Messiah ("Venez, Divin Messie") (Listen)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

GAUDETE IN DOMINO SEMPER (III ADVENT - EIGHT O'CLOCK EDITION)

Gaudete in Domino semper.  Iterum dico: Gaudete!

That is...

Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again, I say: Rejoice!

The above is the beginning of the Introit appointed by both the Roman Missal and the Roman Gradual for this coming Sunday, that is, the Third Sunday of Advent, aka "Gaudete Sunday".  You'll see rose colored vestments worn by the priest celebrating Mass this weekend, and on the Advent wreath, the third candle lit is the rose candle.

The Introit according to the Roman Missal is rather brief:

Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again, I say: Rejoice!  Indeed the Lord is near.

The Roman Gradual has a longer version:

Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again, I say: Rejoice!  Let your kindness be known to all men.

The Lord is near.

Be not anxious over anything, but in all ways of prayer make your petitions known to God.

Year C's Epistle reading (from St. Paul's letter to the Philippians - that is, last year's Epistle) also includes the longer Introit.

In this Sunday's Gospel reading, Jesus himself refers to John the Baptist (remember him, that herald's voice in the desert?) as "the messenger sent before me who will prepare the way for you."

Today's entrance hymn reflects the Gospel of the day while the Communion and recessional hymns give us that taste of "Rejoice!".  The recessional hymn especially: Rejoice, again I say: Rejoice!

Therefore...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:
Kyrie (if sung): parrot Father (read: repeat what he sings/says)
THE GLORIA IS OMITTED IN ADVENT
Sanctus: #9 on page 14, ICEL chant
Memorial Acclamtion: #10 on page 16, We proclaim your death, O Lord, ICEL chant
Amen: single (do do-re, or fa fa-so, or so so-la, whatever you're in the "mode" for)
Agnus Dei: #843, Mass XVIII

PROPER OF THE MASS:
Readings are in the Breaking Bread hymnal on page 40.
Psalm 146: R./ Lord, come and save us (Fr. Samuel F. Weber, OSB)
Alleluia "Conditor Alme" (BMP/adapted from "Conditor Alme Siderum", Mode IV)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: #41 On Jordan's bank ("Winchester New") (Listen)

Offertory hymn: #42 Come, thou long-expected Jesus ("Stuttgart") (Listen)

Communion hymn: #39, O come, O come, Emmanuel ("Veni, Emmanuel")

Recessional hymn, #724 Rejoice! the Lord is King, verses 1 and 4 ("Darwall's 148th") (Listen)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

THE THREE-DAY WEEKEND

This Monday, December 8, is a Holyday of Obligation, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, patroness of the United States of America.  Mass is held at 7:45 AM at St. Eugene's and 6:30 PM at St. Joseph's.  I will be playing the 6:30 PM Mass at St. Joseph's (the music listed here reflects the evening Mass).  Rich Phelan (who plays the 10:30 Mass on Sundays) will play the morning Mass at St. Eugene's.

Sundays II and III of Advent (December 7 and 14) are the Sundays where John the Baptist comes into the picture.  He is that "herald's voice" calling out to "prepare the way of the Lord".  This weekend's hymns reflect that call.

That said, here it is...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

December 7 - Sunday II of Advent

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:
Kyrie (if sung): parrot Father (read: repeat what he sings/says)
THE GLORIA IS OMITTED IN ADVENT (except for this Monday)
Sanctus: #9 on page 14, ICEL chant
Memorial Acclamtion: #10 on page 16, We proclaim your death, O Lord, ICEL chant
Amen: single (do do-re, or fa fa-so, or so so-la, whatever you're in the "mode" for)
Agnus Dei: #843, Mass XVIII

PROPER OF THE MASS:
Readings are in the Breaking Bread hymnal on page 33.
Psalm 72: R./ Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever (Richard Rice)
Alleluia "Conditor Alme" (BMP/adapted from "Conditor Alme Siderum", Mode IV)

Hymns, etc.:
Entrance hymn: #41 On Jordan's bank ("Winchester New") (Listen)
Offertory hymn: #60 Comfort, comfort, ye my people ("Geneva 42") (Listen)
Hymn during Communion: #39, O come, O come, Emmanuel ("Veni, Emmanuel")
Recessional hymn: #43 People, look East ("Besancon Carol") (Listen)

December 8 - The Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:
Gloria: Holy Angels Mass (BMP)
Sanctus: #9 on page 14, ICEL chant
Memorial Acclamtion: #10 on page 16, We proclaim your death, O Lord, ICEL chant
Amen: single (do do-re, or fa fa-so, or so so-la, whatever you're in the "mode" for)
Agnus Dei: #843, Mass XVIII

PROPER OF THE MASS:

PROPER OF THE MASS:
Readings are in the Breaking Bread hymnal on page 36.
Psalm 98: R./ Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds (J. Robert Carroll)
Alleluia "Conditor Alme" (BMP/adapted from "Conditor Alme Siderum", Mode IV)

Hymns, etc.:
Entrance hymn: #694 Sing of Mary, pure and lowly ("Pleading Savior") (Listen)
Offertory hymn: #52 The angel Gabriel from heaven came ("Gabriel's Message") (Listen)
Hymn during Communion: #97 Lo! how a rose e'er blooming ("Es ist ein ros'") (Listen)
Recessional hymn: #205 Immaculate Mary

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP