THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH and O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

Let me begin by wishing all of you at St. Eugene's a Merry and Blessed Christmas Season and a Happy New Year 2025.

Last Wednesday at the 10:00 AM Mass at my other church (Sacred Heart in West Warwick), I took the liberty of getting the congregation involved in part of the prelude ---- YES, the prelude, something that's usually reserved for solo organ work, whether it be written or improvised.

One thing that many Catholics in the USA don't know (except maybe us musicians) is that the Christmas carol O little town of Bethlehem is often sung to a different tune in certain other denominations (namely Anglican/Episcopal) than the tune many Catholics are familiar with.  In Catholic churches outside of the USA (namely Canada, Australia and the UK), the different tune is used as well.

The familiar tune we American Catholics all know is called "St. Louis," while the tune sung in other countries and by Anglicans here is called "Forest Green."  The tune names are linked so that you can listen to them (the former played by the world renowned Diane Bish, the latter sung by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, UK).  I'm sure you'll all be partial to "St. Louis" after listening, as that is what you're familiar with, and "St. Louis" is the tune we will sing as the meditation hymn after Communion at the 8:00 Mass this Sunday, but I must opine that both of these tunes are beautiful.

Before Mass last Wednesday in West Warwick, I sang the odd-numbered verses to "Forest Green" and invited the congregation to sing the even-numbered verses to "St. Louis."

And now, without further ado...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Entrance hymn: #110 Once in royal David's city ("Irby") (Listen)
Gloria (if sung): #841 Mass VIII (Listen)
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 84): R./ Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord (music by Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB)
Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (BMP) (responsed based on the chant tune of the same name) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: #101 What Child is this ("Greensleeves") (Listen)
Sanctus: #842 Mass XVIII
Memorial Acclamation: #875 Heritage Mass
Amen: #878 Heritage Mass
Agnus Dei: #846 Mass XVIII
Hymn during Communion: #92 Of the Father's love begotten ("Divinum Mysterium") (Listen)
- NOTE: This is the hymn tune on which I based the Alleluia before the Gospel.
Meditation hymn: #88 O little town of Bethlehem ("St. Louis" - the tune more familiar to you)
Recessional hymn: #109 Angels we have heard on high ("Gloria") (verses 1 and 4 in English)
- Verse 4 catches my eye every year on the Holy Family feast.  "See him in a manger laid, whom the choirs of angels praise.  Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while our hearts in love we raise."

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP