THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL FAITHFUL DEPARTED (EIGHT O'CLOCK RENDITION)

This weekend we commemorate (I almost said "celebrate" here, mea culpa; such is not the case) All the Faithful Departed.

In lieu of the Entrance hymn this Sunday, we will sing a responsory: Grant them eternal rest, O Lord (Breaking Bread hymnal, #812).  While it's categorized in the hymnal under "Order of Christian Funerals", this Introit is proper for all Masses of the Dead, including funeral Masses and for All Souls.  The response is a translation from the Latin Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.  Also, the Gloria is omitted.

I have to say that on one All Souls Day, I felt quite crept out.  Usually right after Halloween is finished, certain mainstream media begin the 24/7 playing of little ditties that they pass as Christmas music, right on until Christmas Day (how quickly they forget, Christmas STARTS at Christmas Eve and continues up through the Baptism of the Lord in January, not ends on Christmas Day).  Well on this one particular All Souls Day, I took my daughter to work on the way to my 9:00 AM Mass (she wasn't licensed to drive at the time).  As I proceeded back toward I-295 to go to Mass, I suddenly hear The Most Wonderful Time of the Year playing on the radio.  I couldn't change the station fast enough for two reasons - 1) I never liked the song to begin with, and 2) What's so "wonderful" about All Souls Day?  There's nothing to celebrate.  We commemorate all those gone from us and pray for their souls to be fit for heaven.

Therefore:

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:
Gloria is omitted.
Sanctus: #9 on page 14 (ICEL chant setting, in English)
Memorial Acclamation: #12 on page 17 Save us, Savior of the world (ICEL chant)
Amen: page 26, single Amen (do do-re, or, if you're in a modal mood, so so-la, or fa fa-so)
Agnus Dei: #846 Mass XVIII

PROPER OF THE MASS:

Readings: page 228 in the Breaking Bread hymnal
Psalm 23: R./ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want (Owen Alstott)
Alleluia: Theodore Marier

HYMNS, CHANTS, etc.
Introit (in lieu of Entrance Hymn): #812 Grant them eternal rest, O Lord (Owen Alstott)
Offertory hymn: #458 I heard the voice of Jesus say ("Kingsfold") (Listen)
- This nifty arrangement comes from Manchester Cathedral, United Kingdom.
Communion hymn: Jesus, Son of Mary ("Adoro Te Devote") (duet: Brian and Doris)
- This is the same tune as another hymn we've sung on occasion, "Godhead here in hiding"
Recessional hymn: Sing with all the saints in glory ("Hymn to Joy")
- The tune most widely used for "Joyful, joyful, we adore thee", or the finale of Beethoven's famed Ninth Symphony.

Prelude and postlude will be improvisations based on the Requiem aeternam and In Paradisum, respectively, as they are the appointed Latin entrance and recessional propers for the Mass for the Dead.  One should note that the Mass for the Dead (including funerals and All Souls Day) is the only time where a proper recessional is appointed in the Roman Missal.  Otherwise, no recessional is appointed at all, and, like many a parish church, a hymn is customarily sung in its place.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May they rest in peace.  Amen.  May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP