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