V LENT (Last Sunday) and PALM SUNDAY (This Sunday), and TWO PASSION SUNDAYS? WHAT???

Forgot to post last week's music.  My bad.

Many in this age may not realize this, but traditionally there are TWO Passion Sundays.  The Fifth Sunday of Lent (last Sunday), until the Mass (including the Lectionary) underwent its 1969 alteration, was known as the "First Sunday of the Passion" (or "Passion Sunday").  Palm Sunday was also known as the "Second Sunday of the Passion".

In the First Sunday of the Passion (traditional calendar), Jesus confronts a crowd of Jews who imply that he might be a "devil", and question that he's "not even fifty years old yet, but he's already seen Abraham???"  Of course, Jesus stood up to them, saying "Abraham came to be, therefore I am."  He managed to escape a stoning.

The modern Mass ("Novus Ordo" or "Ordinary Form") has a three-year liturgical cycle of readings.  Last Sunday, we heard the Gospel depicting another passion - that is, the death of Jesus' good friend, Lazarus.  When Jesus got to the tomb of Lazarus, he cried out, "Lazarus, come out!"  And he did come out, hands and feet bound, though he had been dead for four days.  A happy ending of sorts for that day.

Palm Sunday has a triumphant beginning, but a somber ending.  It starts with Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where the crowds cheer, "Hosanna to the Son of David!  Hosanna in the highest!" to a somber ending: Jesus put to death on the Cross.  From there we have to wait till Easter till we can rejoice again.

In the modern liturgy (three-year rotation), we read the Passion according to St. Matthew this year.  Next year, St. Mark.  Last year, St. Luke.  The Good Friday Passion is always that according to St. John.  In the traditional calendar (same readings every year), the St. Matthew Passion is read on Palm Sunday, St. Mark on the Monday of Holy Week, and St. Luke on the Tuesday of Holy Week.  Wednesday is traditionally known as "Spy Wednesday", in which Judas handed Jesus over to be arrested and put to death by crucifixion (for 30 silver pieces).

SO:

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

March 20 - Stations of the Cross (7:00 PM)

Entrance hymn: #709 Take up your cross ("Erhalt uns, Herr")

Recessional hymn: #712 Lift high the cross ("Crucifer")

March 22 - Fifth Sunday of Lent (8:00 AM)

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:
Kyrie XVI or recited
Sanctus (ICEL chant)
Save us, Savior of the world (Memorial Acclamation/ICEL chant)
Single Amen (do do-re)
Agnus Dei XVIII: #843

PROPER OF THE MASS:

Readings are on page 85 in the Breaking Bread hymnal

Psalm 130: With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption (BMP)

Gospel Acclamation: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory (Fr. Samuel F. Weber, OSB)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: #140 Lord, who throughout these forty days ("St. Flavian")

Offertory hymn: #630 Abide with me ("Eventide")

Hymn during Communion: #160 When I survey the wondrous cross ("Hamburg")

Recessional hymn: #712 Lift high the cross ("Crucifer")

March 27 - Stations of the Cross (7:00 PM)

Entrance hymn: #630 Abide with me ("Eventide")

Recessional hymn: #712 Lift high the cross ("Crucifer")

Now here's where this gets interesting...

March 29 - Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

ORDINARY OF THE MASS same as March 22, above, except there is no Kyrie.

PROPER OF THE MASS:

Readings are on page 117 in the Pew Missal.

Psalm 22: My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Owen Alstott)

Gospel Acclamation: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory (Fr. Samuel F. Weber, OSB)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance antiphon: #21 Hosanna to the Son of David (Mode VII/page 88)

Hymn during the Procession: #147 All glory, laud and honor ("St. Theodulph") (Listen)

Offertory hymn: Pew Missal, #158 O sacred Head surrounded ("Passion Chorale") (Listen)

- The choir in this listen link is singing this at the tempo it should be sung: slow and deliberate.  This highlights the "Passion" feel, plus the passing tones that J.S. Bach used in the harmony can be heard nicely.
- On a secular note: listen to "O sacred Head", then listen to "American Tune" by Paul Simon.  Simon used the tune of "O sacred Head" as the base for his "American Tune".

Hymn during Communion: #156 Were you there (Spiritual)

Recessional hymn: #155 Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory ("Pange Lingua") (Listen)

- This is one of two "Pange Lingua" texts.  This one, passion themed, is a translation from a "Pange Lingua" by Venantius Fortunatus.  The other, which is usually sung on Holy Thursday when the Holy Eucharist is solemnly transferred, is a translation from the more famous "Pange Lingua" by St. Thomas Aquinas, which ends with the "Tantum Ergo."  The tune for both is the same.

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP