SUNDAY VII at EIGHT O'CLOCK and a flashback to the days of MONTHLY MISSALETTE!

Psalm 103, the Psalm appointed for this Sunday, is well-alluded to by our entrance hymn, Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.

    Verse 1: O my soul, praise him for he is thy health and salvation.
        Psalm 103: Bless the Lord, O my soul...
    Verse 2: Surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
        Psalm 103: Merciful and gracious is the Lord...

Also, combining both those passages is the Introit of the day, excerpted from Psalm 13.

    O Lord, I trust in your merciful love.  My heart will rejoice in your salvation.

Our offertory hymn, Love divine, all loves excelling, combines the salvation and mercy cited in the Introit and Psalm.

    Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heav'n to earth, come down.
    Fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown.
    Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure unbounded love thou art.
    Visit us with thy salvation; enter ev'ry trembling heart.

The Communion responsory, Psalm 9, with its short response, I will sing to your Name, O Most High, comes to us from Adam Bartlett of Lumen Christi Missal and Source and Summit Missal fame.

Finally, the meditation hymn, Where charity and love prevail (a loose translation of the Latin hymn Ubi Caritas) bids us we love and forgive one another, as pointed out in this Sunday's Gospel.  It's also a flashback to the days of Monthly Missalette, the 64-page publication that graced many a pew in the 1970s.  The author of the hymn, Omer Westendorf, goes back to the origins of the People's Mass Book in the 1960s (by the way, he also gave us Gift of Finest Wheat, which we sang last week).  He's also well-known for such hymns as Sing praise to our Creator and God's blessing sends us forth, widely sung in many a church when Monthly Missalette was prominent. In his early People's Mass Book days, Westendorf used at least three different aliases (three that I can remember anyways) in his hymn credits - Paul Francis, Mark Evans and J. Clifford Evers.  In the case of this Sunday's hymn, he was "J. Clifford Evers."  The name Omer Westendorf was later credited to all his works.

It should be known also that the composer of Christian Love, the tune most often sung with Where Charity and Love Prevail, was the French Benedictine Dom Paul Benoit.  While known in Catholic America as the composer of that particular hymn tune, a simple chant-like tune, Dom Benoit is well-known by many an organist for his much more complex organ solos, including some really nifty improvisations on Gregorian themes.

And now, without further ado...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Entrance hymn: #212 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty ("Lobe den Herren") (Listen)

- Do we really need a listen link for this one?  Probably not, but I left one here anyways.  This one is from Westminster Abbey at the 60th Anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.  The treble boys' descant in the final verse is well worth checking out!

Gloria: Holy Angels Mass (BMP) or recited (Listen)

Psalm 103: R. The Lord is kind and merciful (BMP) (PDF)

Alleluia I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

Offertory hymn: #434 Love divine, all loves excelling ("Hyfrydol") (Listen)

- NOTE: Same tune as the familiar "Alleluia! sing to Jesus!", which will be sung the following week, one of two hymns with Alleluias as we "put the Alleluia away" until Easter.  More on that next week.  In the meantime, check out the above listen link for another stirring descant in the final verse.

Communion responsory: Psalm 9, R. I will sing to your Name, O Most High (Adam Bartlett)

Meditation hymn: #429 Where charity and love prevail ("Christian Love") (Listen)

Recessional hymn: #541 Joyful, joyful, we adore thee ("Hymn to Joy")

Quod scripsi, scripsi!

BMP

SUNDAY VI at 8:00

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Entrance hymn: #576 O God, our help in ages past ("St. Anne") (Listen)

- Today's Introit from the Missal: "Be my protector, O God, a mighty stronghold to save me..."

Gloria: Holy Angels Mass (BMP) or recited (Listen)

Psalm 1: R./ Blessed are they who hope in the Lord (BMP) (PDF)

Alleluia I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

Offertory hymn: #598 Sing with all the saints in glory ("Hymn to Joy") (Listen)

- Same tune as "Joyful, joyful, we adore thee", which will come up the following week.  Normally one would sing "Sing with all the saints in glory" in Eastertide, but the second reading tells it all - "Christ is risen, is the firstfruits.."

Sanctus: #874 Heritage Mass

Memorial Acclamation: We proclaim your death, O Lord... #875 Heritage Mass

Amen: #878 Heritage Mass

Agnus Dei: #879 Heritage Mass

Communion responsory: R./ Remember, Lord, thy servants (BMP)

Meditation hymn: #345 Gift of finest wheat ("Bicentennial") (vv. 1-3) (Listen)

- "They ate and had their fill..." (Communion Proper from the Missal).  This hymn was commissioned in 1976 as the official hymn of the 41st Eucharistic Congress which took place in Philadelphia.  In earlier hymnals, the tune was given as "Eucharistic Congress" and copyrighted by the Board of Governors, 41st Eucharist Congress.  Current hymnals now list the tune as "Bicentennial" (after all, it was first sung during the year of our nation's bicentennial) and copyright assigned to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.  The text was written by Omer Westendorf, who is famous for many hymns that appeared in just about every edition of "People's Mass Book" from the 1960s to today.

Recessional hymn: #206 Holy God, we praise thy Name ("Grosser Gott")

- Do we really need a listen link for this classic?

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

SUNDAY V at 8

A "return to normalcy", well, "for a time".  Four more numbered Sundays "through the Year", or "in Ordinary Time" - to which my former boss once made a reference to "boring time", which might not be so boring, and definitely not so "ordinary".

In today's Gospel according to Luke, Jesus and his disciples go fishing.  And after catching fish, Jesus tells them, "From now on, you will be catching men."  A paraphrase from Matthew's Gospel appears in the alleluia verse, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

For the recessional hymn, I chose Lift high the cross.  Sadly, the Breaking Bread hymnal is missing a key verse of this hymn: Come, Christians, follow where the Master trod, our King victorious, Christ the Son of God.  The first two verses given in the hymnal also show signs of discipleship.
- Led on their way by this triumphant sign, the hosts of God (disciples?) in conquering ranks combine.
- Each newborn servant ("follower" in many other hymnals) of the Crucified bears on the brow the seal of him who died.

For the entrance hymn, I decided to revive a Trinitarian classic, Holy, holy, holy.  One quick look at the first reading you hear the cry of the Seraphim: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!"

And now, without further ado...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Entrance hymn: #215 Holy, holy, holy ("Nicaea") (Listen)

- While you probably don't need a "listen link" for this hymn, check out this cool arrangement (especially the intro, in which the melody is played on the pedalboard.)

Gloria: Holy Angels Mass (BMP) or recited (Listen)

Psalm 138: R./ In the signt of the angels, I will sing your praises, Lord. (BMP) (PDF)

Alleluia I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

Offertory hymn: #207 Let all mortal flesh keep silence ("Picardy") (Listen)

- I mentioned in the post for Sunday II that the arrangement in this listen link is by Gustav Holst, who is also known for his much larger work, "The Planets".  What I failed to note is that when I was an 11-year-old tenor in a choir of boys and men (yes, there were altos and trebles with higher voices than mine), that very arrangement is how I was introduced to "Let all mortal flesh..."

Sanctus: #874 Heritage Mass

Memorial Acclamation: We proclaim your death, O Lord... #875 Heritage Mass

Amen: #878 Heritage Mass

Agnus Dei: #879 Heritage Mass

Communion responsory: Psalm 43, R./ I will go to the altar of God, praise the God of my joy (Joseph Gelineau, SJ)

Meditation hymn: #370 Godhead here in hiding ("Adoro Te Devote"/vv. 1-4) (Listen)

Recessional hymn: #705 Lift high the cross ("Crucifer") (Listen)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

SUNDAY IV --- NO, WAIT! PRESENTATION OF THE LORD! (8:00 version)

You read that right, folks!  This coming Sunday is NOT the Fourth Sunday of the Year.  This Sunday, February 2, is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, a feast that trumps the usually numbered Sunday of the Year.  This is the feast that is also known by many as Candlemas, as the liturgy starts with the Blessing of Candles.  In the traditional (Extraordinary Form, that is, the Roman Missal of 1962) calendar, this Sunday would be known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, though the liturgical pattern and Sacred Scripture is very similar.

In terms of music, Father may opt to do a blessing of candles and process afterwards, or do a simple entrance.  The hymn during said procession (or entrance hymn if simple entrance) is Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates.  Though it seems to be an Advent hymn (and is grouped in sections marked "Advent" in most hymnals that are arranged by season/category), Lift up your heads... includes passages (albeit paraphrased) from Psalm 24:7-10, the Responsorial Psalm of the day.

The offertory hymn, In his temple now behold him, is taken from the Gospel reading of the day and is sung to a very familiar tune, the Tantum Ergo set to the tune "St. Thomas" (named aptly after St. Thomas Aquinas, author of the Tantum Ergo and the larger hymn it is excerpted from, Pange Lingua.)

During Communion, the Canticle of Simeon will be sung, using a tone by the French Jesuit Pérè Joseph Gelineau, SJ.  This proclamation made by Simeon is also presented in the day's Gospel.  While this canticle is not contained in the response (Guard us, O Lord, while we sleep, and keep us in peace), it is contained in the verses.  This is known in Latin as Nunc Dimittis and is chanted in the Office of Compline (or "Night Prayer").

I mentioned St. Thomas Aquinas a couple of paragraphs ago.  He will resurface in our meditation hymn, Godhead here in hiding, a translation of Adoro Te Devote, also authored by St. Thomas Aquinas.

The recessional hymn, Praise the Lord, ye heavens, adore him, is sung in the Breaking Bread hymnal to the tune Hymn to Joy, the tune most commonly associated with another hymn you're probably familiar with, Joyful, joyful, we adore thee.

That said...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Entrance antiphon: The Lord will come to us with mighty power... (Mode VIII)
Processional hymn: #59 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates ("Truro") (Listen)
Psalm 24: Who is this King of glory? It is the Lord! (Jon Laird)

Alleluia I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

Offertory hymn: #222 In his temple now behold him ("St. Thomas") (Listen)

Sanctus: #874 Heritage Mass

Memorial Acclamation: We proclaim your death, O Lord... #875 Heritage Mass

Amen: #878 Heritage Mass

Agnus Dei: #879 Heritage Mass

Communion responsory:  Canticle of Simeon, R./ Guard us, O Lord, while we sleep, and keep us in peace (response by Guy Weitz and Dom Anthony Gregory Murray, OSB; versicles by Pérè Joseph Gelineau, SJ)

Meditation hymn: #370 Godhead here in hiding ("Adoro Te Devote") (vv. 1, 2, 3, 7) (Listen)

- NOTE: The verses in Latin are on the left page, English on the right.  We will sing the verses in English.

Recessional hymn: #534 Praise the Lord, ye heav'ns, adore him ("Hymn to Joy") (Listen)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

SUNDAY III (through the year)

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Entrance hymn: #212 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty ("Lobe den Herren")

Gloria: Holy Angels Mass (BMP) or recited

Psalm 19: R./ Your words, Lord, are spirit and life (BMP) (PDF)

Alleluia I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

Offertory hymn: #218 God, we praise you (Listen) (NEW)

Sanctus: #874 Heritage Mass

Memorial Acclamation: We proclaim your death, O Lord... #875 Heritage Mass

Amen: #878 Heritage Mass

Agnus Dei: #879 Heritage Mass

Communion responsory: The Spirit of God (Lucien Deiss, C.S.Sp.) (Listen)

- NOTE: Reviving a lost classic from the French Holy Ghost Father who gave us "All the earth proclaim the Lord" and "Keep in mind".  Matches well with the Alleluia verse for the day.  Many of his responsories and hymns were originally written in French.  However, they were translated into English and Spanish as well.

Meditation hymn: #724 Rejoice, the Lord is King ("Darwall's 148th")

Recessional hymn: #205 Now thank we all our God ("Nun Danket")

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

SUNDAY II (through the year)

We are now in what is often known as the "green season" (for the green vestments at Mass), and what the modern liturgists in many countries call "Ordinary Time".  This is also known as "Season of the Year", or more literally (from the Latin "per Annum"), "Season through the Year."

This Sunday is marked as the Second Sunday of the Year.  That is because the First Week of the Year started last Monday, as Sunday last week was the Baptism of the Lord, the final day of the Christmas Season.

For the third Sunday in a row, we will sing Songs of thankfulness and praise, this time as the meditation hymn (or as my predecessor used to call it jokingly, the "medication hymn").  The second verse reflects the Gospel of the day (the wedding feast at Cana) quite nicely.

Manifest at Jordan's stream, Prophet, priest and King supreme;

And at Cana, wedding guest, In thy Godhead manifest.

Manifest in pow'r divine, Changing water into wine.

Anthems be to thee addressed, God in man made manifest.

During Communion I will sing an original setting of the antiphon which also reflects the Gospel: Fill the jars with water, and bring them to the master of the feast.

At the offertory we will sing a new hymn, God we praise you, which will be taught approximately five minutes before Mass begins.

That said, I present to you...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Entrance hymn: #313 All people that on earth do dwell ("Old Hundredth") (Listen)

- NOTE: The tune is mostly likely familiar (think "Praise God from whom all blessings flow"), but the listen link is a really nifty choral arrangement by Ralph Vaughan Williams which includes brass fanfares.  He originally composed this arrangement for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Psalm 96: R./ Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations (Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB)

Alleluia I for Ordinary Time (BMP) (Listen)

- This Alleluia setting has been sung before here at Sacred Heart, and has also been used at the Church of St. Stephen Martyr in Washington, DC, the origin of this listen link.

Offertory hymn: #218 God, we praise you (Listen) (NEW)

Sanctus: #874 Heritage Mass

Memorial Acclamation: We proclaim your death, O Lord... #875 Heritage Mass

Amen: #878 Heritage Mass

Agnus Dei: #879 Heritage Mass

Communion responsory: Psalm 66, R./ Fill the jars with water, and bring them to the master of the feast (BMP)

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

Recessional hymn: #446 The Church's one foundation ("Aurelia") (Listen)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD (Eight O'Clock Edition)

The last day of the Christmas Season!  Then the next day we jump into the First Week of the Year (or "Ordinary Time").  Notice that the First Week of the Year begins on Monday, not on Sunday like the weeks that follow.  Next Sunday will be the Second Sunday, not the First Sunday, of the Year, as the liturgical week begins on Sunday.

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Entrance hymn: #117 When Jesus comes to be baptized ("Winchester New") (Listen)

- NOTE: The listen link given is for the hymn "On Jordan's bank", which we sang for Sundays II and III of Advent.  "When Jesus comes to be baptized" is sung to the exact same tune.  I found it rather appropriate that the publishers of the Breaking Bread hymnal used that same tune, linking John the Baptist and the Baptism of our Lord.

Gloria: Gloria (if sung): Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (PDF) (Listen)

Psalm 104: R./ O bless the Lord, my soul (Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB)

Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (BMP) (PDF)

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

- NOTE: I was very pleased to hear the singing last Sunday of this particular hymn.  Not many parishes use it, but it's very appropriate for the Epiphany (last Sunday), the Baptism of the Lord (this Sunday) and the Second Sunday of the Year (next Sunday), in which the wedding feast at Cana is in that day's Gospel.
Hymn during Communion: When John baptized by Jordan's river ("Rendez à Dieu")

Meditation hymn: #207 Let all mortal flesh keep silence ("Picardy") (Listen)

- NOTE: The listen link given is a gorgeous choral arrangement by Gustav Holst.  Holst is also the composer of the hymntune "Thaxted", part of the "Jupiter" movement of his suite, "The Planets".  "Thaxted" is the tune of the English patriotic hymn, "I vow to thee, my country" and the hymn "O God, beyond all praising".

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

- NOTE: Some may find it strange that I programmed a Christmas carol in the middle of January.  Think of the line, "Let earth receive her King!"  Let us receive Christ our King as John the Baptist did.  Besides, is there really a much better way to close out the Christmas season?

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP