O quam gloriosum est regnum,
in quo cum Christo gaudent omnes Sancti!
Amicti stolis albis,
sequuntur Agnum, quocumque ierit.
--------------------------
O how glorious is the kingdom
in which all the saints rejoice with Christ,
clad in robes of white
they follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
It was a full day with a little rain in the afternoon. I went to the breakout session on introducing sacred music to your parish. We had chant rehearsal in the morning, and polyphony practice in the afternoon.
Mass today was OF ad orientem.
Practicing the Introit for this afternoon's Mass
Plenary talk by Fr. Robinson
on beauty, truth, and goodness,
and how the rejection of beauty
leads to the rejection of goodness and truth.
It's that time of year again! Traveling day was a comedy of errors; from the four hour delayed flight due to pressurization issues, to the stuck valve on the substitute plane, to the search for the rental car (lot attendant didn't know where in the row it was), to the GPS with issues, and a few other things.
After the walk in the rain to the chapel, we were treated to a beautiful organ recital by Dr. Ann Labounsky, Organist, with Sr. Marie Agatha Ozah, HHCJ, Soloist. The chapel at Duquesne is lovely, with the exception of the recently wreckovated sanctuary.
I could think of much better ways to spend 80 grand....
The original is being foisted on some orphans in Paris,
as if they weren't depressed enough already.
Tomorrow we hit the ground running, so good night.
Greetings, all! I hope you are having a blessed Easter octave. I am embarking upon a new project. Our EF schola has been searching far and wide for settings of the Offertory Propers that are something in between the Psalmtone or Rossini settings and the full Gregorian settings from the Liber Usualis. The first one is up, for the 2nd Sunday after Easter. I hope to get a new one posted weekly, so bookmark the link if this is something that interests you. Thanks! :)
Have you ever wondered about the
song Good King Wenceslas? Since today is the feast of St. Stephen, on which the
story takes place, here’s the info:
Good King Wenceslas was the king of Bohemia in the 10th
century. Good King Wenceslas was a Catholic and was martyred following his
assassination by his brother Boleslaw and his supporters, his Saint's Day is
September 28th, and he is the Patron Saint of the Czech Republic. St. Stephen's feast
day was celebrated on 26th December which is why this song is sung as a
Christmas carol.
This is the best part:
The story is told of St.
Wenceslas that merely visiting churches where the Blessed Sacrament was kept
inflamed him with such ardor that his servant-companion never felt the cold
while walking through the snow if he trod in the footsteps of the saint.
(St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ,
Liguori Publications, Liguori, MO, 1997, pg. 20.)
Keep that in mind the next time
you sing it, and let other people know, too!
Lord Jesus, may we also
experience this ardor for Your Presence in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the
altar!
St. Wenceslas, pray for us!
GOOD KING WENCESLAS
Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel
"Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."
"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather
"Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."
In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing!
Roman Catholic, Secular Franciscan, completed BA in Theology at Catholic Distance University 9/2012, Schola Cantorum and Cantus Firmi Floridae ensemble Alto (and occasionally Tenor), Extraordinary Form Latin Mass parishioner.
