Introit: “As newborn babes, alleluia, long for pure spiritual milk, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. V. Rejoice in honor of God our helper; shout for joy to the God of Jacob.” (I Pet 2: 2)
Processional Now The Green Blade Rises John MacLeod Campbell Crum (1872-1958) wrote this text to be paired with the popular French carol melody Noel Nouvelet. The words speak of Christ’s resurrection through the metaphor of wheat seeds sprouting from the earth in green blades. ~ James McCarthy, baritone, and Margaret-Mary Owens, organ Psalm 118 R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His mercy endures forever.” I was hard pressed and was falling, but the Lord helped me. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just. The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. ~ James and Margaret Gospel Acclamation ~ Matt Alexander “You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are they who have not seen me, but still believe.” (Jn 20:29) Offertory Antiphon: “The Angel of the Lord came down from heaven and said to the women: ‘The One whom you seek has risen, as he said he would,’ alleluia.” (Mt 28: 2, 5-6) May we hope in great confidence in a God who turns that which, in the eyes of the world, is the greatest tragedy into the most wondrous miracle. Love Divine, All Love Excelling The perfect hymn for Divine Mercy Sunday, we sing of God’s divine love as we strive to love Him through our song. ~James and Margaret Communion Antiphon: “Stretch forth your hand, and feel the place where the nails were, alleluia; and be not doubtful but believing, alleluia, alleluia.” (Jn 20: 27) Jesus has so much patience with us, who are often so slow to believe. His mercy is truly endless! Purcell's motet based on this Antiphon contains such reverence and wonder; let us seek this same depth as we contemplate the wounds of Christ. Gift of Finest Wheat “You give yourself to us, O Lord; Then selfless let us be, To serve each other in your name In truth and charity.” ~ James and Margaret Post-Communion Regina Caeli This prayer, sung in Latin throughout our Easter season, translates to: Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia: Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia: Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia: Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia! Queen of Heaven, be joyful, alleluia: For he whom you have humbly borne for us, alleluia, Has arisen, as he promised, alleluia! Pray for us to God, Alleluia! ~ James and Margaret Recessional At the Lamb’s High Feast We close our celebration with praise for the salvation that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has brought us. ~ James and Margaret
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Introit (Ps 138): “I am risen, and I am always with you, alleluia; you have placed your hand upon me, alleluia; your wisdom has been shown to be most wonderful, alleluia, alleluia. V. O Lord, you have searched me and known me; you know when I sit down and when I rise up. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.”
Processional Sing We Triumphant Hymns of Praise Sing we triumphant hymns of praise To greet our Lord these festive days, Alleluia, alleluia! Who by a road before untrod Ascended to the throne of God, Alleluia! ~Sofia Scattarreggia, soprano, and Margaret-Mary Owens, organ Psalm 118 R. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad Refrain: This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad! x2 1. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his mercy endures for ever; Let the house of Israel say: “His mercy endures for ever.” (Refrain) 2. The hand of the Lord has struck with power, his right hand is exalted, I shall not die, but live anew, declaring the works of the Lord.. (Refrain) 3. The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, the Lord of love and mercy has brought wonder to our eyes. (Refrain) ~James McCarthy, baritone, and Margaret Sequence Christians praise the Paschal Victim Here is a recording of the traditional Easter Sequence sung in English. This Sequence has been sung with this text and melody since the 11th century. Offertory Antiphon (Ps 75:9-10): “The earth trembled and was still, when God arose in judgment, alleluia.” O Sons and Daughters Like all the music for today, this hymn has deep roots in Catholic liturgy and is a very traditional inclusion for Easter Sunday. The words of O Filii et Filiae (O Sons and Daughters) were written by Jean Tisserand, who died in 1494. The text is intrinsically linked to this melody, first found in a Roman Processional of the 16th century, though the two may have been connected even earlier. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. O filii et filiae, Rex caelestis, Rex gloriae morte surrexit hodie. Ye sons and daughters of the Lord, the King of glory, King adored, this day Himself from death restored. Communion Antiphon (I Cor 5:7-8): “Christ, our Paschal Lamb, has been sacrificed, alleluia; therefore let us keep the feast by sharing the unleavened bread of uprightness and truth, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.” Gift of Finest Wheat “You give yourself to us, O Lord; Then selfless let us be, To serve each other in your name In truth and charity.” ~ Sofia and Margaret Post-Communion Regina Caeli Here’s a version of Easter season's beautiful Marian antiphon, performed by the Schola Gregoriana Mediolanensis, directed by Giovanni Vianini in Milan, Italy. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia. Has risen, as he said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia. Recessional Jesus Christ is Risen Today Jesus Christ is ris'n today, Alleluia! our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! who did once upon the cross Alleluia! suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia! ~James and Margaret Introit: “Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.”
Processional All Glory, Laud and Honor Today is Palm Sunday. As with all our hymns, the words of this hymn exemplify the posture with which we should approach this feast day. All glory, laud, and honor to you, Redeemer, King! To whom the lips of children made glad hosannas ring. You are the King of Israel, and David’s royal son, Who in the Lord’s name comes now, our King and Blessed One. The people of the Hebrews with palms before you went; Our praise and prayers and anthems before you we present. As once you did accept their praise, accept the praise we bring, You who rejoice in ev’ry good, our Savior and our King. ~ Sofia Scattarreggia, soprano, and Margaret-Mary Owens, organ Psalm 22 R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? All who see me scoff at me; they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads: “He relied on the Lord; let him deliver him, let him rescue him, if he loves him.” Indeed many dogs surround me, a pack of evildoers closes in upon me; they have pierced my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones. They divide my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. But you, O Lord, be not far from me; O my help, hasten to aid me. I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you: “You who fear the Lord, praise him; all your descendants of Jacob, give glory to him; revere him, all you descendants of Israel!” ~ Sofia and Margaret Gospel Acclamation ~ Matt Alexander “Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.” (Phil 2:8-9) Offertory Antiphon: “My heart awaited reproach and misery; and I hoped for one that would grieve together with me, but there was none; I looked for one who would comfort me, and found no one. For food they gave me gall; in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” (Ps 68: 21-22) So quickly, the joyous atmosphere of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem turns to an atmosphere of grave desolation. So too it sometimes feels in our own lives: One moment all is going well; the next, we are on the brink of despair. Let us find strength in the knowledge that Jesus himself experienced the bleakest forsakenness. May we unite ourselves with His suffering in the knowledge of His unfathomable love for us. Communion Antiphon: “Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink it, thy will be done.” (Mt 26: 42) May we find the courage to abandon our own human will to follow the heavenly will of our Father. This is My Body We recall in particular these next few weeks the sacrifice our Lord made to free us from our own follies and weaknesses. “This is my body given for your freedom. This is my blood which was shed for all my people. Take, all, and eat, till the day of my return.” ~ Sofia and Margaret Recessional: O Sacred Head, Surrounded There is such beauty in the solemn feasts of our liturgical season, and such beauty in the hymns written to reflect their nature. This hymn is no exception, with words attributed to Bernard of Clarivaux, c 1091-1153 and harmonized by Johann Sebastian Bach in the 18th century. This hymn is almost always chosen to accompany Palm Sunday, and can be repeated through Holy Week. O sacred head, surrounded, by crown of piercing thorn! O bleeding head, so wounded, reviled and put to scorn! Our sins have marred the glory of your most holy face, Yet angel hosts adore you, and tremble as they gaze. In this, your bitter Passion, Good Shepherd, think of me With your most kind compassion, unworthy though I be: Beneath your cross abiding forever would I rest, In your dear love confiding, and with your presence blest. ~ Sofia and Margaret Fifth Sunday in Lent March 21
Introit “Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly nation; from wicked and deceitful men deliver me, for you are my God and my strength. V. Send forth your light and your truth these have led me and brought me to your holy mountain and to your dwelling place.” (Ps 42:1-3) In a world where God often seems distant, let us speak God’s truth with great confidence, fearing not the judgment of human beings but trusting in God’s promise of salvation. Processional From Ashes to the Living Font For five of the six weeks of Lent, we sing this hymn as we transition from preparation to celebration. The third stanza of this hymn changes with each week, reflecting this liturgical and spiritual journey. This week’s stanza is: Unless, like grains of wheat, we fall Upon the ground to die, We will not rise, with you, to life: Eternal life on high. ~ Sofia Scattarreggia, soprano, and Margaret-Mary Owens, organ Psalm 51 R. Create a clean heart in me, O God Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sing cleanse me. A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you. ~ Sofia and Margaret Gospel Acclamation ~ Matt Alexander “Whoever serves me must follow me, says the Lord; and where I am, there also will my servant be.” (Jn 12:26) Offertory Antiphon: “I will praise you, O Lord, with my whole heart; deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and observe your word; revive me according to your word, O Lord.” (Ps 118: 7, 10, 17, 25) This setting of our Offertory Antiphon by Palestrina seems too joyous for the Fifth Sunday of Lent! But already we anticipate the joy of Easter, and we rejoice in God’s invitation to serve Him wholeheartedly and without reservation. Like Christ, may we be prepared to suffer in His name while on this earth, anticipating the day when we will be with Him in heaven. Panis Angelicus, Cesar Franck May the Bread of Angels Become bread for mankind; The Bread of Heaven puts All foreshadowings to an end; Oh, thing miraculous! The body of the Lord will nourish the poor, the poor, the servile, and the humble. ~ Sofia and Margaret Communion Antiphon: “If a man would serve me, let him follow me; wherever I am, my servant will be there too.” (Jn 12: 26) Again and again throughout today’s liturgy we hear Christ’s repeated exhortation, “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.” We must be with Jesus no matter what, and we must be willing to suffer with Him. When we suffer even the littlest things, may we remember to unite our sufferings with Jesus’ sufferings on the Cross. Gift of Finest Wheat Today’s Gospel uses the well-known metaphor of grains of wheat to represent our spiritual lives. Our hymn uses the imagery of wheat to represent God’s mercy towards us. This valuable grain today continues to feed many millions of hungry mouths, just as God feeds millions of souls with His Word, and with the Eucharist of the Mass. And remember, just as wheat was a metaphor for something far greater in the Gospel, so is wheat just our perception of the Body and Blood, truly present when we come to receive. ~ Sofia and Margaret Recessional ‘Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here “‘Tis good, Lord, to be here! Your glory fills the night; Your face and garments, like the sun, Shine with unborrowed light.” ~ Sofia and Margaret Introit: “Rejoice, Jerusalem; and gather round, all you who love her; rejoice in gladness, after having been in sorrow; exult and be replenished with the consolation flowing from her motherly bosom. V. I rejoiced when it was said unto me: ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” (Is 66:10-11; Ps 121:1)
Processional From Ashes to the Living Font For five of the six weeks of Lent, we sing this hymn as we transition from preparation to celebration. The third stanza of this hymn changes with each week, reflecting this liturgical and spiritual journey. This week’s stanza is: The Son of Man is lifted up, The cross becomes our sign: You are God’s own beloved Son, The source of life divine. ~ Sofia and Margaret Psalm 137 R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you! By the streams of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. On the aspens of that land we hung up our harps. For there our captors asked of us the lyrics of our songs, and our despoilers urged us to be joyous: “Sing for us the songs of Zion!” How could we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land? If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand be forgotten! May my tongue cleave to my palate if I remember you not, if I place not Jerusalem ahead of my joy. ~ Sofia and Margaret Offertory Antiphon: “Praise the Lord, for he is loving; sing in honor of his name, for he is gracious. He has accomplished whatever he resolved to do in heaven and on earth.” (Ps 134:3, 6) “By grace you have been saved through faith,” St. Paul tells us in our Second Reading today. It is by no merit of our own but through the love and mercy of God that we have come to be renewed and live in Christ. Then Let Us Glory in the Cross In this hymn, we thank Jesus for his sacrifice and ask Him for His blessing. “May God be merciful to us, Bless us, shine on us from above; Let all earth’s people know your ways, All nations know your saving love.” ~Sofia and Margaret Communion Antiphon: “Jerusalem, built as a city whose parts are bound firmly together! It is there that the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to give thanks unto your name, O Lord.” (Ps 121:3-4) We rejoice today because of God’s love for us. Keeping our hearts fixed on heaven, may we join in the prayer of our Psalmist who says, “May my tongue cleave to my palate if I remember you not, if I place not Jerusalem ahead of my joy.” (Ps 137:6) Taste and See Grant, O Lord, that what we have taken with our mouth we may receive with a pure mind; and that from a temporal gift it may become for us an eternal remedy. ~Sofia and Margaret Recessional What Wondrous Love is This “What wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul! ~ Sofia and Margaret Introit: “My eyes are forever turned t’wards the Lord; for he shall release my feet from the snare; look upon me and have mercy on me, for I am abandoned and destitute. V. Unto you, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul; O my God, I trust in you, let me not be put to shame.” (Ps 24:15-16, 1-2)
Processional From Ashes to the Living Font For five of the six weeks of Lent, we sing this hymn as we transition from preparation to celebration. The third stanza of this hymn changes with each week, reflecting this liturgical and spiritual journey. This week’s stanza is: For thirsting hearts let waters flow, Our fainting souls revive; And at the well your waters give Our everlasting life. ~Sofia and Margaret Psalm 19 R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; The decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart, the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just. They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb. ~ Sofia and Margaret Gospel Acclamation ~ Matt Alexander "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life." (John 3:16) Offertory Antiphon: “The ordinances of the Lord are right, bringing joy to all hearts, sweeter than honey or the honeycomb. Therefore your servant will observe them.” (Ps 18:9-12) The imperfect laws of humans give no stability, but the laws of the Lord flow out of love, so provide the sure foundation for our lives. Do God’s words from our First Reading give us pause? May we not reject the commandment we find it hard today to follow, but let us instead pray for the grace to follow His law that in time we may come in time to understand its truth. Again We Keep Our Solemn Fast This hymn was attributed to have been written by Pope St. Gregory the Great in the 6th century. In its original Latin, Ex more docti mystico was traditionally recited in its entirety for Matins from the First Sunday of Lent until the Saturday before Passion Sunday. ~ Sofia and Margaret Communion Antiphon: “The sparrow has found herself a home, and the turtle dove a nest in which to lay her young: at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God! Blessed are they who dwell in your house, they shall praise you for ever and ever.” (Ps 83:4-5) Only by following God’s commandments do we find the path that leads to our eternal nest with Christ. We will not have true peace unless it is Him that proclaim in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Take and Eat ~ Sofia and Margaret Recessional The Glory of These Forty Days This hymn was also originally written in Latin by Gregory the Great. “The glory of these forty days we celebrate with songs of praise, for Christ, by whom all things were made, himself has fasted and has prayed” ~ Sofia and Margaret Introit
“Remember your mercies, Lord, and your love which is from all eternity. Do not let our enemies triumph over us, O God of Israel, from all our tribulations. V. Unto you, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul; O my God, I trust in you, let me not be put to shame.” (Ps 24:6, 3, 22 and 1-2) Processional From Ashes to the Living Font For five of the six weeks of Lent, we sing this hymn as we transition from preparation to celebration. The third stanza of this hymn changes with each week, reflecting this liturgical and spiritual journey. This week’s stanza is: From desert to the mountaintop In Christ our way we see, So, tempered by temptation’s might We might transfigured be. ~ Sofia Scattarreggia, soprano, and Margaret-Mary Owens, organ Psalm 116 R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living I believed, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted.” Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds. To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. My vows to the Lord I will pay in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. ~ Sofia and Margaret Gospel Acclamation ~ Matt Alexander “From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard: This is my beloved Son, listen to him.” (Mt 17:5) Offertory Antiphon (Ps 118:47-48) “I will meditate on your commandments which I love exceedingly; I will lift up my hands t’wards your commandments which I love.” Like Abraham in our First Reading, we are called upon to follow God’s commandments no matter what. Let us pray for the grace to trust wholly in Him! Then Let Us Glory in the Cross In this hymn, we thank Jesus for his sacrifice and ask Him for His blessing. “May God be merciful to us, Bless us, shine on us from above; Let all earth’s people know your ways, All nations know your saving love.” ~Sofia and Margaret Communion Antiphon (Mt 17:9) “Tell no one about the vision you have seen until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” This is Jesus’ instruction to Peter, James, and John following His Transfiguration. Perhaps this is because He knows we must arrive at the truth through faith, and that some mysteries cannot be justly conveyed in words. Gift of Finest Wheat “You give yourself to us, O Lord; Then selfless let us be, To serve each other in your name In truth and charity.” ~ Sofia and Margaret Recessional ‘Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here “‘Tis good, Lord, to be here! Your glory fills the night; Your face and garments, like the sun, Shine with unborrowed light.” ~ Sofia and Margaret Introit
“When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will rescue him and honor him; with long life will I satisfy him. V. He who abides in the shelter of the Most High, shall remain under the protection of the God of Heaven.” (Ps 90: 15-16, 1) Processional From Ashes to the Living Font “From ashes to the living font your Church must journey, Lord. Baptised in grace, in grace renewed, by your most holy word.” ~ James McCarthy, baritone, and Margaret-Mary Owens, organ Psalm 25 R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. Remember that your compassion, O Lord, and your love are from of old. In your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord, thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and he teaches the humble his way. ~ James and Margaret Gospel Acclamation ~ Matt Alexander "One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God." (Mt 4: 4b) Offertory Antiphon: “The Lord will overshadow you with his pinions, and you will find refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will encompass you with a shield.” (Ps 90:4-5) This passage from Psalm 90 appears three times over the course of today’s liturgy, in the Tract, the Offertory Antiphon, and the Communion Antiphon. Let us remember that in our temptations, our Lord will protect us from falling if we trust in Him, repent, and recommit ourselves to following His way of the Cross. In the Gregorian chant, notice the beautiful rising, then sighing melody on the Latin verb sperabis, translated in our antiphon “you will find,” but equally meaning “you will await” and “you will hope.” Let us take this promise of this Psalm to heart! Again We Keep this Solemn Fast This hymn is thought to have been written by Pope St. Gregory the Great in the 6th century. In its original Latin, Ex more docti mystico was traditionally recited in its entirety for Matins from the First Sunday of Lent until the Saturday before Passion Sunday. ~ James and Margaret Communion Antiphon: “He will overshadow you with his pinions, and you will find refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will encompass you with a shield.” (Ps 90:4-5) Draw Near “Christ our Redeemer, God’s eternal Son, Has by his cross and blood the vict’ry won. He gave his life for greatest and for least, Himself the off’ring and himself the Priest.” ~James and Margaret Recessional The Glory of These Forty Days This hymn was also originally written in Latin by Gregory the Great. “The glory of these forty days we celebrate with songs of praise, for Christ, by whom all things were made, himself has fasted and has prayed” ~ James and Margaret Introit: “Be unto me a protecting God and a house of refuge, to save me; for you are my support and my refuge; and for the sake of your name you will lead me and nourish me. V. In you O Lord, do I trust; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.” (Ps 31: 3-4, 2)
Processional Love Divine, All Loves Excelling In every word and in every action, God constantly shows how much He loves us. Today we hear about how Jesus healed the leper who had faith in Him and begged for healing. God aches to be a part of our lives, to an extent beyond our comprehension. He is Love itself. Oh what saints we’d be if we had even a modicum of the love God has for us! ~ Sofia Scattarreggia, soprano, and Margaret-Mary Owens, organ Psalm 32 I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered. Blessed the man to whom the Lord imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile. Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, “I confess my faults to the Lord,” and you took away the guilt of my sin. Ble glad in the Lord and rejoice, you just; exult, all you upright of heart. ~ Sofia and Margaret Gospel Acclamation ~ Matt Alexander “A great prophet has arisen in our midst, God has visited his people.” (Lk 7:16) Offertory Antiphon: “Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your commandments. O Lord, you are blessed, teach me your commandments. With my lips have I declared all the judgments spoken by your mouth.” (Ps 118:12-13) We have been given the great gift of our Lord’s commandments so that we learn how to be imitators of Him. If Ye Love Me by Thomas Tallis expresses that if we love Christ, we must follow His commandments, and in so doing will come to love Him more. Our whole lives are a journey to draw ever closer to Christ, aligning our will with His will. Where Charity and Love Prevail “With grateful joy and holy fear God’s charity we learn; Let us with heart and mind and soul now love God in return.” ~Sofia and Margaret Communion Antiphon: “They ate and were fully satisfied; the Lord gave them all that they desired; they were not deprived of their wants.” (Ps 77:29-30) In the First Reading, the Lord instructs Moses and Aaron that anyone with signs of leprosy should dwell apart, but our Gospel Reading reveals that this is not the end of the story. Jesus cures the leper who believes in him, as with faith we will be fully satisfied. One Communion of Love The beautiful thing about having song as part of our Mass is that, through hymns, important messages can be transported into our hearts to an extent that spoken words can rarely achieve. How often do we leave Mass with our favorite hymn ringing in our minds vs remembering lengthy quotes from Father’s homily? Sorry Father, but it’s true, melodies stay with us! And as musicians, it’s that important to make sure we’re choosing good-quality hymns that send the right message and support the readings. Why? Because the first step to ordering our lives is to take action. To take action we must internalize a message and know it in our hearts. To know we must remember. To remember we must listen. To listen we must hear. To hear, we need to be at Mass, fully attentive to the lessons. And music helps us in every step of that process: to listen, to know, to remember, to internalize, so that we can take action and dedicate our lives to God. ~ Sofia and Margaret Recessional Christ Be Our Light Christ, be our Light. Be my Light as I orient myself to the next season of the liturgical year. Help me to discern my weaknesses that keep me from You, and help me to overcome them through prayer, fasting, and perseverance. I know that, through You, all things are possible. I ask this in your Holy Name, Amen. ~ Sofia and Margaret Introit: “Come, let us worship God and bow down before the Lord; let us shed tears before the Lord who made us, for he is the Lord our God. V. Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise unto God our Savior.” (Ps 95: 6-7, 1)
Processional Here I am, Lord God gives us many opportunities in our daily lives to dedicate small hardships to Him. Bad day? Sore muscles? We can use those temporary aches and pains for good by offering it up to our Lord, or better yet, as a way to soothe the sorrows of the souls in Purgatory! We’re getting close to Lent, where we take up personal penances as a way to improve our spiritual lives. The readings today begin to orient us in that direction. ~ James McCarthy, baritone, and Margaret-Mary Owens, organ Psalm 147 R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted Praise the Lord, for he is good; sing praise to our God, for he is gracious; it is fitting to praise him. The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; the dispersed of Israel he gathers. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He tells the number of the stars; he calls each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; to his wisdom there is no limit. The Lord sustains the lowly; the wicked he casts to the ground. ~ James and Margaret Gospel Acclamation ~ Matt Alexander Offertory Antiphon: “Render secure my footsteps in your paths so that my feet do not slip; incline your ear and hear my words; display your wonderful mercies, O Lord, Savior of those who place their hope in you.” (Ps 16: 5-7) Like Job, we are called upon to hope and trust in the Lord even in our darkest moments. If we have faith, He will deliver us out of our infirmities. Praise to the Lord Our hymn of praise echoes the words of the psalm, declaring the Lord good, gracious, and mighty. Indeed He is worth all praise. ~James and Margaret Communion Antiphon: “A multitude with diseases, and those who were troubled by unclean spirits, came unto him, because a power emanated from him which healed them all.” (Lk 6: 18-19) Today’s Gospel describes the miracles of healing Jesus performed during his life on earth. Let us pray to Him for healing from the physical and emotional ailments we are facing, as well as deliverance from anything that is drawing us away from God. 684: Take and Eat Recessional Make us True Servants Like Job, we are called to become true servants of God, trusting in His will and living the right and harder life. We aren’t called for comforts in life, but to live according to His Word and example. ~ James and Margaret |