Journeys of a Catholic Poster Girl

Why is it that…

Protestants have “Ave Maria” sung at their weddings?

Yes, it’s a lovely song. It’s sort of entered the standard wedding repetoire. But they do know what it’s saying, right? And that their churches completely reject what’s being sung?

Just curious.

Tomorrow is The Big Day, or, if you prefer, The Day Before The Big Day. Since I sing Midnight Mass, Christmas Eve always feels like The Day to me, since it’s a long day.

Singing Midnight Mass is one of the privileges of being in the parish choir. This, with the Triduum, is our most intensive Mass and one that requires months of preparation. Tomorrow, along with the baking, celebrating, and traditional events, there will be much practicing of the cantata we are singing before Mass, as well as the Mass music proper.

Praising God in song and chant is one of my favorite ways to pray. While I have developed a love of contemplative, silent prayer, singing is a true release, an expression of my soul and what I really feel in that moment. The Christmas and Triduum Masses are especially prayerful, since the music tends to be the same every year, so I can truly delve into the mysteries of the lyrics and the Mass without being distracted by my part.

My choir has about 35 people, give or take. Tomorrow night we will meet and begin singing our program at 11:00. For about an hour our voices will set the stage for the Mass we are about to offer to the Lord. The music is not perfect, but it may well be tomorrow; the atmosphere has a way of changing us, motivating us to offer our best on this night. I, of course, will be pacing up and down the choir room and the vestibule, as is my habit, until we begin warm-up. I am always filled with nervous energy.

The Mass begins at Midnight, and our new pastor has an affinity for chant, which I love. So I imagine the Mass will be a bit longer than usual, but who cares? Midnight Mass is truly a joy to attend. Singing “Joy to the World” as the recessional is always a high point, as organ, flute, trumpets, and voices join together to praise The Word Made Flesh.

We will praise God with our litugry, our “work of the people”, as we welcome His Son to earth.  And I can think of no greater privilege than to welcome His Birth in song with my choir mates.

Tony Blair becomes Catholic!
Mary and Jesus–too cute.

Fr.Z

 O come, Desire of nations, bind,
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel. 

A Very Appropriate O Antiphon for the short days.

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer,
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

If you haven’t bought Josh Groban’s Christmas CD, Noel, yet, do so!

It’s a great album and it also, coincidentally, the best-selling album of 2007, surpassing High School Musical 2 (which shows me that The End is Not As Nigh).

Some of my favorite tracks:

–Silent Night
–It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
–Angels We Have Heard On High
–I’ll Be Home For Christmas (which is interspersed with messages from soldiers–awesome!)
–The Christmas Song
–The First Noel (duet with Faith Hill)

“It Came” is a special favorite because it is arranged very cleanly and simply. It really shows off his voice and the arrangement is unique in its sparseness, but it’s still very moving. The same is true for “The Christmas Song”. It’s done in an understated, classy way that emphasizes the song’s natural beauty, as opposed to demonstrating vocal histronics.

Again, Fr. Z.

 O come, thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you O Israel. 

Today’s Fr. Z reflection.

O come, O Rod of Jesse free,
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel. 

Fr. Z’s excellent reflection here.

O Come, O come, thou Lord of might
Who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times did give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. 

Great link at Fr. Z about today’s Antiphon.

O come, O wisdom, from on high
Who orders all things mightily
To us the path of knowledge show
And teach us in your ways to go. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.