Since we are travellers and pilgrims in the world, let us ever ponder on the end of the road, that is of our life, for the end of our roadway is our home (St Columban, 8th sermon).
Showing posts with label Tomás Luis de Victoria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tomás Luis de Victoria. Show all posts
Compline, the official Night Prayer of the Church ends with an anthem of antiphon to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In monasteries this is sung. In the traditional liturgical calendar there are four of these, all in Latin.
Alma Redemptoris Mater is sung from Saturday before the 1st Sunday of Advent through February 1.
The anthem from 2 February, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, through Wednesday of Holy Week is Ave, Regina caelorum.
Regina caeli is the Easter anthem, sung from Easter Sunday through Friday within the Octave of Pentecost.
The best known anthem, sung on many occasions apart from Compline, is Salve, Regina. It is the anthem for Compline from Saturday after the Octave of Pentecost through Friday before the 1st Sunday of Advent.
Regina Caeli
Sung by Schola Gregoriana Medioalanensis, under Giovanni Vianini
V. Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia.
R. Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia.
V. Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia.
R. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.
V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.
R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.
[Oremus. Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus; ut per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.]
V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.
V. Has risen, as he said, alleluia.
R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
[Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.]
The original text is in Latin. The Regina Caeli, with the prayer in square brackets, replace the Angelus during the Easter Season.
Regina caeli
Setting by Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611)
Sung by Voces8
Authentic beauty, however, unlocks the yearning of the human heart, the profound desire to know, to love, to go towards the Other, to reach for the Beyond.
Gospel:John 20:19-31(English Standard Version, Anglicised)
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the
doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus
came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”When he
had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the
disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am
sending you.”And
when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.If you
forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness
from any, it is withheld.”
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called
the Twin, was not with them when Jesus
came.So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But
he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and
place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will
never believe.”
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and
Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood
among them and said, “Peace be with you.”Then he said
to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my
hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but
believe.”Thomas answered
him, “My Lord and my God!”Jesus said to him, “Have
you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen
and yet have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the
disciples, which are not written in this book;but
these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have
life in his name.
The closing words of today’s Gospel
give us the reason why the four gospels were written: these [signs] are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have
life in his name.
In trying to answer that question the Pope said [emphases added]: Indeed, God has revealed that his love for man, for each one of us, is boundless: on the Cross, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God made man, shows us in the clearest possible way how far this love reaches, even to the gift of himself, even to the supreme sacrifice. With the mystery of Christ’s death and Resurrection, God plumbs to the depths of our humanity to bring it back to him, to uplift it to his heights. Faith is believing in this love of God that is never lacking in the face of human wickedness, in the face of evil and death, but is capable of transforming every kind of slavery, giving us the possibility of salvation. Having faith, then, is meeting this 'You', God, who supports me and grants me the promise of an indestructible love that not only aspires to eternity but gives it.
Benedict points out to us the painful reality that we can reject God's love: However, we see around us every day that many remain indifferent or refuse to accept this proclamation. At the end of Mark’s Gospel we heard harsh words from the Risen One who says: 'He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned' (Mk 16:16), loses himself. I would like to invite you to reflect on this.
This side of Jesus and of his Gospel has been largely sidelined, forgotten, in our times. Jesus is not a fuzzy teddy bear and following him is not like cuddling one, as the families of nearly 100 Christians killed in Nigeria last week can tell us.
The closing words of Pope Benedict in his talk are both challenging and uplifting: Dear friends, our time needs Christians who have been grasped by Christ, who grow in faith through their familiarity with Sacred Scripture and the sacraments. People who are, as it were, an open book that tells of the experience of new life in the Spirit, of the presence of that God who supports us on our way and opens us to everlasting life. Many thanks.
The Pope may well have had in mind today's First Reading (Acts 2:42-47): And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers . . . And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need . . . And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,praising God and having favour with all the people.
That passage from the Acts of the Apostles probably gives an idealised description of the early Christians, but it shows us what we are called to as followers of Jesus Christ, what we can be by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
I remember while spending a good part of the summer of 1969 in a large rural parish in eastern Kentucky where there were few Catholics but where the parish priest, the late Fr Ralph Beiting had many projects involving mainly college and some high school students from all over the USA, along with some adult volunteers. A college student who has remained a friend ever since remarked to me before he went back home to New York that we had had a wonderful experience of Christian community, something like that in the First Reading. This particular group may never have this experience together again - but we know that such an experience is possible, said my friend Brendan.
The yearly observance of Lent, Holy Week and Easter, ending with Pentecost, is what renews our hope and enables us, with the grace of God, to build and experience Christian community throughout our lives if we are, to use the words of Pope Benedict, People who are, as it were, an open book that tells of the experience of new life in the Spirit.
Regina Caeli/ Queen of Heaven
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.
The
ancient Latin hymn Regina caeli replaces
the Angelus during the Easter Season and is sung at the end of Compline (Night
Prayer). Above it is sung by the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of Santo Domingo de Silosin
Spain.
Below
is a setting by Spanish composer Tomás Luis de Victoria (c.1548 - 1611) sung by Voces8 from England.
Traditional Latin Mass
The Octave Day of Easter
Low Sunday
The Complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 04-16-2023 if necessary).
GospelJohn 20:1-9(English
Standard Version, Anglicised)
Now on the first day of the
week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw
that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.So she
ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus
loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we
do not know where they have laid him.”So Peter
went out with the other disciple, and they were going towards the tomb.Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran
Peter and reached the tomb first.And stooping to
look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw
the linen cloths lying there,and the face
cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but
folded up in a place by itself.Then the other
disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and
believed;for as yet they did not understand
the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
standing in the awesome glory of this holy light . . .
that he, who has been pleased to number me,
though unworthy, among the Levites,
and pour into me his light unshadowed . . .
This is the night
that with a pillar of fire
banished the darkness of sin . . .
This is the night
that even now, throughout the world,
sets Christian believers apart from worldly vices
and from the gloom of sin . . .
This is the night
of which it is written:
The night shall be as bright as day,
dazzling is the night for me,
and full of gladness . . .
But know we know the praises of this pillar,
which glowing fire ignites for God's honour,
a fire with many flames divided,
yet never dimmed by sharing of its light . . .
Therefore, O Lord,
we pray you that this candle,
hallowed to the honour of your name,
may persevere undimmed,
to overcome the darkness of this night.
Receive it as a pleasing fragrance,
and let it mingle with the lights of heaven.
May this flame be found still burning
by the Morning Star:
the one Morning Star who never sets,
Christ your Son,
who, coming back from death's domain,
has shed his peaceful light on humanity,
and lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Above are extracts from the Exsultet, the Easter Proclamation, sung at the beginning of the Easter Vigil after the newly-lit Paschal Candle is brought into the church. I have highlighted the passages dealing with light, the great symbol of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rembrandt's painting at the top, The Resurrection of Christ, captures the light breaking through the darkness. And his painting below, Christ on the Cross, shows our Saviour on the Cross to be The Light that conquers the darkness. Rembrandt was a master in his play of light with darkness.
Fr
Pádraig Ó Croiligh is a priest of the Diocese of Derry. Some years ago he published a book of religious poetry in Irish with the title Brúitíní Creidimh, which could be translated as 'Mashed Potatoes of Faith'. In his short poems he helps the reader digest aspects of our faith and religious practices.
His poem Fód na Cásca (The Sod of Easter) refers to what seems to have been a custom in parts of rural Ireland where the hearth was the heart of the home, with a fire made from turf (peat) 24/7 as we say now, for cooking and for heat in the winter. The family and visitors gathered around it for the family rosary, for telling stories and singing. In many parts of Ireland people would cut their own turf in local bogland during the summer.
The poem for me is a reflection of these lines in the Exsultet:glowing fire ignites for God's honour, a fire with many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light. One of the most beautiful moments in the Easter Vigil is when the light of the Paschal Candle is shared, those who have lit their candles from it passing on the light to others until the whole church is ablaze with the light of Easter. Not only is the light never dimmed but it is multiplied by sharing.
The newly-lit fire in the hearth on Holy Saturday is to be shared with those who live in the house and with those who visit, giving heat and light and nourishment through the food cooked and baked over it. And it recognises our need for constant renewal and forgiveness in the last line: go cionn bliana eile ar a laghad (at least for another year).
Just before preparing this I read an article in the April 2021 issue of Pioneer magazine by James Shevlin, whom I know, about a wake and funeral in rural Ireland during the Covid winter when neighbours could not visit the home of the deceased or attend the funeral Mass. The remains were brought home at night. But as the family of the deceased came within a few miles of their village, the glow could be seen in the night sky. In the cold and frost, people stood outside their houses, along the roadway, at the end of roads, at crossroads holding all sorts of lighted candles and making makeshift altars and shrines to guide them all the way back home.
The family later said that there were no words to explain the uplifting of spirits they experienced with the show or support they received . . . What was done was done with real love and kndness and support for them by people closest and dearest to them.
This truly was a Christian community expressing the truth of the words of the Easter Proclamation: a fire with many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light.
An Easter Song from Beirut, Lebanon, 2011
I don't know of a more joyful expression of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ than this Easter song in Arabic.
May the people of Lebanon, who are undergoing times of difficulty and uncertainty, experience the consolation of the Risen Lord and find support from the international community in their vocation to be a land of encounter, coexistence and pluralism (Pope Francis, Urbi et Orbi, Easter Sunday 2021).
Extraordinary Form of the Mass
Traditional Latin Mass (TLM)
Easter Vigil
The complete celebration in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 04-03-2021 if necessary).
Easter Sunday Mass
The Complet Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 04-04-2021 if necessary).
Authentic beauty, however, unlocks the yearning of the human heart, the profound desire to know, to love, to go towards the Other, to reach for the Beyond.
Sung at a Vigil for Life in Notre-Dame de Paris, 22 May 2012
Regina Caeli is one of four seasonal Marian anthems sung or recited at the end of Compline (Night Prayer) in the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours, Breviary). It is sung from the Easter Vigil through Pentecost Sunday.
Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia; quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia; resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia; ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.
Queen of Heaven, rejoice. Alleluia. For He, whom thou wast worthy 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.
Let us pray.
God of life, you have given joy to the
world
by the resurrection of your Son, our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Through the prayers of his mother, the
Virgin Mary,
bring us to the happiness of eternal
life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.]
The Regina Caeli replaces the Angelus during the Easter season, with the prayer in square
brackets above added.
For me, the beauty of the traditional Gregorian chant in Notre-Dame de Paris above is that the Regina Caeli is sung by a congregation of believers praying that all of us will respect every human life, especially life in the womb.
The setting below by Tomás Luis de Victoria is surely an expression of the beauty of the Risen Lord and of his - and our - Blessed Mother, the Queen of Heaven and Earth.
Regina
Caeli
Setting for eight voices by Tomás
Luis de Victoria
'The Rosary belongs among the finest and most praiseworthy traditions of Christian contemplation. Developed in the West, it is a typically meditative prayer, corresponding in some way to the “prayer of the heart” or “Jesus prayer” which took root in the soil of the Christian East.' [St John Paul II,Rosarium Virginis Mariae, No 5.]
The Rosary here is the formula prayed by members of the Legion of Mary, the way I prefer. There are various ways of beginning and ending the Rosary but the Five Mysteries are the heart of the prayer.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
v. Send forth Your Spirit, O Lord, and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
God our Father, pour out the gifts of Your Holy Spirit on the world. You sent the Spirit on Your Church to begin the teaching of the gospel: now let the Spirit continue to work in the world through the hearts of all who believe. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Coronation of the Virgin (Cell 9) Blessed Fra Angelico [Web Gallery of Art]
Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory be
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve, to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile, show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
v. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
O God, Whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech You, that meditating upon these mysteries in the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
v. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus R. Have mercy on us. v. Immaculate Heart of Mary R. Pray for us. v. St Joseph R. Pray for us. v. St John the Evangelist R. Pray for us. v. St Louis-Marie deMontfort R. Pray for us. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Regina Caeli (Gregorian Chant)
St Peter's Basilica, Easter Vigil 2011
Regina Caeli is one of four seasonal Marian anthems sung or recited at the end of Compline (Night Prayer) in the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours, Breviary). It is sung from the Easter Vigil through Pentecost Sunday.
Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia; quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia; resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia; ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.
Queen of
Heaven, rejoice. Alleluia.
For He, whom thou wast worthy to bear. Alleluia.
Has risen as He said. Alleluia.
Pray for us to God. Alleluia.
