Christ Be Our Light

Longing for light, we wait in darkness; longing for truth, we turn to You.
Longing for peace, our world is troubled; longing for hope, many despair.

Your Word alone has power to save us, make us Your living voice!

Powerful!

Alice Dancing Under the Gallows

This riveting piece highlights one Holocaust survivor's tale - and reinforces that which we as musicians know full well - that music not only gives us profound joy and means of expression, but that it ensures the very survival of our souls.

Let Go and Let God

Let the signs remind you
We are passengers
Let the signs remind you
To surrender

Stabat Mater

Stabat Mater dolorósa
iuxta crucem lacrimósa,
dum pendébat Fílius.

Cuius ánimam geméntem,
contristátam et doléntem
pertransívit gládius.

O quam tristis et afflícta
fuit illa benedícta,
mater Unigéniti!

Quæ mærébat et dolébat,
pia Mater, dum vidébat
Nati poenas íncliti.

Quis est homo qui non fleret,
Matrem Christi si vidéret
tanto supplício?

Quis non posset contristári,
piam Matrem contemplári
doléntem cum Fílio?

Pro peccátis suæ gentis
vidit lesum in torméntis,
et flagéllis súbditum.

Vidit suum dulcem Natum
moriéndo desolátum,
dum emísit spíritum.

Eia, Mater, fons amóris
me sentíre vim dolóris fac,
ut tecum lúgeam.

Fac ut árdeat cor meum
in amándo Christum Deum,
ut sibi compláceam.

Sancta Mater, istud agas,
Crucifíxi fige plagas
cordi meo válide.

Tui Nati vulneráti,
tam dignáti pro me pati,
poenas mecum divide.

Fac me tecum pie flere,
Crucifíxo condolére,
donec ego víxero.

Iuxta crucem tecum stare,
ac me tibi sociáre
in planctu desídero.

Virgo vírginum præclára,
mihi iam non sis amára,
fac me tecum plángere.

Fac ut portem Christi mortem,
passiónis fac me sortem,
et plagas recólere.

Fac me plagis vulnerári,
cruce hac inebriári,
et cruóre Filii.

Flammis urar succénsus,
per te, Virgo, sim defénsus
in die iudícii.

Fac me cruce custodíri,
morte Christi præmuníri,
confovéri grátia.

Quando corpus moriétur,
fac ut ánimæ donétur
Paradísi glória.

From the Liturgia Horarum.

All Hail The Pow'r of Jesus' Name

Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all!

Quadruple Joy

If you're having trouble finding joy lately...watch this! :)

Mahna Mahna

I just couldn't help myself! :):):)

O God Beyond All Praising

Text: Michael Perry (Heb. 13:15)
Music: Gustav Holst, 1874-1934
Tune: THAXTED, Meter: 13 13.13 13.13 13

One of my traditional faves, enjoy!

Ave Maris Stella

Hymnography Unbound: Ave Maris Stella#links


Heaven!!!



Ave, maris stella
Uploaded by Liturgies. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Hymnography Unbound: Hymn to St. Anne

Hymnography Unbound: Hymn to St. Anne


St. Anne, mother of The Blessed Virgin Mary, is the patroness of women in labor, housewives, cabinet makers, grandmothers, and miners. The city of Santa Ana, CA was also named in her honor. According to the Gospel of James, St. Anne and her husband Joachim, after years of childlessness, were visited by an angel who told them that they would conceive a child. Anne promised to dedicate the child to God's service. Her feast day is traditionally celebrated today, the 26th of July.

You Are Mine

The words of this song by David Haas comfort me during difficult times in my life. Although it is written in the voice of God, which is nowadays highly discouraged, it reflects God's unconditional and unwavering love: "I will call your name, embracing all your pain, come and rest in Me" and "You will hear My voice, I claim you as my choice, stand up, now walk and live!"

God So Loved the World

An excerpt from John Stainer's "The Crucifixion." Typically performed during the Christmas season, however our choir sung it this past Sunday in keeping with the theme of Love. Our administrator gave a beautiful homily on the power of Love, how it changes both the Lover and the Beloved. I have seen this in my own life and so it truly hit home for me. True Love is unselfish, unwavering, patient, and kind. These were things that I had not been before, and am learning now. It is truly edifying. To think that God loves us so much that we can scarcely imagine the infiniteness!

"God so loved the world,
God so loved the world,
That He gave His only begotten Son,
That whoso believeth, believeth in Him
Should not perish, should not perish
But have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world
To condemn the world,
God sent not His Son into the world
To condemn the world:
But that the world through Him might be saved."

Sicut Cervus

Our choir performed this motet by Palestrina for the first time this past weekend, a work that is "by many accounts the most outstanding example of religious choral art from the Renaissance" (CNP).

Here is the Latin with translation:

Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad te Deus.

As a deer longs for springs of water, so my soul longs for you, O God.

Elijah - Blessed Are the Men Who Fear Him - Felix Mendelssohn

Through darkness riseth light, to the upright.

Ubi Caritas - Durufle

A musical group which I am now part of will be performing at the Shrine on May 15th for a Confirmation service for the Military Archdiocese. This piece by Durufle contains one of the most poignant and powerful messages that I have ever encountered, and will be especially appropriate for this service.

The Strife is O'er

Happy Easter for the next 8 weeks!

Anima Christi

The Anima Christi is a prayer from around the 14th century. It is still widely used after receiving the body and blood of Our Lord,
Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. Please enjoy this musical meditation, very poignant for Holy Thursday.

The Angelus

Today is the Feast of the Annunciation, and also perchance, the 32nd anniversary of my baptism. O, Happy Day!

Awesome God

Here I Am, Lord

I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.

The Moral Power of Music

The moral power of music


This insightful article from the Catholic Education Resource Center explores a wide variety of issues surrounding the effects of music on the human psyche.

Mass in B Minor - Bach

If you've ever fallen asleep in church, it definitely wasn't because of this! :)

Te Decet Laus

This 3-part motet is one of many wonderful sacred music works from composer Kevin Allen. Others include Panis Angelicus and The Tantum Ergo. Enjoy.

What Wondrous Love is This

And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on.

Libera - Salva Me

Celestial, pure, innocent, mystical, ecstatic.

You may recall hearing the angelic voices of these boys at Pope Benedict's Mass during his first visit to the US.

Tallis

This is a breathtaking collection of Thomas Tallis' work: 1. Miserere nostri 2. Loquebantur variis linguis 3. If ye love me.

I've had the fortune of singing "If Ye Love Me" on numerous occasions with my church choir, as well as hearing an absolutely stunning performance by the University of Richmond's Men's Choir at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception yesterday. Enjoy.

Community Mass -- Sanctus (Richard Proulx)

This notable composer passed away this past week. Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine.

O Sanctissima

Ave Maria