Hymn Tune Introits, 15th and 16th Sundays in Ordinary Time

These are the Entrance Antiphons from the Roman Missal for the next two Sundays, rearranged into the form of a hymn verse in Long Meter (8.8.8.8), for the benefit of congregations who might not yet be able to chant.

As for me, in justice I shall behold your face; I shall be filled with the vision of your glory.

And I, I shall behold Your face,
In justice see You, and in right.
I shall be filled with light and grace:
The vision of Your glory bright.

See, I have God for my help. The Lord sustains my soul. I will sacrifice to you with willing heart, and praise your name, O Lord, for it is good.

The Lord my God sustains my soul.
God is my help; behold and see.
I praise Your name, for it is good,
And sacrifice, Lord, willingly.

Lectionary Hymns

A few years ago I had an idea for writing “the hymn of the day” that began, not with the Gospel, but with the responsorial Psalm. Since the Psalm is already a sung form, and the preeminent model for all Church singing, I make use of it as the form and structure of the whole.

Rarely was I able to include the second reading, but in this Sunday’s example, it was not only possible but natural to bring it in, in a summary way, as the second line of the fifth verse.

I lift my eyes to You, O Lord,

Until You speak Your promised word;

Mine like the eyes of maids who stand
Until the mistress waves her hand.

So shall I wait upon your will,
Commands that seem of good or ill.

For even harshest words from You
Shall still prove holy, kind and true.

So Jesus listened and obeyed
When in His human will afraid.
Despised, rejected, sought and killed —
He yet attended to Your will.

So may this Church which You have wrought,
And with Your own blood dearly bought,
Delight to ponder and obey
The hard or gentle words You say.

Have mercy, Lord, have mercy long,

Our very weakness render strong,

Until the earth, like heav’n is filled

With sweet concordance to Your will.

Copyright © 2005 CanticaNOVA Publications. Duplication restricted.

“Coming Home”

…Anyone who’s ever arrived back from a retreat filled with a zeal for sainthood, resolutions of charity and kindness, daily Mass attendance, etc. knows how easy it is to find yourself right back where you started. A colloquium can engender the same discouragement – so many things to do, so much music to be revived and presented to generations that have never heard it, so many ways in which one’s own choir could shine brighter. But then you bump into the old reality…

Mary Jane Ballou’s thoughtful consideration of ways to integrate the Colloquium experience into daily life.

The Internal Score

After a week of nearly uninterrupted singing, one’s interior “soundtrack” changes. This morning at the airport, the musak overhead has no power to keep my mind from running over the chant hymn tune from Compline. Other songs dwell in me now, including a number of Kyries.
St. Paul said “Pray always, and never lose heart.” As Dr. Mahrt mentioned in his talk, Cassian of old recommended the Psalm verse opening dialogue for the Office as a means of praying always: “O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me.” We who are singers have another way to pray always. Having rehearsed a song at length, it takes very little effort to keep it in mind.
The older brother of one of my young chanters complained to me about his little brother’s constant singing around the house. V for Victory! An eleven year old boy singing the Salve Regina is a boy at prayer, whether he know it or not. And this prayer may continue throughout his life, because a child who learns a song will not easily forget it.
When he lay dying, St. John of the Cross requested his favorite song, The Song of Songs, the love song of the Bible. In my final hours, and all the days the Lord grants till that day, may I, may we all, remember to sing a Kyrie without ceasing.

“The Son of Man”

Some folks have asked to use the hymn we sang at the end of Mass on Friday, The Son of Man. It’s under copyright, but that is a fairly easy fix for anyone who might be interested. CanticaNOVA makes a collection of nearly 30 of my texts available for a small charge, and full rights to copy and set the hymns for any given school or congregation are included.
Here is another text that might give a sense of the general tone of my hymn writing.

I was delighted that The Son of Man was set to Newman, the tune associated with Cardinal Newman’s Praise to the Holiest in the Height, particularly during this year’s Colloquium, when the CMAA formed such a strong bond with the Blessed Cardinal’s own Birmingham Oratory. I was so pleased that we sang it on the most ecclesial of feasts, at a Mass celebrated with particular dignity and beauty by Msgr. Andrew Wadsworth, who has responsibilities in the Universal Church. It was very beautifully sung, and so thoughtfully played by the Colloquium’s organist Jonathan Ryan.
The feedback I’ve heard about last night’s hymn suggests that Catholics are ready for hymns with a good sense of poetry but perhaps an even better sense of Catholic theology. I’d like to help fill that need and would be grateful for suggestions.