Second Sunday of Lent Transfiguration, Cristofano Gherardi (1508-1556) Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist Stamford, CT
Music for the Second Sunday of Lent Mass of the Vigil, at 4:00 p.m. Introit Antiphon: Tibi dixit cor meum, Simple English Propers Psalm 27:8-9a et al. Kyrie: ICEL chant cf. Psalm 6:3; 41:5, 11. Responsorial Psalm: Chant, Mode I Psalm 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19. R/. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. Gospel Acclamation: Lenten Mass, Mueller Matthew 17:5. Offertory Antiphon: Meditabor, Simple English Propers Psalm 119:47-48. Offertory Hymn: st. flavian, cm Psalm 119:57-62, 64; tr. Sternhold & Hopkins (1549) 57. O God, which art my part and lot, my comfort and my stay, I have decreed and promisèd thy laws to keep alway. 59. My life I have examinèd and try d my secret heart: which to thy statutes causèd me my feet straight to convert. 58. Mine earnest heart did humbly plea in presence of thy face: as Thou therefore has promisèd, Lord, grant to me thy grace. 60. I did not stay nor linger long, as they that slothful are, but hastily thy laws to keep I did myself prepare.
61. The cruèl bands of wicken men have made of me their prey; yet would I not thy law forget, nor from Thee go astray. 62. Thy righteous laws and judgments are so very great and high: that ev n at midnight I will rise, thy Name to magnify. Sanctus: ICEL Chant cf. Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8, Matthew 21:9; cf. Psalm 118:26. 64. Thy mercies, Lord, most plenteously the earth throughout do fill; O teach me how I may obey thy statutes and thy will. Mystery of Faith (B): ICEL Chant. Agnus Dei: ICEL Chant John 1:29; cf. the Gloria text. Communion Antiphon: Visionem, Simple English Propers Matthew 17:9; Psalm 45:2, 3 et al. R/. Tell no one about the vision you have seen until the Son of Man has risen from the dead. Marian Antiphon: Ave Regina cælorum 11th-century. Hail, Queen of heaven; hail, Lady of the angels: Hail, root and gate from which the Light of the world was born. Rejoice glorious Virgin, fairest of all. Fare thee well, O most beautiful, and pray for us to Christ. Recessional Hymn: carlisle, sm Joseph Armitage Robinson (1858-1933) Christopher Mueller, Director of Music
Entrance Hymn The Second Sunday of Lent 10 A.M. Mass Tis Good, Lord to Be Here Psalm Psalm 116: I Will Walk in the Presence Offertory Hymn Transform Us
Communion Hymn Tree of Life Closing Hymn The Glory of These Forty Days
Music for the Second Sunday of Lent Missa Choralis, at 12:00 noon Introit Antiphon: Tibi dixit cor meum, Chant/Mueller Psalm 27:8-9a, 1ab. Tibi dixit cor meum, quæsivi vultum tuum, My heart declared to you: Your countenance have I sought; vultum tuum Domine requiram: I shall ever seek your countenance, O Lord; ne avertas faciem tuam a me. do not turn your face from me. Domine illuminatio mea, et salus mea: quem timebo? Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen. Kyrie: Kyrie Le Roy, Taverner cf. Psalm 6:3; 41:5, 11. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and always, and for all generations. I believe! First Reading: Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19. Second Reading: Romans 8:31b-34. Gospel Acclamation: Lenten Mass, Mueller Matthew 17:5. Gospel Reading: Mark 9:2-10. Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed: Credo III, Mode V. Offertory Antiphon: Meditabor Psalm 119:47-48. Meditabor in mandatis tuis, quæ dilexi valde: et levabo manus meas ad mandata tua, quæ dilexi. Offertory Motet: O nata lux, Tallis Lauds hymn for the Transfiguration. O nata lux de lumine, O born light of light, Jesu redemptor sæculi, Jesus, redeemer of the world, dignare clemens supplicum mercifully deem worthy and accept laudes preces que sumere. the praises and prayers of your supplicants. Qui carne quondam contegi dignatus es pro preditis, Nos membra confer effici, tui beati corporis. I will meditate on your commandments which I love exceedingly; I will lift up my hands towards your commandments which I love. You who once deigned to be clothed in flesh for the sake of the lost ones, grant us to be made members of your holy body.
Sanctus: ICEL Chant cf. Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8, Matthew 21:9; cf. Psalm 118:26. Mystery of Faith (B): ICEL Chant. Agnus Dei: ICEL Chant John 1:29; cf. the Gloria text. Communion Antiphon: Visionem Matthew 17:9; Psalm 45:2ab, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18ab. R/. Visionem quam vidistis, nemini dixeritis, donec a mortuis resurgat Filius hominis. Tell no one about the vision you have seen until the Son of Man has risen from the dead. 2. My heart overflows with a goodly theme; I address my verses to the king. 3. You are the fairest of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you for ever. R/. 5. Proceed prosperously and reign, because of truth and meekness and justice. 7. Your divine throne endures for ever and ever; your royal scepter is a scepter of equity. R/. 8. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows. 18. I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations. R/. Communion Motet: O salutaris Hostia, Tallis text from the Corpus Christi hymn verbum supernum prodiens, St. Thomas Aquinas (c.1225-1274). O salutaris Hostia O saving Victim quæ cæli pandis ostium, who opens the gates of heaven, bella premunt hostilia: our enemies press on us: da robur fer auxilium. give us strength; bring aid. Marian Antiphon: Ave Regina cælorum 11th-century. Hail, Queen of heaven; hail, Lady of the angels: Hail, root and gate from which the Light of the world was born. Rejoice glorious Virgin, fairest of all. Fare thee well, O most beautiful, and pray for us to Christ. Choral Postlude: Purge me, O Lord, from all my sin; Tallis. Purge me, O Lord, from all my sin, and save Thou me by faith from ill, That I may rest and dwell with Thee upon thy holy blessed hill. And, that done, grant that with true heart I may without hypocrisy Affirm the truth, detract no man, but do all things with equity. Christopher Mueller, Director of Music
Notes on the Music Here at St. John s we have three weekend Masses, each with different music. Mass of the Vigil, 4:00 p.m. At this Mass we make use of the Simple English Propers, a new publication of Gregorian-style chant settings in English. The propers of the Mass, which include the Introit, Offertory, and Communion, comprise short biblical quotations given to us by the Church specific to every liturgy, chosen for our reflection and contemplation. In deference to that liturgical structure, we sing those given passages, which are usually brief excerpts from the psalms. Each Proper antiphon has accompanying psalm verses. Following today s Offertory chant, we ll sing selected verses from Psalm 119, set to a familiar Lenten hymn-tune. For the Ordinary of the Mass (Kyrie, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei, the prayers common to every Mass; we omit the Gloria during Lent), we are using music provided by ICEL, the commission which prepared our current English text. These chants were specifically adapted for the new translation of the Roman Missal: Third Edition. Near the end of the Mass we sing the seasonal Marian antiphon, Ave Regina cælorum, which is used Feb. 2nd through Holy Week. During Lent, the organ may only be used to accompany singing, and not as a soloistic instrument. Fittingly, we close our Mass with a lovely hymn for the Transfiguration. Mass for Families, 10:00 a.m. The liturgy employs a mix of traditional and contemporary hymnody. This widely utilized approach is familiar to Massgoers across the United States. Missa Choralis, 12:00 noon As with the Vigil Mass, Mass propers (see note above) are employed, here sung in Latin by the choir. The Introit is a Gregorian chant set in a contemporary harmonic language; the choral harmonies serve to further illuminate the text so well-expressed in the original chant (unchanged in the soprano voice). Today we feature the music of a wonderful English composer, Thomas Tallis (c.1505-1585). Following the Offertory chant is his setting of the Transfiguration hymn O nata lux, simple and arresting in its beauty. After the Communion chant is his soaring, dark-hued setting of O salutaris Hostia. And because the organ may only be used to accompany singing, and not as a soloistic instrument, we close our Mass with one last unaccompanied Tallis motet, a plea to the Lord for penitence and temperance. The Gloria is omitted during Lent; the rest of the Mass Ordinary (see note above) uses music provided by ICEL, the commission which prepared the current English text of the Mass. These chants were specifically adapted for the new translation of the Roman Missal: Third Edition, and intended for congregational use. We hope you ll join us in singing them, and in the seasonal Marian antiphon near the end of the Mass, Ave Regina cælorum (used Feb. 2nd through Holy Week). And near the beginning of the Mass is the music of one more English composer, John Taverner (c.1490-1545). His Kyrie Le Roy is a fine example of English counterpoint from the generation before Tallis. Christopher Mueller