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As a newly-ordained priest, St. John Paul II  earned his first doctorate at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, widely known as the Angelicum, after St. Thomas’ title of Angelic Doctor.

On their alumnus’ feast day this year, the Angelicum hosted a concert of Polish music written in his honor or inspired by his work, beginning with the Górecki Totus tuus.

The concert was held in the magnificent Church of Saints Dominic and Sixtus on the Angelicum campus.

Today, the Angelicum along with the Thomistic Institute hosted a study day that included a number of interesting talks. English speakers may wish to advance to just after hour 5 to hear Fr. Thomas Joseph White, OP, speak on Political Questions during this time of pandemic.

This is the feast day of the Lord’s true witness,
Lover of Jesus, leading others to Him,
Woman of wisdom, passionate and truthful,
Filled with God’s favor.

God gave her grace like water from the heavens.
She drank it deeply, even as she suffered;
Perfectly docile, saint and holy teacher:
Light for the ages.

Mantle around us, Mary, flow’r of Carmel,
Pray to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
That They may give us, with the great Teresa,
Life everlasting.

Extraordinary Faith has just recently published its video about the Church Music Association from our 2015 Pittsburgh Colloquium on YouTube. This is a very nice overview about what happens at a CMAA Colloquium, including interviews with faculty, staff and participants. Enjoy and share…

Gregorian Chant Weekend October 9-11, 2020

The Gregorian Chant Weekend is an opportunity for the faithful to sing Gregorian Chant at Holy Mass and in the Divine Office. Instruction is given through preparing to sing for the liturgy. Beginners are welcome. The weekend begins Friday, October 9th, immediately following the monastic office of Vespers (at 6pm) in the crypt of the Abbey church. It ends with a picnic after 11:00 am Mass on Sunday.

The weekend will feature:
• Compline sung Friday and Saturday night
• Mass sung Saturday and Sunday morning
• Conference on the history of Gregorian Hymns
• Instruction throughout the day (beginning at 8:30am) with a break for lunch
• Picnic after Sunday Mass

For more information, visit the Abbey website at clearcreekmonks.org or call the Abbey at (918) 772-2454.

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This evening Deacon Daniel Galadza gave the first in a series of lectures on Eastern Catholic theology, and spoke about the ways in which the Byzantine liturgy includes commentary on itself, with sung elements that instruct the faithful about the meaning of the rite while it is happening.

A fine example of this is the “Cherubic Hymn”, sung as the priest begins the offertory procession called the “Great Entrance”.

We who mystically represent the Cherubim
and sing the thrice-holy Hymn
to the life-giving Trinity,
let us lay aside all earthly cares
that we may welcome the King of all,
invisibly escorted by angel hosts, alleluia.

Dr. Galadza, associated with St. Elias Ukrainian Catholic Church near Toronto, was a prime mover behind 2019’s “SingCon” practicum for Ukrainian Catholic musicians, which was also reported here at Chant Café.

The talk begins at about 15 minutes into this video, prefaced by an introduction to the Chicago-based Lumen Christi Institute, which is presenting the series; and by a prayer for the late Fr. Paul Mankowski, SJ, a scholar in biblical languages and a friend of the Institute; I remember him for his contribution to pro-life efforts during his studies in Boston, and I commend him also to your prayers.

Here are some thoughts on St. Peter Damian’s wonderful hymn tribute to his fellow monk, Pope Saint Gregory the Great.

Apostle to the English lands
Now with the angel hosts he stands.
Make haste, St. Gregory, relieve
And help the people who believe.

From riches and from wealth you turned.
The glory of the world you spurned,
That you might follow, being poor,
Prince Jesus, who was poor before.

This Christ, High Pontifex, decreed
That you would take His Church’s lead,
And learn St. Peter’s steps to tread:
The rule of all called in his stead.

You wondrously solved riddles deep:
The mystic secrets Scriptures keep,
For Truth Himself has taught you these:
The lofty sacred mysteries.

O Pontifex, our leader bright,
The Church’s honor and its light,
Through dangers let them all be brought,
The ones you carefully have taught.

The unborn Father let us praise,
And to His Son like glory raise,
And to their Equal, majesty.
All glory to the Trinity. Amen.

Translation c. Kathleen Pluth. All rights reserved.