Posts

Posted on by Jeffrey Tucker

I should have lived in the 960s

So reports this person

You may say I’m looking at the decade through rose-colored glasses. To a degree, sure. The 960s weren’t all liturgical dramas and bear-baiting; they were also turbulent, dangerous times. Leprosy ravaged the land, women were chattel, and the life expectancy was 32 years. But there was this energy, this crackle in the air and a sense of limitless possibility that makes me feel like all the negative aspects of that wild, radical decade would have been worth it.

(It’s satire but hilarious satire)

Posted on by Kathleen Pluth

Continuity

It certainly was sweet to sing today, in the same place, the ancient hymn the Pope Emeritus sang with the US Episcopate on that other birthday of his, five years ago.

As ever, Holy Father, and with thanks, Happy Birthday!

Posted on by Kathleen Pluth

Latin-English Office Hymn Translations: The State of the Question

Here is a catalog of the hymn translations I have made so far from Latin to English, listed with their usage, according to the Liber Hymnarius.

Most are not on the internet, for various reasons. If on occasion you need one or two of these for your parish or other institution, drop me a line (email on sidebar) and I’ll send you the text.

I really enjoy translating these. I feel like the discoverer of pristine cave paintings, and am learning so much about our Catholic culture.

A Solis Ortus Cardine: Christmastide, Lauds
Ad cenam Agni provide: Eastertide, Vespers
Adorna, Sion, thalamum: Presentation, Lauds
Adoro Te Devote
Aeterna caeli Gloria: Lauds Friday
Aeterna Christi munera, Several Martyrs, Lauds
Aeterne rerum Conditor, Sunday Lauds
Aeterne rerum conditor…mare, Guardian Angels, Readings
Agnes beata virginis, St Agnes, Lauds
Anglorum iam Apostolus, St Gregory the Great, Lauds
Antra deserti, Birth of SJB, Readings
Apostolorum passio, Sts Peter and Paul, Lauds
Aptata, virgo lampade, One Virgin, Lauds
Auctor perennis gloriae, Sat, Readings, Day
Aurea luce, Sts Peter and Paul, 1 Vespers
Aurora iam spargit, Lauds, Saturday
Aurora lucis rutilat, Eastertide Lauds
Aurora velut fulgida, Assumption, Readings
Beata Dei genetrix, Birth of BVM, Vespers
Christe pastorum, One Pastor, Readings
Consors paternis luminis, Morning Readings, Tuesday
Custodes hominum, Guardian Angels, Vespers
Deus Creator Omnium, Sunday Vespers
Deus tuorum, One Martyr, Vespers II
Dulci depromat carmine, One Virgin, Readings
Excelsam Pauli Gloriam, Conversion St Paul, Vespers
Gaudium mundi, Assumption, Vespers
Haec est dies, St Teresa of Avila, Vespers
Haec femina, One Holy Woman, Readings
Iesu corona celsior, One Holy Man, Lauds
Iesu, corona virginum, Virgins, Vespers
Iesu, redemptor omnium, One Holy Man, Vespers II
In caelesti collegio, St Francis, Lauds
Inclitus rector, One Pastor, Lauds
Iste Confessor, St Martin of Tours, Vespers
Martyr Dei, One Martyr, Lauds
Nocti succedit lucifer, Sts Joachim + Anne, Lauds
Nunc tempus acceptabile, Lent, Readings
O Gloriosa Domina, BVM, Lauds
Orbis Patrator optime, Guardian Angels, Lauds
Petrus beatus, Chair of Peter, Lauds
Primo dierum omnium, Sunday Readings
Regis superni nuntia, St Teresa of Avila, Lauds
Stabat Mater Dolorosa, OLSorrows
Virginis virgo venerande custos, St John Evangelist, Readings
Posted on by Adam Bartlett

Second Album from The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles

You might remember Advent at Ephesus, the debut album of the The Benedictines of Mary, which spent six weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Classical Music Chart in 2012.

The sisters have announced and are now taking pre-orders for their second offering, Angels and Saints at Ephesus.

Here’s a preview:

Please consider supporting the sisters by placing a pre-order which can help them reach a broader, international audience with this release. 
Posted on by Kathleen Pluth

The Lamb

It’s lambing season here in the mid-Atlantic, and yesterday afternoon a couple of dozen little lambs were making all sorts of noise at the Mount Vernon Estate, including this fellow.

It’s probably no coincidence that Passover falls during the time of the lambs. I was reminded of John Tavener’s interesting treatment of William Blake’s poem The Lamb, the gentler half of a pair of poems, the other being The Tyger. Tavener gives “contrary motion” in voice leading a most literal interpretation here.