Cheese Panels & Other Heresies
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Just me on Friday, October 07, 2011
Simcha Fisher has another let’s-laugh-at-ourselves classic up.
Her specific problems are a little different than mine.
Where she frets about her youngest kids’ formation, I periodically have to admit to my eldest, “Yes, I’m sorry, you were the guinea pig, and the younger kids have different rules based on what you’ve taught us.”
But we both have kids who mess up the lyrics to hymns, not always deliberately.
She once caught the little Fishers singing “Make me a panel of your cheese.”
I once giggled my way through Mass when I realized my little boy was belting his heart out to a Psalm not found in any Bible:
“The Lord is kinda merciful.”
Surely you must have contributions to a Not-Deliberately-Heretical Childhood Hymnal? Share!
Music For Holy Week
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Reviews on Tuesday, April 19, 2011
We often discuss Advent & Christmas music here, but some of the most hauntingly gorgeous melodies ever written honor Christ’s Passion.
Above is Ah, Holy Jesus, which is my current favorite.
Here are the lyrics.
The second verse I find absolutely devastating (and cathartic). The line, “I crucified thee,” which resolves the melodic tension of the previous measures, sends chills up my spine and... READ MORE
Lift It High
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Monday, January 24, 2011
This is a meaningful time of year for pro-lifers. The anniversary of Roe v. Wade on Saturday, and the national March for Life in DC today - I’ve been thinking about and praying for the fight against abortion even more than usual this weekend. I’m sure we all have.
The pro-life quest can sometimes be discouraging, but I think it’s important to hope in the truth: that by his cross Christ has already... READ MORE
Joyful Anticipation
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Thursday, December 09, 2010
One of the beautiful things about the liturgy during Advent - and I never noticed this as a kid, but am increasingly aware of it as an adult - is its eschatological focus. Advent is about anticipating the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas, but it’s also about anticipating Christ’s second coming. The Feast of the Nativity is a whisper of the joy of our ultimate redemption.
I love this Advent... READ MORE
Sharing Advent Hymns
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Just me on Monday, November 29, 2010
As part of our family’s resolve to keep Advent, we’ve replaced the Christmas carols to which we used to listen during December. I’ve amassed a decent playlist of Advent music (including the appropriate portion of Handel’s Messiah) and we’ve grown to love the sound of it during the weeks leading up to Christmas.
But before I made a concerted efforted to collect Advent songs, I knew very few of them.... READ MORE
On My Heart Today
a beautiful song of worship
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, one of my favorite hymns, performed by the same artist who sang on the Babies movie trailer. Just beautiful.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
seal it for thy courts above.
Advent Ends on a High Note
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Tuesday, December 22, 2009
When I was a kid we always looked forward to December 17th and the start of the “O Antiphons” during Evening Prayer. The antiphons are read from December 17th through the 23rd, and are the source of Advent’s best-known hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”
During my childhood the antiphons’ main appeal to me was the fact that they indicated Christmas was near. But they’re beautiful, and I wanted to know more. I went looking and found this excellent article by Fr. William Saunders: “What are the ‘O Antiphons’?”
As Fr. Saunders mentions, the origin of the antiphons is not known, but it seems likely that they were used in the sixth century, and probably earlier. They have quite a long history!
Fr. Saunders also outlines the biblical basis for the antiphons, and you can read the original Latin text of each one, plus an English translation, in the Wikipedia article.
Carrie Underwood Sings 'How Great Thou Art'
Posted by Danielle Bean in Faith on Wednesday, October 21, 2009
I really love Carrie Underwood’s voice. Some of the lyrics to her latest songs, though? Not my favorites.
So I was thrilled to happen upon this clip of her singing “How Great Thou Art.” If, like me, her rendition starts you wondering about the origins of this popular hymn, check out its Wikipedia page for the answers to all of your questions (and even some you hadn’t thought to ask).
An Advent Hymn
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Rebecca’s post about “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” has me wanting to share my new favorite Advent hymn.
I heard it for the first time at Mass during Advent last year, and this year when I decided I was going to focus on learning Advent music, I knew I had to find a recording of it. I found one, and I’ve been listening to it and singing it non-stop this Advent. It has really enriched me during this season.
The hymn is called “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People.” It dates from the seventeenth century. You can see the text and hear the tune here at the Oremus Hymnal (warning: clicking that link will cause music to play) and you can buy an mp3 of a beautiful choral arrangement here
And you can imagine my delight, on the Second Sunday of Advent this year, to recognize my new favorite hymn in the Old Testament reading at Mass! The words are straight from Isaiah 40.
I hope you’ll love this one as much as I do.
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