Voices - singing out, ringing out, thanking!...

Therefore, we, too, extol you with all the Angels,

as in joyful celebration we acclaim:  Holy, holy, holy....

 

Choir of Angels ~ Hans Memling (c. 1433-1494, Netherlands)

“Liturgical action is given a more noble form when sacred rites are solemnized in song, with the assistance of sacred ministers and the active participation of the people.... Choirs must be diligently promoted, but bishops and other pastors must ensure that, whenever the sacred action is to be celebrated with song, the whole body of the faithful may be able to contribute that active participation which is rightfully theirs.... Gregorian chant, other things being equal, should be given pride of place in liturgical services. But other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded.... Religious singing by the people is to be skillfully fostered, so that in devotions and sacred exercises, as also during liturgical services, the voices of the faithful may ring out” (Constitution on the Liturgy, 112-118)

St Cecilia

Martyr ~ Rome

Approx  90-117 AD

Patron of Musicians, Sacred Music

Incorruptible

Feast Day – Nov 22

 St Cecilia ~ Guido Reni

"Words cannot express the things
that are sung by the heart ... And if so happy that words
can no longer express what they feel, 

people discard the restricting syllables. 

They burst out into a simple sound of joy, of jubilation.'"

Well said, St Augustine!

A Village Choir ~ Thomas George Webster (1847)

  Sing praises to the LORD, O you His saints,

and give thanks to His holy Name.  ~ Psalm 30:4

Click here: St. Cecilia - YouTube (2 mins)

St Cecilia, pray for us! 

Blessed Thanksgiving Day!

I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart ... Psalm 138:1a

Gratitude ... goes beyond the "mine" and "thine" and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift. In the past I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realize that gratitude can also be lived as a discipline. The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy. ~ Fr Henri J. M. Nouwen

As Catholics, our Eucharistic life 

(Eucharistia means thanksgiving) 

is literally one of Thanks-living!

  Consider a gift of gratitude to our Lord through a

daily HOLY HOUR and/or HOLY MASS

during the upcoming season of ADVENT!

"God has two dwelling places:

One in heaven and the other

in a grateful heart."  ~ Izaak Walton

Where Charity and Love Prevail...

Where Charity and Love Prevail

(Gregorian Hymn - composed sometime around 4th century)

Where charity and love prevail,

There God is ever found.

Brought here together by Christ's love,

By love are we thus bound.

With grateful joy and holy fear,

His charity we learn,

Let us with heart and mind and soul,

Now love Him in return.

Forgive we now each other's faults,

As we our faults confess.

And let us love each other well,

In Christian holiness.

Let strife among us be unknown,

Let all contention cease.

Be His the glory that we seek,

Be ours His holy peace.

Let us recall that in our midst,

Dwells God's Begotten Son,

As members of His body joined,

We are in Him made one.

AMEN

Top Photo image: Adoration - Heralds of the Gospel

Voices - singing out, ringing out! ...

Therefore, we, too, extol you with all the Angels,

as in joyful celebration we acclaim:  Holy, holy, holy....

 

Choir of Angels ~ Hans Memling (c. 1433-1494, Netherlands)

“Liturgical action is given a more noble form when sacred rites are solemnized in song, with the assistance of sacred ministers and the active participation of the people.... Choirs must be diligently promoted, but bishops and other pastors must ensure that, whenever the sacred action is to be celebrated with song, the whole body of the faithful may be able to contribute that active participation which is rightfully theirs.... Gregorian chant, other things being equal, should be given pride of place in liturgical services. But other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded.... Religious singing by the people is to be skillfully fostered, so that in devotions and sacred exercises, as also during liturgical services, the voices of the faithful may ring out” (Constitution on the Liturgy, 112-118)

St Cecilia

Martyr ~ Rome

Approx  90-117 AD

Patron of Musicians, Sacred Music

Incorruptible

Feast Day – Nov 22

 St Cecilia ~ Guido Reni

"Words cannot express the things
that are sung by the heart ... And if so happy that words
can no longer express what they feel, 

people discard the restricting syllables. 

They burst out into a simple sound of joy, of jubilation.'"

Well said, St Augustine!

A Village Choir ~ Thomas George Webster (1847)

  Sing praises to the LORD, O you His saints,

and give thanks to His holy Name.  ~ Psalm 30:4

Click here: St. Cecilia - YouTube (2 mins)

St Cecilia, pray for us! 

The King Of Love My Shepherd Is

The King Of Love My Shepherd Is 

(St. Columba)

The King of Love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness fails me never;
I nothing lack if I am His,
and He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
With gentle care He leads me,
And where the verdant pastures grow
With Heav'nly food He feeds me.

Perverse and foolish I have strayed
But yet in love He sought me,
and on His shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill
With You, dear Lord, beside me, 

Your rod and staff my comfort still,
Your Cross before to guide me.

You spread a table in my sight,
Your saving grace bestowing;
And O what joy and true delight
From Your pure chalice flowing!

And so through all the length of days
Your goodness fails me never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Your praise
Within Your house forever.