April 2021 archive of Music & Liturgy Musings
Psalm 22
Posted by Anthony Gallina on 4/30/21
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” becomes “I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.” What a difference a few days can make! Our responsorial psalm this weekend is Psalm 22, which we also heard five short weeks ago on Palm Sunday. This ... Read More »
It's Hard to Be an Easter People
Posted by Anthony Gallina on 4/23/21
Saint John Paul II famously said “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!” (Angelus, 30 November 1986). Let’s face it: it’s hard to be an Easter people. By the time we get to the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the initial joy we experienced of Christ’s resurrection on ... Read More »
Psalm 4
Posted by Anthony Gallina on 4/16/21
Friends, first I want to apologize for not having the Mass setting sheets for the Easter season in the back of the hymnal for last weekend. After coming back from a few days of time off post-Easter, making those inserts honestly slipped my mind. Rest assured they are printed ... Read More »
The Easter Sequence: Victimae Paschali Laudes
Posted by Anthony Gallina on 4/08/21
On Easter, throughout the octave, and today on the octave day, we sing the Easter sequence: Victimae Paschali Laudes (Christians to the Paschal Victim, Offer Thankful Praises). This ancient hymn ascribed to the Wipo of Burgundy (c. 11th century), is sung preceding the Alleluia. In the Tridentine Mass and current ... Read More »
Easter Joy
Posted by Anthony Gallina on 4/08/21
Christ is risen, alleluia! He is risen indeed, alleluia! Friends, on this great solemnity of Easter, we rejoice with an indescribable joy because our Lord has conquered sin and death by rising from the grave. The first eight days comprise the Octave of Easter and are celebrated as solemnities ... Read More »