Chant School

Music: Introit; Gradual; Alleluia; Offertory; Communion (Year A); Communion (Year B and C)

Today we learn the propers for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary time (Extraordinary Form repeats 3rd Sunday after Epiphany this week!).

Link to Music

Today we learn another hymn of Prudentius -- listen to Audit Tyrannus Anxius from a few weeks ago to learn about his story -- O Sola Magnarum Urbium. This Epiphany hymn is also drawn from his Cathemerinon, and sings the praises of Bethlehem, noblest of cities, where the Lord was born and the Kings came to worship.

1. Bethlehem! of noblest cities None can once with thee compare; Thou alone the Lord from heaven Didst for us Incarnate bear.

2. Fairer than the sun at morning Was the star that told His birth; To the lands their God announcing, Hid beneath a form of earth.

3. By its lambent beauty guided, See the eastern kings appear; See them bend, their gifts to offer-Gifts of incense, gold, and myrrh.

4. Solemn things of mystic meaning!-Incense doth the God disclose; Gold a royal Child proclaimeth; Myrrh a future tomb foreshows.

5. Holy Jesu, in Thy brightnessTo the Gentile world displayed,With the Father and the Spirit,Endless praise to Thee be paid.

Link to Music

Link to Year A and B Introit

Link to Year A Communio "Venite Post Me"

Today we learn the Proper antiphons from the 3rd Sunday (in Ordinary Time/After Epiphany). Enjoy!

Link to Music

Happy Epiphanytide! Today we learn the introit from the Mass for Epiphany, and for those who haven't listened to our Propers of the Year series, we get a peak into the chants of the Holy Mass.

Behold, the Sovereign Lord is coming; kingship, government and power are in his hands.

Link to music

Link to Novus Ordo Communio, Laetabimur in salutari tuo

Today we learn the propers for the 2nd Sunday (of Ordinary Time or Epiphany)

Link to Music

Happy New Year's Eve! Today we learn a hymn in honor of the Holy Innocents, killed by the tyrant Herod while he searched for the Christ Child. The first blood shed for our Lord was by these innocent children, and it's impossible not to compare slaughter of the innocents with the slaughter of the unborn in our day. Sing the praises of these innocents, and beg for their intercession for an end to abortion!

Link to Music

Today we learn the propers for the Feast of Epiphany. Enjoy!

Link to Music

Merry Christmas! Today we learn one of the most popular medieval Christmas hymns: Puer Natus in Bethlehem. Let's all raise our voices to praise God for the Incarnation!

A child is born in Bethlehem,

Exult for joy, Jerusalem!

Allelujah.

With an exultant heart,

let us adore the new-born Christ,

with a new song.

The Son of God the Father,

In the highest has taken flesh,

Allelujah.

By angel Gabriel announced,

The virgin has conceived the Son.

Allelujah.

Like a bridegroom from the chamber,

He proceeds from the womb of the mother.

Allelujah.

Lo he who reigns above the skies,

There in a manger lowly, lies.

Allelujah.

The ox and ass in neighb'ring stall,

See in that child the Lord of all.

Allelujah.

And kingly pilgrims, long foretold,

From East bring incense, myrrh and gold,

Allelujah.

And enter with their offerings,

To hail the newborn King of Kings.

Allelujah.

He comes, a maiden mother's Son,

Yet earthly father has He none;

Allelujah.

And from the serpent's poison free,

He owned our blood and pedigree,

Allelujah.

Our feeble flesh and His the same,

Our sinless kinsman He became,

Allelujah.

That we, from deadly thrall set free,

Like Him, and so like God, should be.

Allelujah.

Come then, and on his natal day,

Rejoice before the Lord and pray.

Allelujah.

And to the holy One in Three.

Give praise and thanks eternally.

Allelujah.

Links to music (courtesy of CCWatershed): Introit; Gradual; Alleluia; Offertory; Communion

In this episode we learn the propers for the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, January 1st. In 2023 this falls on Sunday, the Octave of Christmas. In the extraordinary form this day is the Octave of Christmas/The Circumcision of the Lord, and the propers are the same as those of Christmas Mass during the day, which we covered in last week's episode (except for the Alleluia).

Link to Music

Today we learn the antiphon for Rorate Caeli, a hymn based on the beginning of the Introit for the 4th Sunday of Advent. A wonderful, simple antiphon to have on our lips during this last week before the Lord Comes!

Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness.

Be not wroth very sore, O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever: thy holy city is a wilderness,Sion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation:our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee.

We have sinned, and are as an unclean thing, and we all do fade as a leaf:and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away:thou hast hid thy face from us:and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

Behold, O Lord, the affliction of thy people, and send forth him whom thou wilt send; send forth the Lamb, the ruler of the earth, from Petra of the desert to the mount of the daughter of Sion:that he may take away the yoke of our captivity.

Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know me and believe me: I, even I, am the Lord, and beside me there is no Saviour: and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people; my salvation shall not tarry: why wilt thou waste away in sadness? why hath sorrow seized thee?Fear not, for I will save thee: For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Redeemer.