Liturgical Music Choices

Years ago Fr. Plessala talked about Lent as getting to the gates of Disney World and having to wait to get in. I think at least a few can remember times like that. Though, I think my own personal vision of H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks would be getting in the gate, getting the ride or show I really want to ride/see, and standing in 110° heat, no clouds, all blazing sun, no sunscreen, waiting to get in or on the ride and... I never get on the ride. I'm just there miserable and hot, angry, frustrated, tired (all the negative feelings)...for eternity. That's enough to set me (or perhaps anyone) on the straight and narrow. Or, maybe it's just the look my mother gave me as a child when I acted up in church (ha ha). 

Take yourself to a time when you saved up for a special "thing" (a device, clothing, special meal, a trip, etc.). You saved over time and then waited (and waited). Or, consider the times when you ordered something online and you tracked it for a week or two, checking in with UPS tracker, or FedEx tracker, or the USPS Informed Delivery apps. You tracked it "religiously." 

Lent has a similar feel. We are waiting and checking in every week. We're reminded that Holy Week is both sorrowful and joyful. Thursday, we find out just how things are going to be, Friday we are mourning, Saturday night and/or Sunday morning, we are excited because the promise is fulfilled. 

We are LUCKY, if we truly believe. It's fulfilled year in and year out. 

Can we truly imagine this? I think we have to go completely there. We have to be the disciples, the women. We have to learn to go back in time when things were different, when our world was shattered, and we have to go to the time when there is/was this unexplainable joy that his word was/is true, that he rose, that he saved, and continues to save, us. We have to go back to those original days when he walked the earth as a human. 

This year - I personally need to lean on that joy. It's a tough time right now. Regardless of what's going on, we need to hold on to the vision, the reality that he came, died, and rose to save us ("to save our stupid selves"). 

1. Read the texts for each mass. 

2. What spoke to me when I read the texts for this mass? Sometimes there are specific texts that are quoted in hymn/song.

3. Look at the source(s) for the readings, and search in the hymnal for specific words ("electronic search"). Sometimes the source material for a hymn/song is based on a specific reaading. 

4. Balance the music. Try not to make everything the same style, tempo, key (if possible). 

5. Seasonal Themes

   • Advent - We are waiting for his arrival (baby). 

   • Christmas - he is born, he's in our form, he is God living among us. 

   • Ordinary Time (1) - Each year we travel through his teachings, from John the Baptist, to his time with the disciples in different places.

     • He walked/traveled to teach. It's approximately 165 km or about 102 miles from Bethlehem (birth) to the Sea of Galilee. For perspective, it's about 108 miles from Auburn to Atlanta). Leading up to Lent.

   • Lent has a 40 days of waiting theme. Cleaning up for God's ultimate sacrifice.

   • Palm Sunday - He knows death is coming, he comes in triumphant and ready. 

   • Holy Thursday - It's dark. He sacrificed from the washing of the feet to his death. 

   • Good Friday - Somberness, darkness, but also hope because tomorrow night, he rises and the light returns, the promise is fulfilled.

   • Easter - He rises, he continues to teach for a time and then assumes to heaven, revealing his physical truth on earth once more.

   • Ordinary Time (2) - Second longer stretch of time, leading up to Advent.

Entrance Antiphon (Wis 11:24, 25, 27). You are merciful to all, O Lord, and despise nothing that you have made. You overlook people’s sins, to bring them to repentance, and you spare them, for you are the Lord our God. 

Collect. Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading 1 - Joel 2:12-18. Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. Perhaps he will again relent  and leave behind him a blessing, Offerings and libations for the Lord, your God. Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly; Gather the people, notify the congregation; Assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast; Let the bridegroom quit his room and the bride her chamber. Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep, And say, “Spare, O Lord, your people, and make not your heritage a reproach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” Then the Lord was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people.

Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14, 17 - R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. R. 

For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: “Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” R.

A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. R.

Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. R.

2 Corinthians 5:20–6:2. Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18. Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Blessing of Ashes. 

Dear brethren (brothers and sisters), let us humbly ask God our Father that he be pleased to bless with the abundance of his grace these ashes, which we will put on our heads in penitence. O God, who are moved by acts of humility and respond with forgiveness to works of penance, lend your merciful ear to our prayers and in your kindness pour out the grace of your blessing on your servants who are marked with these ashes, that, as they follow the Lenten observances, they may be worthy to come with minds made pure to celebrate the Paschal Mystery of your Son. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

OR 

O God, who desire not the death of sinners, but their conversion, mercifully hear our prayers and in your kindness be pleased to bless these ashes, which we intend to receive upon our heads, that we, who acknowledge we are but ashes and shall return to dust, may, through a steadfast observance of Lent, gain pardon for sins and newness of life after the likeness of your Risen Son. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. 

Distribution of Ashes. Repent, and believe in the Gospel. OR Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

Prayer over the Offerings. As we solemnly offer the annual sacrifice for the beginning of Lent, we entreat you, O Lord, that, through works of penance and charity, we may turn away from harmful pleasures and, cleansed from our sins, may become worthy to celebrate devoutly the Passion of your Son. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Communion Antiphon (Cf. Ps1:2-3). He who ponders the law of the Lord day and night will yield fruit in due season. 

Prayer after Communion. May the Sacrament we have received sustain us, O Lord, that our Lenten fast may be pleasing to you and be for us a healing remedy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.