This was another green Sunday. Mass XI and Credo I.
The propers we sang were the same this week as they were last week. Why is that? The number of Sundays after Epiphany varies from as few as 1 to as many as 6. This year we have 4. The total number of Sundays after Epiphany plus those after Pentecost will total to 29 (or 30 depending on the day of the week on which Epiphany falls). This, of course, is due to the fact that the better part of the Liturgical year is based on the date of Easter which can vary by as many as 5 weeks. Thus, the propers for the 3rdSunday after Epiphany are repeated as many times as necessary just as the propers for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost are repeated as many times as necessary.
The accompanying illustration shows the various possibilities for the number of Sundays after Epiphany and Pentecost. Note that this year, we will move the readings and propers for the 5th and 6thSundays after Epiphany to the 24th and 25th Sundays after Pentecost.
Because it is Epiphanytide, we sang What Star is Thisas the processional in honor of the three Kings.
At the Offertory, we sang Lumen ad Revelationem, a piece that is fitting for both Christmastide and Candlemas, which is later this week.
We gave Christmastide one last gasp as the season comes to an end this coming week on the Feast of the Purification, Candlemas – precisely 40 days after Christmas.
We sang Alma Redemptoris Mater, the Marian anthem from Compline that is sung during Christmastide, at the Communion. Given that January is the month in honor of the Holy Name of Jesus, we followed that with the vespers hymns from the Feast of the Holy Name, Jesu Dulcis Memoria.
For the recessional, we concluded with the last Christmas piece we will sing this season, Good Christian Men Rejoice.