In keeping with the custom of singing Marian hymns at the Offertory, the choir will sing Alma Redemptoris Mater. This is one of the four seasonal liturgical Marian antiphons sung at the end of Compline (the other three are Ave Regina cælorum, Regina cœli and Salve Regina). As you can see, the other three emphasize Our Lady’s queenship. Alma Redemptoris Mater speaks to her maternity. It is sung at Compline from the first Sunday of Advent until the feast of the Purification, February 2nd.
After the long wait, it’s now finally time for Christmas music!
During Advent, we sang O come, O come, Emmanuel several times as the processional. Now, we will sing O come all ye faithful. At the Communion, the choir will sing Tomás Luis de Victoria’s setting of O Magnum Mysterium, which, as you will recall, is the responsory to the 4th lesson from Matins of Christmas.
We will sing the propers for the Sunday, and will sing Mass II (two), which is customary during Christmastide.
Grace Notes: Why we sing what we sing
Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity
In keeping with the custom of singing Marian hymns at the Offertory, the choir will sing Alma Redemptoris Mater. This is one of the four seasonal liturgical Marian antiphons sung at the end of Compline (the other three are Ave Regina cælorum, Regina cœli and Salve Regina). As you can see, the other three emphasize Our Lady’s queenship. Alma Redemptoris Mater speaks to her maternity. It is sung at Compline from the first Sunday of Advent until the feast of the Purification, February 2nd.
After the long wait, it’s now finally time for Christmas music!
During Advent, we sang O come, O come, Emmanuel several times as the processional. Now, we will sing O come all ye faithful. At the Communion, the choir will sing Tomás Luis de Victoria’s setting of O Magnum Mysterium, which, as you will recall, is the responsory to the 4th lesson from Matins of Christmas.
We will sing the propers for the Sunday, and will sing Mass II (two), which is customary during Christmastide.