Category: HYMNS

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DOCTORS of the Church, HYMNS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS for SEASONS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The HOLY NAME

Monthly Catholic Devotions – January, the Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

Posted on by AnaStpaul

january the month of the most holy name of jesus 1 jan 2020.jpgMonthly Catholic Devotions

JANUARY
is the Month of
THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS

The month of January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus.
“In the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth and under the earth” (Phil 2:10).
Christ’s name is chosen in heaven and the Angel Gabriel announces it when he informs the Blessed Virgin of the incarnation:
“Behold thou shall conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son and thou shall call his name Jesus”.
It is a name that has marvellous implications, for it means “saviour.”   The very name bespeaks the magnitude of His mission, His infinite love, a love that will cause Him to offer Himself up for us.

The name of Jesus is the sweetest of all names and He who bears it is most worthy of all love.   He who calls Jesus, his friend, can be assured that this friend is the most devoted and unselfish of all friends.

Jesus is our all.
In His name, we may pray to the Father with assurance of being heard.
In His name, the Church administers all her sacraments.
In His name, she offers all her prayers and blesses homes, the fields and the sick.
In the name of Jesus, she casts out evil spirits
and at the hour of our death bids us, “Go forth, Christian soul.”
She assures us, that whoever shall call upon this name will be saved. When our soul has departed this life to seek its eternal home, the Church asks in the name of Jesus, “Eternal rest give unto him, O Lord.” … Fr Benedict Baur, OSB

Jesu Dulcis Memori

By St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Doctor of the Church

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
with sweetness fills my breast,
But sweeter far Thy face to see
and in Thy presence rest.

Nor voice can sing nor heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find
a sweeter sound than Jesus’ name,
O Saviour of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek
to those who fall, how kind Thou art,
how good to those who seek!

But what to those who find?
Ah this nor tongue nor pen can show,
the love of Jesus, what it is none
but His loved ones know.

Jesus our only joy be Thou
as Thou our prize wilt be.
Jesus, be Thou our glory now
and through eternity.
Amen

2019:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/01/january-is-the-month-of-the-most-holy-name-of-jesus/

2018:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/01/01/monthly-catholic-devotions-january-is-the-month-of-the-most-holy-name-of-jesus-2/jesu, dulcis memoria st bernard of clairvaux hymn or prayer.jpg

Posted in CHRISTMASTIDE!, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, POETRY, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 28 December – Lully, Lullay, thou little tiny child

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 28 December – The Feast of the Holy Innocents – The Fourth Day of the Christmas Octave

Herod “the Great,” king of Judea, was unpopular with his people because of his connections with the Romans and his religious indifference.   Hence he was insecure and fearful of any threat to his throne.   He was a master politician and a tyrant capable of extreme brutality.   He killed his wife, his brother and his sister’s two husbands, to name only a few.

Matthew 2:1-18 tells this story:  Herod was “greatly troubled” when astrologers from the east came asking the whereabouts of “the newborn king of the Jews,” whose star they had seen.   They were told that the Jewish Scriptures named Bethlehem as the place where the Messiah would be born.   Herod cunningly told them to report back to him so that he could also “do him homage.”   They found Jesus, offered him their gifts, and warned by an angel, avoided Herod on their way home. Jesus escaped to Egypt.

Herod became furious and “ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under.”   The horror of the massacre and the devastation of the mothers and fathers led Matthew to quote Jeremiah:   “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children…” (Matthew 2:18). Rachel was the wife of Jacob (Israel).   She is pictured as weeping at the place where the Israelites were herded together by the conquering Assyrians for their march into captivity.

The Holy Innocents are few in comparison to the genocide and abortion of our day.   But even if there had been only one, we recognise the greatest treasure God put on the earth—a human person, destined for eternity and graced by Jesus’ death and resurrection.

The 15th Century English Carol commemorates the slaughter of the Holy Innocents.

Lully, Lullay, thou little tiny child.
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Lullay thou little tiny child
Bye, bye, lully, lullay

O sisters, too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day,
This poor Youngling for whom we sing
Bye, bye lully, lullay

Herod the King, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day,
His men of might, in his own sight,
All young children to slay.

Then woe is me, poor child, for thee,
And ever mourn and say;
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
Bye, bye lully, lullay.

Holy Innocents, Pray for Us!holy-innocents-pray-for-us-no-2-28-dec-2017,2018,2019.jpg

 

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CHRISTMASTIDE!, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Our Morning Offering – 27 December – Oh Teach Me then, Dear Saint! An Invocation of St John, Evangelist

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 27 December – Feast of St John the Evangelist and the Third Day of the Christmas Octave

Oh Teach Me then, Dear Saint!

An Invocation of St John, Evangelist

Saint of the Sacred Heart,
Sweet teacher of the Word,
Partner of Mary’s woes
And favourite of thy Lord!

Refrain
Oh teach me then, dear Saint!
The secrets Christ taught thee;
The beatings of His Heart,
And how it beat for me!

We know not all thy gifts
But this Christ bids us see,
That He who so loved all,
Found more to love in thee.
Refrain

When the last evening came,
Thy head was on His breast,
Pillowed on earth, where now
In heaven the Saints find rest.
Refrain

Dear Saint! I stand far off,
With vilest sins opprest,
Oh may I dare, like thee,
To lean upon His breast?
Refrain

His touch could heal the sick,
His voice could raise the dead,
Oh that my soul might be
Where He allows thy head.
Refrain

The gifts He gave to thee
He gave thee to impart
And I, too, claim with thee
His Mother and His Heart!
Refraino teach me then dear saint an invocation of st john evangelist hymn - 27 dec 2019.jpg

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 26 December – Help us, Holy Stephen

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 26 December – Feast of St Stephen the ProtoMartyr and The Second Day in the Christmas Octave

Help us, Holy Stephen
Breviary Prayer/Hymn
for the Feast of St Stephen

Jesus the Christ-Child brought new life to all men
And in His Manhood, conquered death and evil,
Risen, resplendent, in the Father’s glory
He reigns forever.

Stephen the Deacon was the first to follow
Christ’s great example, done to death by sinners,
Though all his actions and his words were prompted
By the Lord’s Spirit.

Enemies’ anger destined him to perish,
Stoned by his hearers, victim of their fury,
Yet like his Saviour, in his dying moments
Pleading their pardon.

Witness to Jesus, help us, holy Stephen,
Mourning and contrite to attain the Kingdom,
Gain us the graces which we need to bring us
Safely to heaven.

Of the same nature as the blessed martyrs,
Let us sing praises to our God Almighty,
Who honoured Stephen with a martyr’s glory,
First among thousands.
Amenhelp us holy stephen - 26 dec 2019 st stephens feast breviary hymn.jpg

Posted in CHRISTMASTIDE!, HYMNS, The NATIVITY of JESUS

Second Thought for the Day – 24 December – “Silent Night” – May this Holy Infant so tender and mild, bless us all!

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Second Thought for the Day – 24 December – The Nativity of the Lord, Mass at Midnight

Last year we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the first performance

of the beloved carol ‘Silent Night’Silent-Night-by-Fr-Joseph-Mohr-1792-1848-24-dec-2018 and 2019

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child!
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, how the light
Radiates love from Thy heavenly face,
At the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

May this Holy Infant so tender and mild, bless us all!

Read the story here:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/12/24/thought-for-the-day-24-december-today-the-200th-anniversary-of-the-first-performance-of-the-beloved-carol-silent-night/Holy-infant-so-tender-and-mile-bless-us-all-24-dec-2018 and 2019

Posted in CHRISTMASTIDE!, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, The NATIVITY of JESUS, The WORD

Our Morning Offering – 24 December – The People who in Darkness Walked

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 24 December – The Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Mass at Midnight – Readings: Isaiah 9:1-6, Psalm 96:1-3, 11-13, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14

The People who in Darkness Walked
From Isaiah 9:1-6

The People who in darkness walked
have seen a glorious light.
The light has shone on them who dwelt
In death’s surrounding night.
To hail You, Sun of Righteousness,
the gathering nations come,
rejoicing as when reapers bear,
their harvest treasures home.
To us a child of hope is born,
to us a son is given,
Him shall the tribes of earth obey,
Him all the host of heaven.
His name shall be the Prince of Peace
for evermore adored,
the Wonderful, the Counsellor,
the great and mighty Lord.the people who in darkness walked 24 dec 2019.jpg

 

Posted in ADVENT PRAYERS, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for SEASONS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The NATIVITY of JESUS, YouTube VIDEOS

Our Morning Offering – 22 December – O Come, O come, Emmanuel

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 22 December – The Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A

O Come, O come, Emmanuel

O Come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Wisdom, from on high
And order all things far and nigh,
To us the path of knowledge show
And teach us in her ways to go.
Refrain

O come, o come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times did give the law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Refrain

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse’s stem,
From ev’ry foe deliver them
That trust Thy mighty power to save
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Refrain

O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav’nly home,
Make safe the way that leads on high,
That we no more have cause to sigh.
Refrain

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high
And cheer us by thy drawing nigh.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadow put to flight.
Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid every strife and quarrel cease
And fill the world with heaven’s peace.
Refraino come o come emmnuel no 2 22 dec 2019.jpg

This ancient Advent hymn is based upon the seven Great “O” Antiphons, which are recited or sung before and after the Magnificat at Vespers (or Evening Prayer) from 17 – 23 December.

Music: T Helmore, 1811-1890 adapted from a 1st Mode Responsory in a 15th cent. French Processional.

Text: Veni, Veni Emmanuel, a para. of Latin 12th-13th cent.
“Great O Antiphons” in Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, 1770.