Bulletins

November 16, 2014

Download the Bulletin as a PDF

This penultimate Sunday of the liturgical year means that the Solemnity of Our Lord Christ King of the Universe is only one week away and that the First Sunday of Advent comes right after that. Our vestments will change color and our Marian antiphon will take on a new tone.

At around the same time the music on the radio will change as well, sadly skipping all the great Advent music in our repertoire. But I digress.

In all the general instructions and rubrics for Holy Mass, there is not one mention of a “Closing Hymn”, except for when there is a procession immediately following the celebration of the Sacred Mysteries such as after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday or at the conclusion of a Funeral Mass. By the same token there is no general prohibition against music after the priest has imparted the Final Blessing, dismissed the people and reverenced the altar. Consider in that light a few thoughts, especially if we are hoping for an upbeat tune to take us home. After Mass, where are we headed? If not to the Altar of Repose chanting Pange Lingua or to the cemetery carried by In Paradisum, then where? Even if coffee and donuts are a stop along the way, we are headed into the world, the vale of tears, a society increasingly hostile to the Gospel. The arena of our spiritual combat may be reams of briefs, piles of laundry, loads of homework or a mountain of bills. Regardless, we emerge from the House of God like a ship leaving harbor. The seas may be calm for the moment but that will not last very long.

Chanting at the conclusion of Holy Mass the Marian antiphon proper to the liturgical season is more than filial piety: Alma Redemptoris Mater during Advent and Christmas, Ave Regina Caelorum from then until the Easter Vigil, Regina Caeli throughout Easter and the Salve Regina the rest of the year. We beg her prayers and company as we go into the dark night, carrying with us the light of Christ, Who is our peace, our hope and our joy.

Since the thirteen century, which quite possible marks the summit of liturgical development in the Roman Catholic tradition, but I digress once more, a Marian antiphon is the last official prayer of the Church’s day, taking place after Compline or “Night Prayer”.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Fr. Christopher J. Pollard