Thursday, December 20, 2012

ANOTHER QUESTION FOR JESSICA AHLQUIST

I pose yet another question for Jessica Ahlquist, the teen atheist who, unfortunately, yet successfully (with the help of the so-called Freedom from Religion Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Deprivation Union) had a half-century-old prayer banner removed from Cranston High School West:

Since you do not believe in God, do you believe in Christmas?  I don't mean the secular sense, like Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty, and pals.  I mean the true meaning, you know, the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that Godhead you denounce by being an atheist?

Do you still get presents under the tree?  The Christmas tree, that is?  Or do you have one of those "holiday trees" like Governor Gump (Lincoln Chafee) has in the State House?  Is there a holiday for atheists in December?  After all, we celebrate Christmas (read: the birth of Jesus Christ).  Our Jewish friends (yes, I did say "Jewish friends", I have absolutely nothing against Jews, I am not an anti-semite) celebrate Hanukkah.  Even the Muslims (once known as Moslems, at least back in my youth) have Ramadan.

If you're opening packages from under a tree, you are (de facto) celebrating Christmas, aren't you?  You are, whether you know it or not, celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  He can be your Savior, too, you know.  He's a very forgiving man (provided, of course, that you reform yourself in a manner prescribed by Christ himself, perhaps denounce your atheist ways).  This is not an ultimatum.  Your friendly neighborhood iSNARK! is just trying to get you to see some light, something that is lacking for those who have no belief.

If you're opening packages from under a tree while still practicing atheism, you have some generous family and or friends.  Or perhaps Christmas to you is just that "holiday" that the retailers keep talking about on TV, encouraging the viewer to do buy their "holiday gifts" at their store (or one of their umpteen hundred stores).

Something to think about.  I will take the liberty anyways to wish you a Merry Christmas (true meaning, that is).  If you convert to Judaism (and I do have Jews as personal friends), then Happy Hanukkah.  However, if you insist on being the non-believer that you are, then TRY to have a nice day.  That may be hard to do without a Savior in your life.  We Christians don't always have nice days, but at least our Savior is there to back us up and bring us back in the right direction.  Direction is something we all need at some point in time, lest we be a spoiled, obnoxious, arrogant being.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum (The peace of the Lord be with you always)
BMP

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

IT'S A PLAIN SHAME!

I've heard of mass murders and terrorist attacks.  But nothing saddens me more than when one sick, twisted, poor excuse for a man manages his way into an elementary school and opens fire on teachers, principals, other staff, and, worst of all, children.  Innocent young first graders who shouldn't have a care in the world, gunned down by some sick terrorist bastard.  Pardon my French, but that is truly how I feel about this man.

Of course, this all happened not before killing his own mother (a substitute teacher at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut) and taking off with three guns that his mother owned, and apparently his brother's ID, since early reports ID'd the killer as Ryan Lanza, the 24-year-old brother of 20-year-old terrorist Adam Lanza.  And to make matters worse, being too chicken-shit to face what he did, he did what any other cowardly murderer would do - kill himself as well.

Think about this now: your typical suicide terrorist would do what?  Hook a bomb on himself, stand in a crowd, take umpteen lives as well as his own.  What did Adam Lanza do?  Opened fire, killed 20 kids, eight adults, and his own sorry tail.  Adam Lanza, to me, folks, is a terrorist, maybe not in the Al Qaeda or Taliban variety, but a terrorist just the same.

As a father of four children, I thank Almighty God that mine are still in one piece.  But with crap like this going on, this really has me thinking, and often worrying, as my youngest child still has 2-1/2 years of high school to go.

It's a plain shame that this could happen in an elementary school, the place that's supposed to be a safe haven for this kids, to learn new things and have some fun!

The following Sunday, some moron thought it would be cute to start a bomb threat during Mass at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, also in Newtown, citing that this person's "friend (Adam Lanza) didn't finish the job".  Any chance these two might had been in cahoots?  After all, these two scumbags could be the new Planned Parenthood, attacking children AND attacking religion (Catholicism in particular).

My prayers go out to the good people of Newtown, the victims of all this senselessness and their families.  No family, and I mean NO family, should ever go through such a horrendous tragedy like this.  I know many of them will find it hard to celebrate Christmas.  I realize many people not even connected these families may feel guilty about celebrating Christmas due to last Friday's events.  If you believe in the true meaning of Christmas, then there should be no problem in celebrating the holy day.  Jesus wants it, of course.  It's the day of his birth.  And these children would want it.

This past Sunday was "Gaudete" Sunday ("Gaudete" is Latin for "Rejoice").  I didn't know whether to think "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" or the "Coventry Carol" (the hymn best used on the feast of the Holy Innocents).  But one verse in the former stands out:

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan's tyrrany;
From dephts of hell thy people save, and give them vict'ry o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

As awkward as this may be, I have to present a WTF award in this case.  Not to Adam Lanza (I don't give posthumous WTF awards), but to the NBC reporter who approached children outside the day of the tragedy and asking them what they saw.  These kids don't need to be exploited like this.  They've been through a hell of a lot!  Give them a frickin' break!

That, too, is a plain shame, and just cause for the December 2012 WTF award.  Take it and go --- far away.  All the more reason I don't watch much TV, especially mainstream news.

Peace,
BMP

Monday, November 26, 2012

MY ANNUAL CHRISTMAS MUZAK RANT

About this time each year, I post my usual rant about - you guessed it - all those little ditties that the music industry of today passes off as Christmas music.  Very little of it good.  Lots of it garbage.  My other pet peeve that many have read about from CV - the BLOG! is those radio stations who play Christmas music and muzak (mostly muzak) 24/7 starting six weeks before Christmas.  Think about it.  During the 12:00 hour you get "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in the mix.  At 1:00 you get someone else's "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and an "O Holy Night".  About ten past two, someone else's "O Holy Night", then at three, a third rendition of "Rudolph".  Do you get what I speak?

Anyhoo, Instead of posting a Scheiße-Liste or a Top 10 Worst List, let's just explore certain pieces.  There are some versions of some songs I don't mind - in many cases, the only version of said songs I'll tolerate.  Yes, most of these are secular, because you hardly hear any sacred versions on pop radio, and the ones that are sacred are usually thrashed by the "artists" singing them.

Let's see.....This portion is mostly positive!

Blue Christmas - Elvis only!
White Christmas - The Drifters only!
Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms or Hall and Oates, both fine
Sleigh Ride - orchestral arrangement only (the way Leroy Anderson intended, made popular by the Boston Pops).  I know the lyrics, but for some reason I could only find ONE sung version with the original Anderson arrangement.  All the other sung versions I've heard are way too tacky for my liking.
The Twelve Days of Christmas - almost anything.  The Chipmunks and Muppets have the coolest versions on the air, as does Straight No Chaser (Bear-i-tone just reminded me of them!  I had totally forgotten!).  On record, this version I mentioned last year from the Firestone records of the 1960's, and one by Tennessee Ernie Ford (he has a really cool basso profundo!).  I also have high appreciation for the "Redneck Twelve Days" and Bob Rivers' "The Twelve Pains of Christmas".  The one I avoid at all costs: the rendition by Ray Conniff.
Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano only!  (Celine Dion KILLS it!)
Do You Hear What I Hear - I'm not a big Jim Nabors fan (in terms of his singing - I liked him as Gomer Pyle, though), but his big bass rendition fits it nicely, I have to admit.  The version I avoid like the plague: the one by Whitney Houston.
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - any of the versions from those old cartoons we watched as kids are always cool.  Autry and Ives have this tune mastered.  As for versions recorded in the last decade or so, the honor has to go to Ringo Starr.  The two I avoid are: 1) the jerk who sings "Rudy the red-nosed reindeer" every other line (his name eludes me at the moment, and hopefully will for ever) and 2) the version Billy Gilman sang before puberty.  Even before the voice change, he sounded more like a girl than a boy!
Silver Bells - Larry the Cable Guy's parody only (I won't post it here)!
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - The Beach Boys arrangement is killer!  The Ames Brothers has a cool jazz version.  Also, Larry the Cable Guy's parody (You'd better watch out.  I think she's a guy.  I ain't quite sure, but somethin' ain't right... Hillary Clinton's comin' to town!)  The ones I avoid: "SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANTA Claus is comin' to town!   SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANTA Claus is comin' to town!"  This one is mainly done by Motown artists, and by Bruce Springsteen.
All I Want for Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey solo only!  Not the "duet" with Justine Bieber.  Heard that once last year.  It's not a new version either.  Just some of Mariah's vocal tracks got replaced by Miz Bieber's vocal tracks.  It's horrible!  Bieber cannot sing.  She is tone deaf!
'Twas the Night before Christmas - Only non-parody rendition I like is that written by Ken Darby, arranged for choir by Harry Simeone.  It is really fun to listen to, even for the most serious of musicians.  Watch this rendition below as performed by the combined choirs of the University of Utah.



As for the rest of the negatives:  Click here for my Scheiße-Liste.  I will add:
O Holy Night (or ANYTHING by Josh Groban).  His voice, in this snark's opinion, is depressing.
ANYTHING by Johnny Mathis!
ANYTHING by Josh Groban!

Oh, and an act I do NOT want to see anytime soon: Santa Baby by Honey Boo Boo!  (My wife and I both loathe that song as it is!) That said, I must also remind the common citizen that the Holyday that falls on XII-25 is called "Christmas" and not merely "Holiday".  Governor Gump got his WTF award this time last year for the lighting of his "Holiday Tree".  I have yet to put up a tree on the Fourth of July, but if I do, I will decorate it with live fireworks and ammo.  Bring matches, friends!   I still remember the time last year when a cashier at Christmas Tree Shops in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, told my wife and me to "Have a nice holiday."  I asked her, "Which one?"  The name of the store says CHRISTMAS!  Doesn't this damn cashier have any common sense?  Apparently not!

I'll be looking forward to the classical stations' and their truly joyful renditions of Christmas works by the Masters, when that time comes!  In the meantime, Advent is drawing near.  I can't wait till I can pull out the "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel".

Peace and joy!
BMP

THIS INSTALLMENT OF THE CHRISTUS VINCIT WTF AWARDS...

...is brought to you by Jamie Foxx's "lord and savior", Barack Obama!

Except we won't be handing Obama the November 2012 WTF Award (although he really is deserving of one for many things).  Instead... (drum roll please!)

Let me introduce to you, Jamie Foxx.  At the Soul Train awards on the BET (Black Entertainment Television, for those who don't have cable or dish) channel, the actor/comedian Foxx (no relation to Redd Foxx, btw) declared pro-abortion, pro-communist, pro-culture of death President Barack Obama as "our Lord and Savior".

Now, let me clarify a few things:

1. We have no Lord, no Savior, no King, no Messiah, except for the one, the only, Jesus Christ!

2. Foxx is in violation of the very first of the Ten Commandments, given to us via Moses by Almighty God, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  This first Commandment states thus:
-- "I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt not have strange gods before me.  Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth.  Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them: I am the Lord thy God, mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me..." (Exodus 20: 2-5, Douay-Rheims Bible)

3. If my memory of religion class in Catholic grade school serves me correctly, violation of said first Commandment is a MORTAL sin.

4. My God (the same God who handed down said Ten Commandments) has a bigger backbone than Foxx's god. (Note the difference in the capital "G" and the small "g".)

5. Consider this parody of an old Ken-L-Ration dog food commercial, now transformed into a lesson from me to Jamie Foxx:
-- "My God's better than your god.  My God's better than yours.
My God's better 'cause he made all creation.  My God's better than yours.

6. Our TRUE Lord and Savior Jesus Christ would never support abortion, nor any other sin for that matter!

Therefore, Mr. Foxx, appearing on the Soul Train awards and having already won an Oscar, it is my pleasure to present to you the Christus Vincit - the BLOG! WTF AWARD for November 2012.  Have fun trying to find inner peace with your lord and savior.  In the meantime, I've found my inner peace with my Lord and Savior.




Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum!
BMP

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MIZ AHLQUIST

I have a question for local teen celebrity atheist Jessica Ahlquist.  You know, the Jessica Ahlquist who got the ACLU and that Freedom From Religion Foundation to come to Rhode Island and raise hell at Cranston West High School over a banner that hung at the school for a half a century that had a prayer for the school that was written by one of their alumni.  Yeah.  I read on a Facebook post from a local radio talk-show host that she was coming on a broom.  I'm thinking, "well maybe she's one of those modern witches who flies the vacuum cleaner".  But no - she can't be a witch.  Witches actually worship something.  Miz Ahlquist worships nothing.

Anyhoo, here's the question I have for Miz Ahlquist:

What do you have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving?  Or better, Do you have anything at all to be thankful for this Thanksgiving?  Did you ever thank God that you're an atheist?  If you don't have God, then who can you be thankful to?  The ACLU?  The Freedom From Religion Foundation or whatever the hell it's called?  They can't possibly be God.  They're trying to stop people from doing His work, yes, but they can't be a supreme enough being to be thankful for.  They're only doing the devil's work, and the devil's only gonna screw you in the end.  So, what will it be, Jessica?  Think hard, while you're still young.

The peace of the Lord be with you always.
BMP

Thursday, November 15, 2012

CONCERT at SAINT WILLIAM'S

Saint William Church in Warwick, Rhode Island, featuring the parish choir, Pro Cantare (directed by Reuel Gifford) and the Rhode Island College Chamber Singers (directed by Teresa Coffman), held on Saturday, December 1, 6:30 PM, at Saint William Church, 200 Pettaconsett Avenue (off Post Road, US-1), Warwick, RI.  If you're in the area, come on down.  You will not be disappointed.

Peace,
BMP

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

THREE X'S, THREE I'S

Sunday XXXIII - XI-18-12
Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

Ordinary: Messa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe" (Federico Caudana)
Psalm 16: You are my inheritance, O Lord (Owen Alstott)
Alleluia from "Gelobt sei Gott" (verse of the day: Tone 8G)

H-484 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates ("Truro")
H-5.2 Lo! he comes with clouds descending ("Helmsley")
H-3 Wake, awake, for night is flying ("Wachet Auf")
H-438.1 I need thee every hour ("Need")
H-11 The King shall come when morning dawns ("St. Stephen")

Peace,
BMP

Thursday, November 8, 2012

I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND LIKE A SORE LOSER

...but something really fishy has been going on the last couple of elections.

And the killer of it is, like most haunting creatures, they only come out at night!!!
I'm talking about mysterious, yet chronic, come-from-behind victories by candidates that aren't even fit to run an outhouse, let alone any kind of political office.

Let's rewind to 2010, the gubernatorial race in Rhode Island.  There were SEVEN guys - count'em - SEVEN that ran for Rhode Island Governor.  Republican incumbent Donald Carcieri had served his two-term limit, therefore, he could no longer run.  While Lincoln Chafee was a Senator, he left the Republican party (he always considered himself this "moderate" being) and became an Independent.  Some independent!  Some moderate!  He leans more left than even some of your wackiest Democrats, resulting in an endorsement by Barack Obama.
One of his opponents was Republican John Robitaille, who I voted for - he firmly believes in family, he is firmly pro-life, unlike Chafee, who is blatantly the opposite.
The Democratic candidate was Frank Caprio.  I was not thrilled that he was pro-abortion (sorry, I don't use the word "pro-choice" when it comes to a child that could be brought to this earth and is aborted just because some whore can't keep her legs closed and/or she can't get her man of the day to put on a rubber).  I did like the fact, however, that he was ballsy enough to tell Obama to take his endorsement and "really shove it as far as I'm concerned".
Four other candidates from "third parties" also ran.

The top three candidates ran rather closely for most of the night.  Robitaille (my choice) held the lead for most of the night.  In just minutes before it was all over, it was suddenly Chafee (pro-abortion, pro-family destruction, and pro-protection of murder suspects - namely one who killed people while robbing a bank in Woonsocket, referred to by many of us as "Governor Gump") who mysteriously won the election with only 36% of the vote.  Robitaille got 34%, and Caprio 23%.  Ken Block, a member of the "Moderate Party" got 6%, and the other three independents, less than 1% each.  With every goofy move Chafee makes, he should be reminded that 64% of Rhode Island voters voted against him.

Unfortunately, the David Cicilline win for United States Congress, RI District 1, was by a landslide.  Cicilline and Chafee share similar political views.  Barney Frank, MA District 4, also won by a landslide - unfortunately!  The bright side to the Barney Frank saga is that he kept his vow to step down after he completed the following term.

Let's go to the election that took place just this past Tuesday - yes, 6 November 2012!

For most of the evening, things were looking quite good for Brendan Doherty, a Republican who was running for the house seat occupied by Cicilline (referred to by many here as "Chick-a-chini").  For most of the evening he held the lead - until those last few minutes, when his lead started to mysteriously dwindle.
In the Massachusetts senate seat that was long occupied by Ted Kennedy, incumbent Scott Brown suffered a similar last minute come-from-behind fate by Democrat Elizabeth Warren, who, in her campaign commercials, FEARED that Roe vs. Wade could be overturned like if it was a bad thing.  Seriously, folks, if Roe vs. Wade was to be overturned tomorrow, I'd be happier than a pig in shit!
And of course, the God-rejecting, Allah-loving, communist leaning, Muslim Brotherhood supporting, pro-abortion, pro-family destruction, pro-overall culture of death, President of the United States, Barack (Saddam) Hussein Obama (bin Laden), who bows, kow-tows, and apologizes to other countries, and his Vice President, self-proclaimed Catholic Joe Biden, who denounces the teachings of his own Church on abortion and marriage.  His opponent, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and his vice-presidential running mate Paul Ryan (who I voted for).  I'm afraid Mitt was kinda flip-floppy on his stance on abortion, but not blatantly pro-death as the Obama/Biden ticket.  Paul Ryan, a Catholic, is pro-life and pro-family.  I would have liked to see a Ryan/Romney ticket instead of Romney/Ryan, basically because Ryan seemed more solid.  But it is what it is.  As for the results - until about 11 PM EST, Romney still had a lead.  Not a huge lead, but a lead.  However, that too got changed in the last hours of polling counts.  Obama won by a landslide in Rhode Island, unfortunate for a state that is statistically 60+% Catholic.  Yet the culture of death prevailed once again!  WTF?

All these come-from-behind victories by the unfit can't be that coincidental, can it?  I wish I could prove foul play.  I'm sure there are people looking to do just that.  I think of all those Red Sox games blown in the ninth inning when Bobby Valentine would send Alfredo Aceves up to the mound to erase the Sox lead.


I'm not a sore loser.  But something just isn't right!

Peace,
BMP

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

XI-XI-XII (Dominica XXXII)

A primer on your Roman numerals, eh?  Well, here is the music we're doing at Sacred Heart for this Veteran's Day, that is, liturgically, the Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordered Time.

And just for you Roman Numeral buffs, I will list the hymn numbers in Roman Numerals.  You figure out the Arabic Numerals.  All the numbers are in Hymnal MCMXL (to our parishioners, that's "The Maroon Hymnal").  If you look these up in the "Index of First Lines" of said hymnal, you're cheating!  ;P

Mass Ordinary: Laus Tibi Christe (F. Caudana)
Psalm CXLVI (that's Psalm CXLV for you Vulgate fans): Praise the Lord, my soul (R. Rice)
Alleluia: from the hymn "Christ is the King" ("Gelobt sei Gott") (verse of the day: tone VIII-G)

Entrance: DXXXVII - Christ for the world, we sing ("Italian Hymn")
Offertory: CDXVIII - Blest are the pure in heart ("Franconia")
Communion: Be thou my vision (J.H. Desrocquettes; harm. BMP)
Meditation: CCXXIII - Jesus, Son of Mary ("Adoro Te"; Mode V)
Recessional: CXLIII - God of our fathers ("National Hymn")

Peace,
BMP

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

THE FOUR-DAY WEEKEND at HEARTS

Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

All Saints (XI-1-12) (9 AM; 12 Noon; 7 PM)

Mass Ordinary: Messa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe" (Federico Caudana)
Psalm 24: Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face (Joseph Gelineau)
Alleluia: from "Christ Is the King" ("Gelobt Sei Gott") (verse of the day: Tone 8G)

HYMNS, etc.
Entrance: W-706 By all your saints still striving ("St. Theodulph")
Offertory: W-707 Ye watchers and ye holy ones ("Lasst uns erfreuen")
Communion: Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All (Mother Alexis Donnelly)
Recessional: W-705 For all the saints ("Sine Nomine")

All Souls (XI-2-12) (9 AM; 12 Noon; 7 PM)

Mass Ordinary: Mass XVIII (Pro Defunctis)
Psalm 23: My shepherd is the Lord; nothing indeed shall I want (Joseph Gelineau)
Alleluia: from "Christ Is the King" ("Gelobt Sei Gott") (verse of the day: Tone 8G)

HYMNS, etc.
Introit: Requiem Aeternam (Mode VI)
Roll call of the parish deceased XI-2-11--XI-2-12 (7 PM only): Ave Maria (Jacob Arcadelt)
Offertory: H-223 Jesus, Son of Mary ("Adoro Te Devote")
Communion Proper: Lux Aeterna (Mode VIII)
Communion Anthem: Pie Jesu (Gabriel Faure)
Recessional: W-178 In Paradisum (Mode VII/VIII)

Sunday XXXI (XI-4-12) (Sat. 5 PM; Sun. 7:30, 9, 11:15 AM)

Mass Ordinary: Messa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe" (Federico Caudana)
Psalm 18: I love you, Lord, my strength (Richard Rice)
Alleluia: from "Christ Is the King" ("Gelobt Sei Gott") (verse of the day: Tone 8G)

HYMNS, etc.
Entrance: H-780 Christ is made the sure foundation ("Westminster Abbey")
Offertory: H-479.1 Love divine, all loves excelling ("Hyfrydol")
Communion: W-598 Ubi Caritas (Mode VI)
Meditation: H-405 I sought the Lord ("Artavia")
Recessional: H-599 Ye watchers and ye holy ones ("Lasst uns erfreuen")

Peace,
BMP

Thursday, September 27, 2012

SUNDAY XXVI and OCTOBER DEVOTIONS at HEARTS

Sacred Heart, West Warwick, RI

THIS SUNDAY: Sunday XXVI - IX-30-12

H-326.1 To the name of our salvation ("Oriel")
Gloria VIII (if sung)
Psalm 19: The precepts of the Lord (Currie/Gelineau)
Alleluia: Mode VI (verse: tone 6F)
H-355.1 All hail the pow'r of Jesus' Name ("Coronation")
Heritage Mass (except memorial)
We proclaim your death, O Lord (Holy Angels Mass/BMP)
Panis Angelicus (Hungarian tune - #70 in Pius X Hymnal)
H-455 How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds ("St. Peter")
H-600 Ye holy angels bright ("Darwall's 148th")

THE NEXT FIVE TUESDAYS: Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary
October 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30

W-708 Immaculate Mary ("Lourdes Hymn")
O Salutaris (Anthony Werner)
Rosary and Litany, in the presence of our Eucharistic Lord
Tantum Ergo (Oreste Ravenello)
W-703 Salve Regina (Mode V)
W-702 Hail, holy Queen enthroned above ("Salve Regina Caelitum")

Peace,
BMP

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

SUNDAY XXV at HEARTS

H-343.1 NEWMAN - Praise to the Holiest in the height
Gloria VIII (if sung)
Psalm 54: Alstott - The Lord upholds my life
Alleluia: Mode VI (verse: tone 6F)
H-358 ST. CONSTANTINE - Jesus, meek and gentle
Alstott - Heritage Mass (exc. memorial)
BMP - We proclaim your death, O Lord
Handel - He shall feed his flock/Come unto Him (from "Messiah")
H-477 TYSK - God himself is with us (vv. 1 and 3 only)
H-342 ST. THEOCTISTUS - Jesus, Name all names above

Peace,
BMP

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

SUNDAY XXIV at HEARTS

Sunday XXIV - IX-16-12
Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

W-530 Praise, my soul, the King of heaven - LAUDA ANIMA
Gloria VIII
Psalm 116: I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living - BMP
Alleluia: Mode VI (verse: tone 6F)
W-634 Take up your cross, the Savior said - O JESU, MI DULCISSIME
Heritage Mass - Alstott (except Memorial Acclamation)
We proclaim your death, O Lord - BMP (Holy Angels Mass)
In the cross of Christ I glory - CHARLESTON (Early American, arr. BMP)
W-491 To Christ, the Prince of peace - NARENZA
W-704 Lift high the cross - CRUCIFER

Peace,
BMP

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

ALMOST FORGOT FIRST FRIDAY

6 PM - IX-7-12; First Friday - Sacred Heart Community Mass
Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine
Psalm 103: Ostrowski - The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him
Alleluia: Mode VI (verse of the day: tone 6F)
Mode VI - Ave Verum
Mass Ordinary: same as Sunday XXIII
Hungarian tune - Panis Angelicus
To Jesus' Heart, all-burning

Peace,
BMP

SUNDAY XXIII at HEARTS

Sunday XXIII of Ordinary Time - IX-9-12
Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

W-750 Your hands, O Lord, in days of old - MOZART
Rice - Praise the Lord, my soul
Mode VI - Alleluia (verse: tone 6F)
W-747 O Christ, the Healer, we have come - ERHALT UNS, HERR
Alstott - Heritage Mass (except Memorial)
BMP - Holy Angels Mass (Memorial A)
Novello - Like as the hart
W-610 How good the name of Jesus sounds - ST. PETER
W-579 O God, our help in ages past - ST. ANNE

Peace,
BMP

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

A busy SUNDAY XXII at HEARTS!

Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI - IX-2-12

Sunday XXII - Sat. 5 PM; Sun. 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM

Entrance hymn: ITALIAN HYMN - Christ for the world we sing (H-537)
Gloria VIII (if sung)
Psalm 15: Alstott - The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord (R&A)
Offertory hymn: WESTMINSTER ABBEY - Christ is made the sure foundation (H-780)
Communion anthem: D'indy - Cantate Domino canticum novum
Meditation hymn: FRANCONIA - Blest are the pure in heart (H-418)
Recessional hymn: VINEYARD HAVEN - Rejoice, ye pure in heart (H-786)

Wedding - Sun. 2 PM

Bridesmaids Entrance: Clarke - The Prince of Denmark's March
Bride's Entrance: Pachelbel - Canon in D
Psalm 128: Gelineau - O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways
Offertory anthem: Schubert - Ave Maria (key of G; I'm a bass, you see.) ;-)
Communion hymn: Mode VI - Ubi Caritas (W-598, in Latin)
Recessional: Purcell - Trumpet Tune

Common to ALL Masses

Alleluia: Mode VI (verse of the day: tone 6F)
Sanctus, Amen, and Agnus: Alstott - Heritage Mass
Memorial: BMP - We proclaim your death, O Lord (Holy Angels Mass)

Peace,
BMP

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

SUNDAY XXI at HEARTS

Sunday XXI - VIII-26-12
Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

Gloria VIII (if sung)
Danish Amen Mass (Eucharist)

Psalm 34: BMP - Taste and See
Alleluia: Alstott IV (verse of the day: tone 8G)

E: H-301 Immortal, invisible, God only wise ("St. Denio")
O: H-570.2 O Jesus, I have promised ("Day of Rest")
C: J.S. Bach - Jesu, joy of man's desiring
M: H-405 I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew ("Artavia")
R: H-288 O worship the King ("Hanover")

Peace,
BMP

Friday, August 17, 2012

ITALIAN FEAST AND SUNDAY XX

Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

Corrected version.

Saturday, VIII-18-12 - 5 PM
SS. Pietro Martire and Domenico Abate
Sunday XX (Anticipated Mass)

This Saturday, at the 5 PM Mass, although all the Mass texts will be that of Sunday XX, our parish will honor two Italian saints, St. Pietro Martire and St. Domenico Abate, both of who hailed from the same town as much of our parish's ancestry.  The brass trio will be on hand at this Mass.

Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei: Missa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe" (Federico Caudana)
Entrance hymn: W-547 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty - LOBE DEN HERREN
Offertory hymn: W-705 For all the saints - SINE NOMINE
Meditation hymn: W-488 Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All - SWEET SACRAMENT
Recessional hymn: W-524 Holy God, we praise thy Name - GROSSER GOTT

Sunday, VIII-19-12 - 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM
Sunday XX

Gloria (if sung): Mass VIII
Sanctus and Agnus Dei: Danish Amen Mass (Kraehenbuehl/Frischman)
Entrance hymn: W-558 Father, we thank thee who hast planted - RENDEZ A DIEU
Offertory hymn: W-813 Hail, our Savior's glorious Body - Mode III
Meditation hymn: Panis Angelicus (Louis Lambillotte)
Recessional hymn: W-520 All creatures of our God and King - LASST UNS ERFREUEN

Music common to ALL Masses this weekend:

Alleluia: Alstott IV (verse: tone 8G)
Memorial Acclamation B and Amen: Danish Amen Mass
Communion anthems: (1) Credo in Te - BETHANY / (2) T'adoriam ostia divina (both in Italian)
 
Peace,
BMP

Monday, August 13, 2012

NEW SITE URL

Christus Vincit - the BLOG! has moved its URL to:

blog.christusvincit.com.

Please mark your page accordingly!
Thanks much.
Peace,
BMP

ASSUMPTION at HEARTS

Vigil: Tuesday VIII-14-12 at 6 PM
Day: Wednesday VIII-15-12 at 9 AM and 7 PM
Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

Entrance hymn: W-702 Hail, holy Queen enthroned above - SALVE REGINA CAELITUM
Gloria VIII
Psalm:
- (Vigil) Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you are the ark of your holiness (Richard Rice)
- (Day) The Queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold (BMP)
Alleluia:
- (Vigil) Alstott IV (verse: tone 8G)
- (Day) Alstott IV (verse: Respond and Acclaim)
Offertory hymn: W-712 O Sanctissima - SICILIAN MARINERS
Danish Amen Mass (Memorial: B)
Communion anthem: Ave Maria (Lorenzo Perosi)
Meditation hymn: W-703 Salve Regina - Mode V
Recessional hymn: W-708 Immaculate Mary - LOURDES HYMN

Peace,
BMP

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

THREE-DAY WEEKEND at HEARTS

Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI


First Friday - August 3, 2012 - 6 PM

O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine
Psalm 69: Lord, in your great love, answer me (Tone 2)
Alleluia: Alstott (IV)
Cor Jesu Trinitatis ("Gott soll gepriesen", alt.)
Danish Amen Mass
Panis Angelicus (Hungarian)
To Jesus' Heart, all-burning

Sunday XVIII - August 5, 2012
(Sat. VIII-4-12 at 5; Sun. VIII-5-12 at 7:30, 9, and 11:15)

Alleluia! sing to Jesus ("Hyfrydol"/W-737)
Psalm 78: The Lord gave them bread, bread from heaven (Alstott)
Alleluia: Alstott (IV)
At that first Eucharist ("Unde et memores"/W-733)
Danish Amen Mass
O Esca Viatorum (J.M. Haydn)
Tantum Ergo ("St. Thomas"/W-758, in Latin)
Jesus shall reign ("Duke Street"/W-492)

Peace,
BMP

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

BACK TO WORK

Sunday XVII of Ordinary Time - VII-29-12
Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI


Enjoyed a nice weekend off last week - the first of two weeks vacation.  I won't take another one till August 11/12 (the birthdays of both my daughters).  I'm back to work this weekend to the delight of those who may have missed me last weekend, and to the dismay of those who may not have missed me last weekend.  ;)

Entrance: W-618 AURELIA - O Christ, the great foundation
Psalm 145: The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs (Gelineau)
Alleluia: Alstott IV (verse: tone 8G)
Offertory: W-558 RENDEZ A DIEU - Father, we thank thee who hast planted
Danish Amen Mass
Communion: Adoro Te Devote (Mode V)
Meditation: W-488 SWEET SACRAMENT - Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All
Recessional: W-539 LAUDATE DOMINUM - Sing praise to the Lord

Peace,
BMP

Thursday, July 12, 2012

SUNDAY XV at HEARTS

Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, Rhode Island - XV July MMXII

Entrance Hymn: ALLEIN GOTT IN DER HOH' / All glory be to God on high (W-527)
Psalm 85: BMP / Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation
Alleluia: Alstott IV (the chant-style one in A-flat/verse of the day: tone 8G)
Offertory Hymn: CORONATION / All hail the pow'r of Jesus' Name (W-494)
Sanctus through Agnus: Kraehenbuehl / Danish Amen Mass (2010 version)
Communion Anthem: Remondi / O Sacrum Convivium
Meditation Hymn: KING'S WESTON / At the Name of Jesus (W-499)
Recessional Hymn: ELLACOMBE / Go, make of all disciples (W-628)

Peace,
BMP

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

THE THREE DAY WEEKEND at HEARTS

Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

First Friday/Sacred Heart Community Mass - VII-6-12 - 6 PM


O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine (Pew card)
Psalm 119: One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes... (Tone 8G)
Cor Jesu Trinitate (Pius X Hymnal) / GOTT SOLL GEPRIESEN, alt.
Shepherd of Souls (W-728) / ST. AGNES
To Jesus' Heart, All-Burning (Pew card)

Sunday XIV of Ordinary Time - VII-8-12

God has spoken by his prophets (W-516) / RUSTINGTON
Psalm 123: Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy (Toolan/Gelineau)
All creatures of our God and King (W-520) / LASST UNS ERFREUEN
Jesu, the very thought of thee / ST. BOTOLPH
How shall they hear the Word of God (W-629) / AUCH JETZT MACHT GOTT
Sing praise to the Lord (W-539) / LAUDATE DOMINUM

Common to both days:
Alleluia: Alstott-IV (verse of the day: Tone 8G)
Danish Amen Mass (Kraehenbuehl/Frischmann) (revised for 2010 Roman Missal)
  (Memorial B: When we eat this bread...)

Peace,
BMP

Saturday, June 30, 2012

SUNDAY XIII at HEARTS

Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

Entrance: W-764 God of our Fathers (National Hymn)
Psalm 30: I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me (Carroll/Gelineau)
Alleluia: Alstott (No. IV - in A-flat / verse of the day, tone 8G)
Offertory: W-750 Your hands, O Lord, in days of old (Mozart)
Danish Amen Mass (revised, with acclamation B "When we eat...")
Communion: Soul of my Savior (Anima Christi / harm. from the Pius X Hymnal)
Meditation: W-605 O Jesus, joy of loving hearts (Wareham)
Recessional: W-763 America, the Beautiful (Materna)

Peace,
BMP

Sunday, June 24, 2012

SING A HAPPY ALLELUIA!

#638 in Worship - Fourth Edition

Perfectly fit for an episode of the Wiggles, or the New Zoo Revue (people my age might remember that one), maybe not so much Barney, but damn close.  It also reminds me of an old ditty from Ren and Stimpy that relies on just four words (my wife will kill me for using these words together in one sitting, but for example purposes, I have to - sorry honey xoxo): Happy Happy Joy Joy!

The title enough is goofy.  The rest of the text is equally bad, as is the music (the tune is called ANITA, written by Sally Ann Morris - Worship IV seems to have picked up a lot of her tunes - almost as many as Marty Haugen and David Haas - just as bad, which range from "sing songy" at best to downright ugly at worst, like this tune).

This is yet another "let's praise ourselves" motif gone bad:
- We're the echo of God's laughter, We're the image of God's smile.
- We're the proof of God's good humor, We're the twinkle in God's eye, Made to shine, reflect the glory, Given light and space to fly. (like the Great Space Coaster!  Get on board!)
- We are loved, though so absurd, Human, foolish, chosen people, God still takes us at our word.

Barf-o-rama!  Seriously - the author of this text, Shirley Erena Murray, had to have consulted the Tom Conry book of lyric writing (the song "Anthem" - We are called, we are chosen, we are Christ for one another, We are question, We are creed, We are this, We are that) to write this collection of words that passes for a hymn text these days.

Oh, and let's top this off with verse 3:
- Sarah laughed at God's good timing (huh?!), Mary sang (well, she did sing, or perhaps recited, the Magnificat) and David danced (he wrote Psalms instead - 150 songs to the Lord in many different moods), Jesus smiled and hugged the children -- So is life for us enhanced.

And now the chorus:
- Alleluia, all creation, alleluia everyone! (twice)

Sing a happy alleluia?  Well, I'd hate to sing an angry alleluia.  Sing THIS happy alleluia?  Let's not and say we did.

Peace,
BMP

Thursday, June 21, 2012

YOU TOO CAN BE A BIG STAR, EVEN IF YOU'RE TONE DEAF!

Just use Auto-Tune!

Learned some things about some of the big "stars" this morning while waiting for my daughter Brittany to emerge from her orthodontist's appointment.  Two of the prime offenders given by my son Brian in the waiting room: Katy "I Kissed a Girl and I Liked It" Perry and Lady Ca-Ca.  Their offense: they use this clever little voice alteration tool called "Auto-Tune".  This "Auto-Tune" is what some of the big stars of today use because they tend to sing out of tune without it.  In fact, Cher was one of the first to use the device in her goofy little ditty called "Believe" (I liked most of her music before this ghastly thing that passed for a song came out).

If I would have known I could get away with relying on such a device, I wouldn't have wasted my time in vocal music classes with one of the best high school choral directors in my day.  I wouldn't have bothered to realize that I have perfect pitch.  I would have just let "Auto-Tune" do all the work, and my records would have sold millions, even if I was tone deaf.  WOW!

That just goes to show the disgrace that much of today's music has come down to.  Stolen beats, stolen riffs, fake beats, a synthesizer that plays every damn instrument there is, and now "Auto-Tune" for your tone-deaf vocal chords.

Well, you know what?  I'm extremely thankful for my ability to sing without such a device, my ability to play a few instruments (I started with guitar, taught myself most of what I know on piano and organ, taught myself a little bit of bass guitar, and just enough drums to get by as an emergency fill-in for some rock band missing a drummer), and my ability to write and arrange actual music.  I thank my high school choral director, Mrs. Nectar Lennox, for everything she's taught me.  She may not have been the first to discover my perfect pitch.  My childhood guitar teacher, Peter McNamee, actually discovered it, but to Mrs. Lennox, it was big.  Just three months ago, she told me she only knew THREE people in her life with perfect pitch - Mrs. Lennox herself, the brother of her successor, and yours truly.  I still believe, at almost four dozen years old, that what comes around will go around.  Rest assured, I'm NOT the only one who looks at "Auto-Tune" as cheating in music, just the same as the use of steroids is cheating in most (if not all) sports.

There are still many musicians out there who keep it real.  Many have gotten their due.  Many are due for their due.

Keep it real!
Peace,
BMP

Monday, June 18, 2012

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST at HEARTS

VI-24-12 at Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

The third of four solemnities this month.  Remember that three of the four Sundays of June this year are solemnities (VI-3 was Trinity, VI-10 was Corpus Christi, and now VI-24 - the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, not to mention our patronal feast, the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which fell on Friday VI-15).  Last weekend (VI-17) was the only non-solemnity (simply Sunday XI of Ordinary Time).

Anyhoo, here is the music lineup for the solemnity:

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:
Mass VIII
Memorial: Mortem tuam annuntiamus Domine (Jubilate Deo)
Amen: tune: first line of Sanctus VIII

PROPER (Lectionary):
Psalm 71 (Saturday): Since my mother's womb, you have been my strength (Currie/Gelineau)
Psalm 139 (Sunday): I praise you for I am wonderfully made (Alstott)
Alleluia: Marier (verse of the day to tone 5)

HYMNS, etc.
Entrance: H-10 On Jordan's bank the baptist's cry (Winchester New)
Offertory: W-706 By all your saints still striving (St. Theodulph)
- NOTE: The middle verse is the one marked for St. John the Baptist
Communion: Jesu, Dulcis Memoria (Cologne tune arr. by Ted Marier / from the Pius X Hymnal)
Meditation: H-405 I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew (Artavia)
Recessional: H-9 Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding (Merton)

Peace,
BMP

Sunday, June 17, 2012

OCP: NO LONGER THE WORST OF CATHOLIC MUSIC PUBLISHERS

Its biggest competitor, GIA, took that title away!

In case you're wondering, yes, I'm revisiting Worship - Fourth Edition, GIA's newest "flagship" hymnal.   Or is Gather - Third Edition the new "flagship" hymnal?  At any rate - Worship these days seems to be about half Worship and half Gather, and Gather seems to be about half Gather and half WorshipWorship was the hymnal for hymns, and Gather was the hymnal for sacro-pop.  Now, just about anything GIA puts out is the hymnal for sacro-pop.  Well, Worship does have some of the old standards, and have added some tunes that I'm pleasantly surprised to see, and there are the good old standards.  However, as I have previously mentioned a few months back, there are many new texts, and many altered texts.  And like the OCP Music Issue, you will find good things, but you have to sift through a lot of crap to get to them.

Let's just say, since a friend of mine returned my copy of Worship IV to me after having borrowed it for a bit, I'm finding more flaws in the book now than before. Here's an example I just discovered today:

#615: God, Whose Song Became Creation
None of the first verse makes any sense:
God, whose song became creation, Touch our lips with burning coals.
Free our hearts to sing your praises While your music shapes our souls.
We would sing with other nations, Sing with worlds as yet unknown,
Sing with angels, sing with rivers, Sing with birds and sing with stones.

HUH?  Sounds like something from Dr. Seuss!  (Sing with angels, sing with planets, sing with rivers, sing with a fox, sing in a box...)
I for one would find it hard to sing once my lips hit the burning coals.  I'd be hurting.  Really hurting.  And this thing about singing with worlds as yet unknown, the last time I remember trying to sing with a Martian, the little ******* tried to evaporate me!  And it's very hard to sing with stones.  Let's face it.  I'd be more likely to have stones being thrown at me than stones singing with me.

Now, get a load of this second verse:
Songs so new and yet so ancient, Songs with no geography,
Songs unchanged, yet ever changing, Songs that set their singers free;
Sung on streets and sung in kitchens, Sung in churches, sung in jails,
Sung in silence, sung in chaos, Sung whenever speaking fails.

Songs with no geography?????  Also, each of those places the author mentions in the last two lines all require a different type of song.  So I hope that what I sing in church is not what I normally sing on Central Avenue, I-95, the ACI, and in Chez Page.  Oh, and that Dr. Seuss motif again - sung on streets, with my feet, sung in jail, while reading my mail, etc...

And now, how about the music?  First of all, the melody is unsingable.  Watch this...
Common time, F key signature
C A A C | Db Ab Ab G | Eb c c Eb | Bb Ab G |
C A A C | Db Ab Ab G | Eb c c Eb | Ab G Ab |
c c db c | c Bb Ab Eb | c c db c | Bb Ab G |
C A A C | Db Ab Ab G | Eb c c Eb | Ab G Ab ||
 (NOTE: The capital "C" is middle C, the small "c" is an octave higher.

Not only is it hard to sing, let me remind you that it's in the key of F and the ending note is Ab, and appears to serve as the tonic.  And this from the pen of Hal Hopson, who's penned numerous choral octavos.  WTF?????

I hope to review more "hymns", but this is a start.  So if you want to sing songs with no geography, Worship IV is the book to get (If this is the new Worship, I'd hate to see what the new Gather is like).  If you want books with actual hymnody that makes sense, may I suggest the St. Michael Hymnal or the Vatican II Hymnal.

Peace,
BMP

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

ANOTHER THREE-DAY WEEKEND at HEARTS

Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

The Patronal Feast: The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
6 PM - Friday VI-15-12

Again we'll be joined by the brass trio of Ed (on trumpet), Chris (on flugelhorn), and Jerry (on French horn)

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:
Federico Caudana - Messa Popolare "Laus Tibi Christe" (Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus)
Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine (Memorial Acclamation from Jubilate Deo)
Amen (tune: opening lines of the Sanctus from Mass VIII)

PROPER OF THE MASS:
Richard Rice - You will draw water joyfully (Isaiah 12)
Theodore Marier - Alleluia

THE REST:
E: O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine (pew sheet)
O: Cor Dulce, Cor Amabile (source: New St. Basil Hymnal)
C: Cor Jesu Trinitate (source: Pius X Hymnal)  (This is the tune GOTT SOLL GEPRIESEN, with an extended ending.  Some may remember this tune with the hymn "Accept, Almighty Father" from Worship II and the old Monthly Missalette from the 70's)
Outdoor Benediction:
O Salutaris Hostia (Werner) (W-756) / Tantum Ergo (ST. THOMAS) (W-757)
Holy God, We Praise Thy Name (GROSSER GOTT) (W-524)

VI-17-12: Sunday XI of Ordinary Time

The only Sunday in all of June that's NOT a Solemnity!

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:
Mass VIII (Sanctus, Agnus)
Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine (Memorial Acclamation from Jubilate Deo)
Amen (tune: opening lines of the Sanctus from Mass VIII)

PROPER OF THE MASS:
Richard Rice - Lord, it is good to give thanks to you (Psalm 92)
Theodore Marier - Alleluia

THE REST:
E: WESTMINSTER ABBEY - Christ is made the sure foundation (W-617) 
O: AURELIA - O Christ, the great foundation (W-618)
C: ANIMA CHRISTI - Soul of my Savior, sanctify my breast (harmony from Pius X Hymnal)
M: ST. AGNES - Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless (W-728)
R: LAUDATE DOMINUM - The kingdom of God (W-615)

Peace,
BMP

Friday, June 8, 2012

CORPUS CHRISTI at HEARTS

Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

Brass trio on Saturday at 5, and on Sunday at 9 and 11:15
First Communion at 11:15
The trio of me, myself, and I at 7:30
Outdoor Benediction after at least the Sat. 5 and the Sun. 11:15 (possibly also the Sun. 9)

ORDINARY:
Caudana - Messa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe" (except 7:30)
Mass VIII (7:30 only)
Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine (all Masses)
Amen adapted from Sanctus VIII (all Masses)

PROPER:
Psalm 116: BMP - I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord
Alleluia: Marier (verse of the day to tone 5)

THE REST:
TRURO - Lift up your heads, O mighty gates
HYFRYDOL - Alleluia! sing to Jesus
Franck - Panis Angelicus
Duguet - O Salutaris Hostia
ST. THOMAS - Tantum Ergo
GROSSER GOTT - Holy God, we praise thy Name

Peace,
BMP

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

THE THREE-DAY WEEKEND at HEARTS

Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI


First Friday (Sacred Heart Community Mass) at 6 PM; VI-1-12

Entrance: O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine
Canticle (Isaiah 12): Richard Rice - You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation
Offertory: Cor Dulce, Cor Amabile
Communion: GOTT SOLL GEPRIESEN (alt.) - Cor Jesu Trinitatis
Recessional: To Jesus' Heart, All-Burning

Most Holy Trinity; VI-3-12

Entrance: ITALIAN HYMN - Come, Now Almighty King (W-487)
Gloria VIII
Psalm 33: Alstott - Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own
Offertory: NICAEA - Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty (W-485)
Communion: Gordon Young - Festive Alleluia
Meditation: SWEET SACRAMENT - Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All (W-488)
Recessional: GOTT VATER, SEI GEPRIESEN - O God, Almighty Father (W-484)

Common to all Masses for June:

Alleluia: Marier (D Lydian)
Mass VIII (Sanctus, and Agnus Dei)
Memorial: Mortem tuam annuntiamus Domine
Amen: adapted from Sanctus VIII

Peace,
BMP

Friday, May 25, 2012

A LONGTIME CANDLEPIN FAN

A presentation of Christus Vincit Sports!

The Good Lord knows that I've been a fan of Candlepin bowling since I was about 10 years old.  I may have mentioned it once or twice on this here blog.  How can one detect a longtime candlepin fan?  Simple.  When you hear one rattle off such names as:

Dick Ewell
Max Valentin
The late great Stacia Czernicki
Tony Czernicki (her widower - still living to tell the tale)
Ed Czernicki (her son, who holds the WCVB-TV Channel 5 Candlepin Bowling record for highest single on the show with a whopping 197)
John Czernicki (her other son - also a helluva bowler)
Dot Petty
Toni-Marie Baldinelli
Tom Olszta (my all-time favorite - he has the most wins of anyone on Channel 5)
Paul Berger (who holds Channel 5's record for the highest three-string total on the show - 500 even!  Strings of 158, 149, and 193!)
Joe Donovan
The late great Don Gillis (Channel 5's announcer)
Bob Fouracre (announcer on Bay State Bowling on Worcester MA's former WSMW-TV Channel 27)
Mike Sargent
Chris Sargent (Mike's son, who tied Ralph Semb's record for the highest candlepin single ever last year - 245!  NO ONE has ever bowled a perfect 300 in candlepin!)
The Brothers Morgan (Mike and his late brother Tom - two great bowlers who were also quite comical together!)
Craig Holbrook
John "Urbie" Kafalas (the only Rhode Islander I ever got to watch bowl candlepins on TV, although there was another guy who lived in Massachusetts but worked in Rhode Island - his name eludes me at the moment!)
Steve Renaud
Peter Flynn
Charlie Jutras
Dick Smus
Fred Spintig, Jr.
Scott Williams
Steve Popuolo (who had an interesting wind-up, but managed to tear up the lanes)
Brian Fuller
Jack Quinn
Rich "Hawk" Hallas
Jim Barber
Dave Barber (Jim's son, who shot a record 192 on the short-lived Candlepins for Dollars show on Channel 56)
Bob Kelly
Don Richmond
Joe Tavernese
Tom Surette
Peter Surette (Tom's brother)
Jeff Surette (Tom's son)

Anyone wanna run some other names by me?
Peace,
BMP

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

THIS WEEKEND at HEARTS

Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

Memorial Mass, Saturday V-26-12, 10 AM

Entrance: DIADEMATA - Crown him with many crowns (H-352)
Psalm 23: Gelineau - My shepherd is the Lord; nothing indeed shall I want (W-32)
Alleluia: Mode II - O Filii et Filiae
Offertory: NYLAND - In heav'nly love abiding (H-431)
Sanctus/Agnus XVIII (Pro Defunctis)
Memorial: Mortem tuam annuntiamus Domine (Jubilate Deo)
Amen: adapted from Sanctus VIII
Communion: ADORO TE DEVOTE - Jesus, Son of Mary (H-223)
Recessional: CRUCIFER - Lift high the cross (W-704)

Pentecost, V-26-12 at 5 PM, V-27-12 at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM

Entrance: Lambillotte - Come, Holy Ghost (W-482)
Gloria VIII
Psalm 104: Alstott - Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth
Sequence (Sunday): Mode I - Veni, Sancte Spiritus (in Latin)
Alleluia: Mode II - O Filii et Filiae
Offertory: NUN KOMM, DER HEIDEN HEILAND - Fire of God, undying flame (W-471)
Sanctus/Agnus: Picchi - Messa "Cristo Riscuciti"
Memorial: Mortem tuam annuntiamus Domine (Jubilate Deo)
Amen: Marier
Communion: DOHMNACH TRIONOIDE - Spirit seeking light and beauty
- (I would LOVE to see this in more hymnals)
Meditation: Mode VI - Regina Caeli (W-443 - bilingual)
Recessional: NUN DANKET - Now thank we all our God (W-560)
- (using the Mendelssohn harmony in Worship II)

Peace,
BMP

Friday, May 18, 2012

GEORGETOWN, THE LOST SHEEP OF CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES

Also, very much in the lost sheep category, the so-called "Editorial Board" of the Washington Post, or perhaps ONE person acting in the name of the "board".  The editorial I just linked one line up is absolutely laughable, or perhaps gives in to the need for yours truly (and other right-minded Catholics) to wanna hug the twa-lette!

After all, Georgetown University, a supposedly Catholic university, invited pro-abortion, pro-death, pro-everything-sinful U.S. Department of Health head honchoress Kathleen Sibelius to speak at this year's commencement festivities.  Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, rightfully cries foul on this.  After all, what business does a university have calling themselves Catholic when they blatantly call openly anti-Catholic folk to speak there?  What business does a university have calling themselves Catholic when the university president refuses to uphold the teachings of its Church?

I'm not surprised, as one Georgetown student and Miz Sibelius go hand-in-hand.  I'm talking about Miz Sandra "I need taxpayers to pay for my contraception because I can't keep my legs closed" Fluke, yeah, the one who whined about having to pay to play.  Well, if ya wanna play, ya gotta pay.  The drug store down the street sells rubbers for about a fin a box.  Save us taxpayers the drama, and the funds, will you.

Closing sentence of the editorial: The Georgetown community, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, should be proud of its president’s defense of open-minded debate.
This editor is either pulling my leg or just making like a bad little puppy by using my leg for a fire hydrant.  There is no debate with the Catholic Church on such teachings.  They make themselves perfectly clear.  Nor is their negotiations.  Between Georgetown and Nancy Pelosi, I don't know who does a better job of blasphemy when they call themselves Catholic.

I stumbled on the article, btw, via a friend from Facebook.  I almost lost my pizza reading the editorial!  I usually don't read the Washington Post (I'm not from DC).  With crap like this, I firmly believe that the content in Mad Magazine or the Sunday funnies make better reading. 

Georgetown: the wolf in sheep's clothing!  I hereby declare its president and the so-called "editorial board" of the Washington Fire Hydrant co-recipients of the May 2012 WTF Award!
Peace,
BMP

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

ASCENSION and EASTER VII at HEARTS

Wednesday, May 16, at 6 PM
Thursday, May 17, at 9 AM at 7 PM
Saturday, May 19, at 4 PM
Sunday, May 20, at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM
Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

Entrance hymn: LLANFAIR - Hail the day that sees him rise (W-471)
Gloria VIII (W-341)
(Ascension) Psalm 47: Kreutz/Gelineau - God mounts his throne to shouts of joy...
(Easter VII) Psalm 103: Alstott - The Lord has set his throne in heaven
Alleluia: Mode II - O Filii et Filiae (verse of the day: tone 2D)
Offertory hymn: DIADEMATA - Crown him with many crowns (W-496)
Sanctus/Agnus: Picchi - Messa 'Christo Riscuciti'
Memorial Acclamation: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine
Amen: Marier
Communion: BMP - Christus Vincit
- Time's fun when you're having flies!  I wrote this setting in 1999 and it still feels like I just wrote it the other day!
Meditation: Mode VI - Regina Caeli (W-443)
(Ascension) Recessional: DARWALL'S 148TH - Rejoice! the Lord is King (W-493)
(Easter VII) Recessional: LAMBILLOTTE - Come, Holy Ghost (W-482)

Peace,
BMP

FUNNIEST FAMILY FEUD ANSWERS

A different sort of Top Ten List

In a secular pop/rock-type song I wrote back in 2001, I am the self-proclaimed Game Show Couch Potato.  I love game shows, especially the old school shows from the 1960's and 1970's.  Some of the ones I enjoyed watching in my childhood were:

- Match Game (both the 60's version on NBC AND the 70's version on CBS)
- Family Feud (most especially the Richard Dawson original run)
- Jeopardy (How many remember Art Fleming hosting this in the 70's?)
- The Who, What, or Where Game (Art James)
- The Hollywood Squares (with Peter Marshall; also, the short-lived Saturday morning kids' version, The Storybook Squares)
- Concentration (with Hugh Downs, then Bob Clayton)
- Password (and Password All-Stars, the ABC version)
- Eye Guess, Three on a Match, and Winning Streak (three Bill Cullen gems)
- What's My Line? (the syndicated run with Wally Bruner, then Larry Blyden)
- The Movie Game (another Larry Blyden gem)
- Whew, and You Don't Say (two Tom Kennedy gems)
- To Tell the Truth (the Garry Moore run)
- $ale of the ¢entury - (the original run with Jim Kelly, then Joe Garagiola)
- Joe Garagiola's Memory Game (that one only lasted a few months)
- The NEW Price is Right (back when it was still NEW)
- The Joker's Wild (Jack Barry, who was caught in the middle of the old old quiz show scandals)
- Gambit (Wink Martindale) 
- Jackpot and Treasure Hunt (two Geoff Edwards gems)
- Dealer's Choice (Jack Clark)
- The Gong Show
and finally:
- Letters to Laugh-In (with Gary Owens)

...just to name a few.  (tee hee)

Anyways, I've been going back to some old game show clips on YouTube, and couldn't resist doing a top ten list of my favorite dumb answers given on Family Feud (these are real, by the way, actually given during "Fast Money" rounds).  So, from the home office here in Rhode Island, home of Governor Gump, here are the TOP TEN FAMILY FEUD DUMB ANSWERS:

10. Name a month in which a woman begins to show she's pregnant.  (September)
9. Something that comes with a summer storm. (Snow)
8. Name an animal with three letters in its name.  (Frog)
7. Name an animal with three letters in its name.  (Alligator)
- (Note: The guy who answered #7 is the FATHER of the guy who answered #8!)
6. Name a brand of gasoline.  (Regular)
5. Name a brand of gasoline.  (Ethyl) (#'s 6 and 5 were by the same father-son duo!)
4. Name a time that most people get up.  (In the Morning)
3. Name a time when people go to bed.  (At Night)  (same guy who answered #4)
2. Name something people lose at the beach. (Beach Ball)
AND THE NUMBER ONE FAMILY FEUD DUMB ANSWER:
1. A beverage you stir before you drink.  (Water)

Peace,
BMP

Thursday, May 10, 2012

IT'S A FRIDAY NIGHT WEDDING at HEARTS!

5:30 PM, V-11-12 - Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

Bridesmaids' Entrance: Pachelbel - Canon in D
Brides' Entrance: Clarke - Prince of Denmark's March
Psalm 103: Gelineau - The Lord is kind and merciful
Alleluia: Mode II - from O Filii et Filiae; verse: Tone 2D (I give you a new commandment...)
Offertory: Schubert - Ave Maria
Sanctus through Agnus: same as this coming Sunday
Communion: Mode VI - Ubi Caritas
Meditation: BLAENWERN - Love divine, all loves excelling
Recessional: Purcell - Trumpet Tune

Congratulations and best wishes, Paul and Sharon!
Peace,
BMP

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

MOTHERS' DAY at HEARTS

Sunday VI of Easter; V-13-12

Mass:
Gloria VIII (W-341)
Psalm 98: Rice - The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power
Alleluia: Mode II - O filii et filiae (verse from Respond and Acclaim)
Sanctus and Agnus: Picchi - Missa 'Cristo Riscuciti'
Memorial: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine
Amen: Marier

The Rest:
Entrance hymn:
- (except 7:30 AM) SURGIT IN HAEC DIES - Christ the Lord is ris'n today (W-452)
- (7:30 AM only) SALVE, REGINA CAELITUM - Hail, holy Queen enthroned above (W-702)
Offertory hymn: GELOBT SEI GOTT - The strife is o'er, the battle done (text: W-451/tune: W-500)
Communion anthem: Perosi (NOT Pelosi, thank God) - Ave Maria
Meditation hymn: Lambillotte - On this day, O beautiful Mother
Recessional hymn: LASST UNS ERFREUEN - A hymn of glory let us sing (W-469)

May crowning at 7:30 Mass.  Children are processing in to the Blessed Mother, thus the different entrance hymn this weekend.

Peace,
BMP

Monday, April 30, 2012

SUNDAY V at HEARTS

Fifth Sunday of Easter - V-6-12
Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

Entrance: W-449 VREUCHTEN - This joyful Eastertide
Gloria VIII
Psalm 22: Alstott - I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people
Alleluia: Mode II - from O Filii et Filiae (verse from Respond and Acclaim)
Offertory: W-452 SURGIT IN HAEC DIES - Christ the Lord is ris'n today
- (The tune here, also known by its German title, CHRIST IST ERSTANDEN, is the tune from which the Sanctus and Agnus Dei we're using for Eastertide, is based on.)
Sanctus and Agnus: Picchi - Missa 'Cristo Riscuciti'
Memorial: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine
Amen: Marier
Communion: d'Indy - Cantate Domino canticum novum
Meditation: W-443 Mode VI - O Queen of heaven/Regina caeli
Recessional: W-446 TRURO - Christ is alive, let Christians sing

Peace,
BMP

FIRST FRIDAY at HEARTS

May 4, 2012 - 6 PM - Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

Entrance: O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine
Psalm 2: Tone 8G - You are my Son, this day I have begotten you
Alleluia: Mode II - from O Filii et Filiae (verse of the day: Tone 2D)
Offertory: Mode VI - Concordi Laetitia
Sanctus and Agnus: Picchi - Missa 'Christo Riscuciti'
Memorial: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine
Amen: Marier
Communion: Mode II - O filii et filiae
Recessional: To Jesus' Heart, all-burning

Peace,
BMP

MAY DEVOTIONS 2012

ALL Tuesdays at Sacred Heart during the month of May at 7 PM
Come spend some time with Mary, in the presence of our Eucharistic Lord!

Entrance hymn: W-708 LOURDES HYMN - Immaculate Mary
Exposition hymn: WAREHAM, altered - O Salutaris Hostia
Rosary/Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Benediction hymn: Rossini - Tantum Ergo
As Jesus enters the Tabernacle:
- (May 1, 8, 15, 22) W-443 Mode VI - Regina Caeli / (May 29) W-703 Mode V - Salve Regina
Recessional hymn: W-702 SALVE, REGINA CAELITUM - Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above

On the 15th, I will be away due a commitment involving my daughter Brittany.  Guest organist will be my predecessor and good friend, David Sylvester.

Peace,
BMP

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

DOMINICA PASTOR BONUS at HEARTS

IV-29-12; Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

Entrance hymn: SALZBURG - At the Lamb's high feast we sing (W-459)
Gloria VIII
Psalm 118: Alstott - The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone
Alleluia: O Filii et Filiae (verse of the day: tone 2)
Offertory hymn: DIADEMATA - Crown Him with many crowns (W-496)
Sanctus and Agnus: Picchi - Missa 'Christo Riscuciti'
Memorial: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine
Amen: Marier
Communion anthem: Handel - He shall feed His flock/Come unto Him (from Messiah)
Meditation hymn: Mode VI - Regina Caeli (English/Latin) (W-443)
Recessional hymn: LLANFAIR - Christ the Lord is ris'n today, alleluia (W-463)

Peace,
BMP

Thursday, April 19, 2012

DOMINICA JUBILATE DEO IN PASCUA

That be Jubilate Deo as in Psalm LXVI (LXV), as opposed to Psalm C (IC or XCIX) in Eastertide, which be Sunday III in Paschal Time, which be this coming Sunday, which be IV-22-12.

Did you get all that?  Me neither!

Now that I'm done toying with your heads, here is the music list for this coming weekend at Sacred Heart Church:

Entrance: W-455 MIT FREUDEN ZART - Rejoice, angelic choirs, rejoice
Gloria VIII
Psalm 4: LeBlanc/Gelineau - Lord, let your face shine on us
Alleluia from O Filii et Filiae (verse from Respond and Acclaim)
Offertory: W-461 HEIL, UNS HEIL, ALLELUIA - Christ the Lord is ris'n today
- (This tune also appears under the title Victimae Paschali, as the hymn itself is a paraphrase of the Easter Sequence)
Sanctus and Agnus Dei: Picchi - Missa 'Cristo Riscuciti'
Memorial: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine
Amen: Marier
Communion: Perosi - Ave Verum
Meditation: W-443 Mode VI - Regina Caeli (we do both the English and Latin versions - too short to do just one!)
Recessional: W-449 VREUCHTEN - This joyful Eastertide

Peace,
BMP

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

FUNERAL THIS FRIDAY AT HEARTS

10 AM; Friday IV-20-12; Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

to Casket: Requiem aetarnam (Mode VI)
to Altar: The strife is o'er (Gelobt Sei Gott)
Psalm 23: My shepherd is the Lord (Gelineau)
Alleluia: from "O Filii et Filiae" (Mode II/verse to Tone 2D)
Offertory: Ave Maria (Arcadelt)
Sanctus XVIII
Memorial: Mortem tuam (from Jubilate Deo)
Amen: adapted from "Sanctus VIII"
Agnus XVIII (Pro Defunctis)
Communion: 1) Lux aeterna (Mode VIII); 2) Jesus, Son of Mary (Adoro Te)
Final Commendation: I believe that my Redeemer lives (St. Louis)
Recessional: In Paradisum (Mode VII/VIII)

Peace,
BMP

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

BACK TO HEARTS!

Covering a funeral I played this morning and the Masses for this coming weekend, all at Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

Ah, yes!  After finishing a funeral in Warren yesterday where I bit four bullets but mixed in much of what we normally do at Sacred Heart, today I did a funeral at Sacred Heart, where we bite NO bullets, even with visiting clergy.

To the casket: Requiem aeternam (Mode VI)
To the altar: At the Lamb's high feast we sing ("Salzburg") (H-89)
Psalm 23: My Shepherd is the Lord, nothing indeed shall I want (Gelineau)
Alleluia from "O Filii et Filiae" (Mode II)
Offertory: Ave Maria (Arcadelt)
Sanctus and Agnus XVIII (Pro Defunctis)
Memorial: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine
Amen: adapted from Sanctus VIII
Communion: Lux aeterna (Mode VIII); Jesus, Son of Mary ("Adoro Te") (H-223)
Final Commendation: I believe that my Redeemer Lives (H. St. Louis)
Recessional: In Paradisum (Mode VII/VIII)

Now for this Sunday - The Second Sunday of Easter, aka "Low Sunday", aka "Divine Mercy Sunday"

Entrance: H-88 Jesus lives, thy terrors now ("St. Albinus")
Gloria VIII
Psalm 118: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting (Alstott)
Alleluia from "O Filii et Filiae" (Mode II)
Offertory:H-91 The strife is o'er, the battle done (using different tune: "Gelobt sei Gott")
Sanctus and Agnus from "Missa Christo Riscuciti" (Picchi)
Memorial: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine
Amen: Marier
Communion: W-447 O sons and daughters ("O Filii et Filiae", starting w/v.4)
Meditation: H-97 Christians to the Paschal Victim ("Victimae Paschali Laudes")
- (Yes, the Sequence!)
Recessional: H-85 Jesus Christ is ris'n today ("Easter Hymn")

Peace,
BMP

Sunday, April 8, 2012

BULLETS TO BITE!

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

Got a call yesterday from the pastor of a church in Bristol County, asking if I could cover a funeral this Tuesday at 10:00.  I figured, "OK, could always use the money".  Not without a price.  The pastor there gave me the hymn list.  I have no clue whether these were family requests, stuff the pastor picked, or whatever, but it's definitely easy to tell that this funeral is NOT at my regular parish (as three of the four titles would definitely be banned at Sacred Heart).

Yeah - "Here I Am, Lord" (Pray that I don't go into "Here's a story of a lovely lady who was bringing up three very lovely girls"), "Eagle's Claws" (or Turkey's Wings, or Beagle's Things), "I Am the Bread of Life" (Let's hope I'm not.  Quoting my good friend Tony E., "He who eats MY flesh and drinks my blood will get really sick!"), and the hideous "How Great Thou Art" (which often amounts to "How Great I Am").

Well, this Mass will NOT go without a good share of what we normally do at Sacred Heart.  The list will go as follows (an asterisk (*) will depict those pieces picked by someone other than yours truly):

To the casket: the appointed proper antiphon "Requiem Aeternam" / Mode VI
* To the altar: Here Me Is, Lard
Psalm 23: My Shepherd Is the Lord
Alleluia: I'm debating right now.  I have it narrowed down to three: 1) O Filii et Filiae, 2) Mode VI, or 3) the Marier Alleluia we did during the Winter weeks of Ordinary Time
* Offertory: Beagle's Things
Sanctus XVIII
Mortem Tuam Annuntiamus, Domine
Amen: debating between the Sanctus VIII adaptation, or the Marier Amen we started using last night.
Agnus Dei XVIII (Pro Defunctis)
Communion: 1) Lux Aeterna / Mode VIII, and * 2) I am (NOT) the Bread of Life (I have to keep reminding myself of that.  I hate to sing it as it is because I'm not a very good liar.)
Final Commendation: I believe that my Redeemer lives / H. St. Louis
* Recessional:  How Great Thou Art

I may never be called back there after this!
BMP