Sunday II at Sacred Heart, Normalcy, and a Little While

Two of my favorite quotes come to mind, well, perhaps three.  

The first is Warren Harding's famous campaign quote in his 1920 successful bid for the White House, "Return to normalcy".  Before Harding was President, there was World War I (I don't think people back then knew there would be a World War II not long after), and, as I interpreted this in second year U.S. History class in my sophomore year of high school, it was the calming after the storm.

In our Liturgical Calendar, we have such a "return to normalcy" in the form of Ordinary Time (Seasons after Epiphany and after Pentecost in the Extraordinary Form Calendar), where, though the Mass is still much more than just plain old ordinary, it is that calming after one of the busiest seasons of the year.

The second and third quotes I speak of here come from my pastor and Jesus, respectively.  This winter portion of Ordinary Time (in Extraordinary Form, Season after Epiphany) will last "for a time", until that time of Lent begins.  In this year's case, because Easter is early (March 27), Ash Wednesday is early (February 10).  So even shorter than "for a time" is our current portion of Ordinary Time.  It's just "for a little while".  And in the case of the traditional Season after Epiphany, that "little while" is even littler than that, as Septuagesima (often dubbed as that "little Lent before Lent") is on January 24.

So, "for a time", or even better, "for a little while", especially fellow parish musicians, enjoy the "return to normalcy" while you can.

Without further ado...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

We have now put away the Mass of the Shepherds and are switching to an English sung Ordinary, my own Holy Angels Mass, "for a time".

Entrance hymn: Songs of thankfulness and praise, "Salzburg"

Gloria: Holy Angels Mass, BMP

Psalm 96: Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations, Sam Schmitt

Alleluia: setting by Owen Alstott (chant-style setting in A-flat, with verse to tone 8G)

Offertory hymn: Sing of Mary, pure and lowly, "Pleading Savior"

Sanctus: Holy Angels Mass, BMP

Memorial Acclamation: We proclaim your death, O Lord, BMP (Holy Angels Mass)

Amen: Dresden Amen, arr. by Theodore Marier

Agnus Dei: Holy Angels Mass, BMP

Communion anthem: Cantate Domino Canticum Novum, Vincent d'Indy

Post-Communion hymn: I need thee every hour, "Need"

Recessional hymn: Hail to the Lord's Anointed, "Ellacombe"

Peace,

BMP