Liturgical Guide: Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael; Archangels

c. 1450 Painting by the 'Master of Pratovecchio' - Courtesy of Wikipedia

The hymns chosen for the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael; Archangels proclaim with the Church that the existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith which is in complete unanimity with Sacred Tradition. Beginning at Paragraph #329, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says this concerning Angels: "Who are they? St. Augustine says: "'Angel' is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is 'spirit'; if you seek the name of their office, it is 'angel': from what they are, 'spirit', from what they do, 'angel.'" With their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God. Because they "always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven" they are the "mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word - Matt. 18:10".


Reflection by the Apostleship of Prayer

LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)
151. Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens, Adore Him
152. They Come, God's Messengers of Love
153. You Holy Angels Bright

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
Angels of God, You See the Father's Face

ROMAN BREVIARY
Christe, Sanctorum
Te Splendor et Virtus Patris
Tibi Christe Splendor Patris

Liturgical Guide: Exaltation of the Holy Cross

15th c. Altarpiece of St. Helena; Aragon, Spain - Wikipedia

The hymns selected for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (also known as the Triumph of the Cross) honour the Cross on which Our Lord died out of love for us, and through his death on the Cross - brings Salvation to the world. Celebrated on September 14th, the date for this public veneration of the Cross marks the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 4th century. It is built upon the spot that St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, discovered a portion of the True Cross.


Reflection by the Apostleship of Prayer

LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)
102. Hail, Redeemer, King Divine
126. The Head That Once Was Crowned with Thorns
150. O Cross of Christ Immortal Tree

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
O Cross of Christ Immortal Tree

ROMAN BREVIARY
Crux Fidelis

Urbs Beata Jerusalem / Caelestis Urbs Jerusalem

Basilica of St. John Lateran, Rome - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Urbs Beata Jerusalem Dicta Pacis Visio is an anonymous hymn which dates back to the 7th or 8th century. Originally comprised of 8 stanzas (+ doxology), when sung in the Office it is divided up: the first half is sung at Vespers and Matins, while the second half (Angularis Fundamentum) is sung at Lauds. In 1632, in accordance with revisions made to the hymns of the Divine Office by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644), it was altered and changed to Caelestis Urbs Jerusalem. Both versions are shown below. In the Roman Breviary it is sung at Vespers and Matins in the Common of the Dedication of a Church.


Sung by Giovanni Vianini

URBS JERUSALEM BEATA

1. Urbs Jerusalem beata,
Dicta pacis visio,
Quae construitur in caelis
Vivis ex lapidibus,
Et Angelis coronata,
Ut sponsata comite.

 2. Nova veniens e caelo,
Nuptiali thalamo
Praeparata, ut sponsata
Copuletur Domino:
Plateae et muri ejus
Ex auro purissimo.

3. Portae nitent margaritis
Adytis patentibus:
Et virtute meritorium
Illuc introducitur
Omnis qui ob Christi nomen
Hic in mundo premitur.

4. Tunsionibus, pressuris
Expoliti lapides,
Suis coaptantur locis
Per manus artificis,
Disponuntur permansuri
Sacris aedificiis.

5. Gloria et honor Deo
Usquequaque altissimo,
Una Patri Filioque
Atque Sancto Flamini,
Quibus laudes et potestas
Per æterna sæcula. Amen

or

Gloria et honor Deo
Usquequaque altissimo,
Una Patri, Filioque,
Inclyto Paraclito,
Cui laus est et potestas
Per aeterna saecula. Amen.



CAELESTIS URBS JERUSALEM (1632 Revision)

1. Caelestis Urbs Jerusalem
Beata pacis visio,
Quae celsa de viventibus
Saxis ad astra tolleris,
Sponsaeque ritu cingeris
Mille Angelorum millibus.

2. O sorte nupta prospera,
Dotata Patris gloria,
Respersa sponsi gratia,
Regina forzosissima,
Christo jugata principi,
Caeli corusca civitas.

3. Hic margaritis emicant
Patentque cunctis ostia:
Virtute namque praevia
Mortalis illuc ducitur,
Amore Christi percitus,
Quisquis tormenta sustulit.

4. Scalpri salubris ictibus,
Et tunsione plurima,
Fabri polita malleo,
Hanc saxa molem construunt,
Aptisque juncta nexibus
Locantur in fastigio.

5. Decus Parenti debitum
Sit in aeternum Altissimo,
Natoque Patris Unico,
Et inclyto Paraclito,
Cui laus, potestas, gloria,
Sit per aeterna saecula.