Liturgical Guide: Presentation of the Lord

Painting by Hans Holbein, Courtesy of Wikipedia

The hymns selected for use in the Divine Office on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord celebrate Christ as the firstborn Son, who belongs to the Lord. First observed in the Eastern Church as early as the 6th century, it represents another "epiphany" or manifestation of the Lord. It is at the Presentation that Simeon and Anna recognize Jesus as "the long-expected Messiah, the 'light to the nations' and the "glory of Israel', but also 'a sign that is spoken against'. The sword of sorrow predicted for Mary announces Christ's perfect and unique oblation on the cross that will impart the salvation God had 'prepared in the presence of all peoples'". - #529, Catechism of the Catholic Church.

LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)

3. Sion, Sing
143. Hail to the Lord Who Comes 

144. When Mary Brought Her Treasure

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
Hail to the Lord Who Comes


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Apostle of the Gentiles

Paul, the Greatest Witness of Them All

Apostle of the Gentiles is written by the Benedictine Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey. In the Divine Office (1974) it is sung on the feast day of the Conversion of St Paul the Apostle, January 25th. It is set to the 1738 tune: Wareham by the English composer, William Knapp (1698-1768). Knapp hailed from Ware­ham, Dor­set­ and served there, and at Poole as organist and choirmaster in the local Anglican Church for many years.


Tune: Wareham

Liturgical Guide: Common of Virgins

The hymns selected for use with the Common of Virgins in the Liturgy of the Hours celebrate the holy women of the Church whose lives of consecration and fidelity to God were a fitting witness to the faith they professed. "From apostolic times Christian virgins, called by the Lord to cling only to him with greater freedom of heart, body, and spirit, have decided with the Church's approval to live in a state of virginity 'for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.'" - #933, Catechism of the Catholic Church. 


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LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)

178. Now, From the Heav'ns Descending

179. Now Let Us Praise

180. The Beatitudes

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
54. For All Thy Saints, O Lord
55. O Jesu Thou the Virgins' Crown
56. God's Blessed Spirit Moved His Virgin Saint

ROMAN BREVIARY
Iesu Co­ro­na Vir­gin­um
Jesu Co­ro­na Vir­gin­um
Virginis Proles, Opifexque Matris