Saturday, June 17, 2006

An Easter anthem comes to mind . . .

Christus vincit;
Christus regnat;
Christus imperat.

Friday, June 16, 2006

For the Church

Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it, for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Saviour. Amen.

For the General Convention of the Episcopal Church

Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present we pray thee with those who take counsel in Columbus for the renewal and mission of thy Church. Teach us in all things to seek first thine honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, granting us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Sequence hymn (sung before the Gospel) for Pentecost Sunday; known as the Golden Sequence, it is one of the four sequence hymns (out of hundreds) that survived the liturgical cleanup at the Council of Trent.

Veni Sancte Spiritus
et emitte caelitus
lucis tuae radium.

Veni pater pauperum,
veni dator munerum,
veni lumen cordium.

Consolator optime,
dulcis hospes animae,
dulce refrigerium.

In labore requies,
in aestu temperies,
in fletu solacium.

O lux beatissima,
reple cordis intima
tuorum fidelium.

Sine tuo numine
nihil est in homine,
nihil est innoxium.

Lava quod est sordidum,
riga quod est aridum,
sana quod est saucium.

Flecte quod est rigidum,
fove quod est frigidum,
rege quod est devium.

Da tuis fidelibus
in te confidentibus
sacrum septenarium.

Da virtutis meritum,
da salutis exitum,
da perenne gaudium.

Come, Holy Spirit,
and send down from heaven
the ray of your light.

Come, father of the poor,
come, giver of gifts,
come, light of the hearts.

Best consoler,
sweet host of the soul,
sweet refresher.

Rest in work,
cooling in heat,
comfort in crying.

O most blessed light,
fill the innermost hearts
of your faithful.

Without your power
nothing is in man,
nothing innocent.

Clean what is dirty,
water what is dry,
heal what is wounded.

Bend what is rigid,
heat what is cold,
lead what has gone astray.

Grant to your faithful
who trust in you,
your sevenfold holy gift.

Grant us the reward of virtue,
grant us final salvation,
grant us eternal joy.

Text from ChoralWiki