Missa Paschalis

Categories: ship-of-fools, feast-days, other-churches

Date: 28 May 2006 05:34:10

With a Shipmate over from Perth, and the fact we will have a Divine Liturgy tonight (including the diaconate ordination of our much-loved sub-deacon: please remember him in your prayers), I and shipmate went to St Francis of Assisi, which is the church of two other shipmates -- who are in the choir there.

As always: an absolutely wonderful and heavenly Mass. They truly have an exceptional choir. Their choir-master is soon to be Director of Music at St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta: please pray for St Francis' as they search for a new choir director to continue their great tradition of sacred music.

The Mass setting was Gorczycki's Missa Paschalis, and it is a very beautiful setting indeed. The hymns Hallelujah, sing to Jesus and Hail Redeemer, King Divine were sung loudly by choir and congregation: as were the others parts of the Mass. Tallis' If ye love me was also sung at the Preparation of the Gifts, and the Postlude, Jean Alain's Litanies, is one of the most wonderful pieces I have heard: I do hope that's on the rotation in heaven! :)

A blessed Feast of the Ascension (transferred) to all celebrating it today!