Election Novena

Kathy mentioned at rehearsal last week that she had the text of a novena from the Knights of Columbus for the U.S. election, to be prayed starting today (October 30) and through the eight following days, hence a novena. I've included the text below for those who would like to participate.

The purpose of the novena is not to pray that a certain candidate or party will or will not get elected. Indeed, I think we can all agree that our nation needs all the prayer it can get, regardless of who wins.

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in Heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your Spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother, in union with Mary we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom which has been its heritage.

Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy, born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the tempted, sinners — on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give ourselves to you. Protect us from every harm. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. 

Amen.

Norcia Monks' Basilica Destroyed

(Photo: European Pressphoto Agency)

I previously wrote here, here, and here about the Benedictine monks of Norcia, Italy who brought chant back to their monastery after 200 years and released a Marian chant album. Today, however, brings the sad news that their San Benedetto basilica was destroyed by a magnitude 6.6 earthquake, two months after other tremors shook Italy and killed 300 people. Mercifully, no deaths have been reported from today's quake, and the monks are all safe and accounted for.

Fr. Francisco Nahoe had just led a pilgrimage to Italy only a couple weeks before and is still there now. He submitted this report from Rome:

As Gwen Linde, who was on that pilgrimage, put it, "That is sooooo Fr. Francisco, praying 'in this earthly vale of tears.' The rest of us would be screaming 'what the !!!!!!'" (H/T: Former Cathedral Friar Fr. Masseo Gonzales)

Come Late, For A Change

This Tuesday, rehearsal will begin at 7:15 PM because the church is having a 6 PM Mass (Catholics, remember: it's All Saints' Day, a Holyday of Obligation), If you are attending Mass, use the side of the altar opposite the choir area to enter the rehearsal space. Please don't be late for this later start time; a number of us (including This Guy) were tardy last rehearsal.

A Reminder

I hope this is a sufficient enough image to remind you to bring your St. Michael Hymnal to rehearsal Tuesday. If Kathy says so and/or the schedule shows we're singing from it, bring it. Or just leave it in your car if it doesn't drag down the gas mileage too much.

Meanwhile in Toronto...

Canada is not exactly a hotbed of Catholicism of any variety these days, much less Gregorian chant. But in Toronto, at least one parish is experiencing a renaissance through chant.

In the search for the Voice of God, some believe Gregorian chants are preferable to folk music (National Post)

A few quotes:

"Going to [M]ass should be more profound and of a greater depth than what you experience day to day.” 

He is trying to explain to the roughly 12 singers — all amateurs — that there was a problem during the last [M]ass. “You were not praying effectively,” he tells them. It is a reminder that chant is prayer, not music in the ordinary sense. 

“There are people out there who want to hear this, but they are not being given a chance. This will be the music we will hear in heaven.” 

Nov. 6: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

4 PM at the Cathedral. Don't pull any muscles bringing the St. Michael's Hymnal. Image: an icon of the martyred mother and seven sons from the first reading.

Introit: Intret oratio (T/B; this is the version we recorded back in 2010)

Kyrie, Gloria (mp3), Sanctus, Agnus Dei: Mass VIII

Credo III (mp3)

Offertory: Gressus meos (S/A), Jerusalem My Happy Home

Communio: Dominus regit me, Ave Verum Corpus (Saint-Saens/Kaplan)

Recessional: I Sing The Mighty Power Of God

And, since we've been rehearsing it:
Missa Prima (Haller, mp3s): Kyrie, Gloria, Agnus Dei It appears cpdl.org will not let me link directly to these mp3s. Just go to cpdl.org and search for "Haller Missa Prima."

The Von Beasleys

RPC alumni Shirley and Chris Beasley just completed a singing tour of Prague, Czech Republic; and Salzburg and Vienna, Austria with the choir of Atlanta's Cathedral of Christ the King. The photo here is from Peterskirche in Vienna where they sang. Shirley and Chris say downtown Vienna is classical music's version of Branson, Missouri or Music Row in Nashville; numerous classical concerts take place nightly. When they sang in Salzburg, they were joined by another full choir and an orchestra.

Happy Anniversary, Kathy and Bob!

A most happy 48th wedding anniversary to Kathy and Bob Reinheimer! And a thank you to Bob for letting us have Kathy around as much as we do!

Oct. 23: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

(We're singing "super mel" so much, I figured a photo of Mel's was apropos. I've been known to visit Mel's in Damonte Ranch for dinner before rehearsal. I wouldn't call it "super," but it's good.)

4 PM at the Cathedral.

Introit: Laetetur cor (T/B)

Kyrie, Gloria (mp3), Sanctus, Agnus Dei: Mass VIII

Credo III (mp3)

Offertory: Domine vivifica me (S/A), Salve Mater Misericordiae

Communio: Laetabimur, Jesu Dulcis Memoria (first chant verse, Victoria, other chant verses)

Recessional: O God, Our Help In Ages Past (S, A, T, B)

RPC's Business Card

If you'd like to print up some business cards to share the joy of RPC with others, leave in your favorite coffee shop, or paper your bedroom wall with, I give you an RPC business card template you can use. It's in PDF format and fits the Avery 8371 blank business card template. We handed them out Sunday at the Cathedral's ministry fair.

Here's the link. I have it in Microsoft Word also, but that file gets corrupted when uploaded.

This is what it looks like:

Each card says:

Regina Pacis Cantorum

Northern Nevada’s only traditional Gregorian chant and polyphony choir

New singers willing to learn are always welcome

Prior knowledge of chant or Latin is NOT required

Contact Kathy: 775-345-6106, bkreinh[ at ]gbis.com

Website/blog: rpchoir.blogspot.com