THE PARISH OF ST. VINCENT FERRER AND ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA

The Very Reverend Walter C. Wagner, O.P., Pastor

James D. Wetzel, Director of Music and Organist

ADVENT

LESSONS AND CAROLS

Sunday, December 15, 2019

3:00 PM

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The four weeks of Advent look to Christ’s coming—in meekness and mercy at his Incarnation and in judgement and glory at the end of time. During this season of expectancy and anticipation, the Church focuses our attention on the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament through which the ancient people of God were taught to hope for their Savior so that we can understand God’s new covenant, not as an abolishment of the ancient Law or the Prophets, but rather as a fulfillment of them.

The lessons of today’s service survey the message of these Prophets of the Advent, with each emphasizing a different aspect of the Messiah’s nature (i.e. his restoration of Israel; his association with the Holy City; his conception in the Virgin; his humble birth in the ‘House of Bread’; his radiant joy; his justice; and his lineage as King).

A retiring free-will offering will be accepted. Thank you for your generosity. A reception follows in St. Dominic’s Hall on the second floor of the Priory. All are cordially invited. Because of this Service, Vespers will not be sung this afternoon at St. Vincent Ferrer.

PRELUDE Alexandre Guilmant March on a Theme by Handel, Op. 15, No. 2, ‘Marche Religieuse’ [Lift up your heads] (1837-1911)

The People stand to sing.

PROCESSIONAL HYMN

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Text: based on the ‘O’ Antiphons of Advent, Latin, 9th century; trans. John M. Neale (1818-1866), alt. Tune: VENI EMMANUEL; Chant, mode i

SIGN OF THE CROSS AND GREETING

EXHORTATION

The People sit.

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FIRST LESSON Jeremiah 31:31-34 read by Menada Wind-Andersen

God promises a new covenant.

CAROL Sir Richard Rodney Bennett Susanni (No. 5 from FIVE CAROLS) (1936-2012)

Now sit we down upon our knee, And pray we to the Trinity, Our help and succor for to be.

~Anonymous, 15th century

The People stand.

COLLECT of December 17th

V. The Lord proclaims his word to Jacob.

R. His laws and decrees to Israel.

Let us pray. O God, Creator and Redeemer of human nature, who willed that your Word should take flesh in an ever-virgin womb, look with favor on our prayers, that your Only Begotten Son, having taken to himself our humanity, may be pleased to grant us a share in his divinity. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The People sit.

A little child there is yborn, Eia, eia, susanni, susanni, susanni. And he sprang out of Jesse’s thorn, Alleluya, alleluya, To save all us that were forlorn.

Now Jesus is the childes name, And Mary mild she is his dame, And so our sorrow’s turned to game.

It fell upon the high midnight. The stars they shone both fair and bright. The angels sang with all their might.

Three kings there came with their presents, Of gold and myrrh and frankincense, As clerkès sing in their sequence.

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SECOND LESSON Isaiah 6:1-11 read by Thomas Mirus

God reveals his glory to the prophet and calls him to be his messenger.

CAROL Sir John Stainer (1840-1901)

I saw the Lord, sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

O Trinity! O Unity! Be present as we worship Thee, And with the songs that angels sing Unite the hymns of praise we bring. Amen.

~Isaiah 6:1-4 Ave colenda Trinitas: Anonymous, 11th century Latin hymn;

trans. John David Chambers (1803-1893)

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The People stand.

HYMN

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Text: Hymns for Churchmen, 1854; Laurence Tuttiett (1825–1897) Tune: MELITA; John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876)

COLLECT of December 18th

V. Lift up your heads and see.

R. Your redemption is now at hand.

Let us pray. Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who are weighed down from of old by slavery beneath the yoke of sin, may be set free by the newness of the long-awaited Nativity of your Only Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The People sit.

THIRD LESSON Isaiah 11:1-10 read by Mary Ellen Foye

A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him.

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CAROL Otto Goldschmidt (1829-1907)

~Otto Goldschmidt; trans. William Bartholomew (1793-1867)

The People stand.

COLLECT of December 19th

V. Lord, show us your mercy and love.

R. And grant us your salvation.

Let us pray. O God, who through the child-bearing of the holy Virgin graciously revealed the radiance of your glory to the world, grant, we pray, that we may venerate with integrity of faith the mystery of so wondrous an Incarnation and always celebrate it with due reverence. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The People sit.

A tender shoot hath started Up from a root of grace, As ancient seers imparted From Jesse’s holy race. It blooms without a blight, Blooms in the cold bleak winter, Turning our darkness into light.

This shoot Isaiah taught us, From Jesse’s root should spring. The Virgin Mary brought us The branch of which we sing. Our God of endless might Gave her this child to save us, Thus turning darkness into light.

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FOURTH LESSON Micah 4:1-8 read by Lauretta Bruno

The mount of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest mountain.

CAROL Charles Wood (1866-1926)

O thou, the central orb of righteous love, Pure beam of the Most High, eternal Light, Of this our wint’ry world, thy radiance bright Awakes new joy in faith, hope soars above.

Come, quickly come, and let thy glory shine, Gilding our darksome heaven with rays divine.

Thy saints with holy luster round thee move, As stars about thy throne, set in the height. Of God’s ordaining counsel, as thy sight Gives measured grace to each, thy power to prove.

Let thy bright beams disperse the gloom of sin, Our nature all shall feel eternal day, In fellowship with thee, transforming day To souls erewhile unclean, now pure within. Amen.

~The Reverend Henry Ramsden Bramley (1833-1917)

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The People stand.

HYMN

Text: John Milton (1608-1674), alt. Tune: MORNING SONG; Sixteen Tune Settings, Philadelphia, 1812 attrib. Lucius Chapin (1760-1842); harm. C. Winfred Douglas (1867-1844)

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COLLECT of December 20th

V. A voice is heard, crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord.

R. Make straight the path of our God.

Let us pray. O God, eternal majesty, whose ineffable Word the immaculate Virgin received through the message of an Angel and so became the dwelling-place of divinity, filled with the light of the Holy Spirit, grant, we pray, that by her example we may in humility hold fast to your will. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The People sit.

FIFTH LESSON Daniel 7:9-14 read by Stephanie Woods

God reveals Christ and his kingdom to the prophet Daniel.

CAROL Sir Edward C. Bairstow (1874-1946)

Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and stand with fear and trembling, and lift itself above all earthly thought. For the King of kings and Lord of lords, Christ our God, cometh forth to be our oblation, and to be given for food to the faithful. Before him come the choirs of angels, with every principality and power; the Cherubim with many eyes, and winged Seraphim, who veil their faces as they shout exultingly the hymn: Alleluia.

~Cherubic hymn, Divine Liturgy of Saint James, 4th century; trans. Gerard Moultrie (1829-1885)

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The People stand.

COLLECT of December 21st

V. Turn back to us, O Lord, our God.

R. Show us your face and we shall be saved.

Let us pray. Hear in kindness, O Lord, the prayers of your people, that those who rejoice at the coming of your Only Begotten Son in our flesh may, when at last he comes in glory, gain the reward of eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The People sit.

SIXTH LESSON Baruch 4:36-5:9 read by Sister Martha Kunesh, O.P.

The Prophet urges the people to look east because salvation is at hand.

CAROL Simon Preston (b. 1938)

I saw three ships come sailing in On Christmas day, on Christmas day I saw three ships come sailing in On Christmas day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three?

Our Savior, Christ, and his Lady,

Pray, whither sailed those ships all three?

O, they sailed into Bethlehem,

And all the bells on earth shall ring,

And all the angels in Heaven shall sing,

And all the souls on earth shall sing,

Then let us all rejoice amain,

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The People stand.

HYMN

Text: John Bowring (1792-1872) Tune: ABERYSTWYTH; Joseph Parry (1841-1903)

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COLLECT of December 22nd

V. Hear the word of the Lord, all you nations.

R. Proclaim it to the ends of the earth.

Let us pray. O God, who, seeing the human race fallen into death, willed to redeem it by the coming of your Only Begotten Son, grant, we pray, that those who confess his Incarnation with humble fervor may merit his company as their Redeemer. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The People sit.

SEVENTH LESSON Sermon of St. Bernard read by The Reverend Joseph Allen, O.P.

The whole world awaits Mary’s reply.

The People stand.

HYMN

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Text: Robert Campbell (1814-1866) Tune: FRANCONIA; Johann B. König (1691-1758); adapt. William H. Havergal (1793-1870)

COLLECT of December 23rd

V. Let your compassion come upon me, Lord.

R. Your salvation, true to your promise.

Let us pray. Almighty ever-living God, as we see how the Nativity of your Son according to the flesh draws near, we pray that to us, your unworthy servants, mercy may flow from your Word, who chose to become flesh of the Virgin Mary and establish among us his dwelling, Jesus Christ our Lord. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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CANTICLE Sir Charles Villiers Stanford Magnificat (from SERVICE C MAJOR, OP. 115) (1852-1924)

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations. He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

~Luke 1:46-55

INTERCESSIONS

To Christ the Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, let us pray with joyful hearts: Come, Lord Jesus!

R. Come, Lord Jesus!

Lord Jesus, in the mystery of your incarnation you revealed your glory to the world, – give us new life by your coming.

R. Come, Lord Jesus!

You have taken our weakness upon yourself, – grant us your mercy.

R. Come, Lord Jesus!

You redeemed the world from sin by your first coming in humility, – free us from all guilt when you come again in glory.

R. Come, Lord Jesus!

You live and rule over all, – in your goodness bring us to our eternal inheritance.

R. Come, Lord Jesus!

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You sit at the right hand of the Father, – gladden the souls of the dead with your light.

R. Come, Lord Jesus!

PATER NOSTER

CONCLUDING RITES

FINAL COLLECT of December 24th

V. Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just One.

R. Let the earth be opened and bring forth a Savior.

Let us pray. Come quickly, we pray, Lord Jesus, and do not delay, that those who trust in your compassion may find solace and relief in your coming. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

BLESSING AND DISMISSAL

POSTLUDE Alec Rowley Fantasia on Veni Emmanuel (1892-1958)

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TENET CONCERT

On Wednesday, December 18 and Thursday, December 19 at 8:00 PM at St. Vincent Ferrer, TENET Vocal Artists will perform J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (Parts I, III, V, and VI) under the direction of Robert Mealy, principal concertmaster at Trinity Wall Street and the orchestra director of the Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra. Purchase tickets at the door or on their website: www.tenet.nyc. Because of this concert, Holy Hour is cancelled on Wednesday, December 18.

MUSIC NOTES

Born in Broadstairs, Kent, Richard Rodney Bennett studied with Howard Ferguson and Lennox Berkeley at the Royal Academy of Music and later with Pierre Boulez in Paris. Bennett briefly taught at the Academy and at Baltimore’s Peabody Institute and served as International Chair of Composition at the Academy between 1994 and 2000. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1977 and was knighted in 1998. Bennett’s musical oeuvre is exceptionally board, having written and performed hundreds of concert works, dozens of film and television scores, and numerous jazz charts. He was thrice nominated for an Academy Award, including for Murder on the Orient Express (1974). Bennett spent the last thirty years of his life primarily in New York and is buried in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery. Sir John Stainer, of Southwark, London, grew-up as a chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral under Sir John Goss. He took initial organ studies with Goss’s assistant, George Cooper, as did his contemporary and eventual close friend Arthur Sullivan. At age 16, Stainer was appointed organist of the newly established St. Michael’s College, Tenbury, by its founder and vicar, Sir Frederick Ouseley. In 1860, he became organist of Magdalen College, Oxford and the following year was also made University Organist at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. His reputation and sphere of influence continually expanded, earning his doctorate in 1865, giving organ recitals, researching English folk music, publishing anthems and carol books, and befriending the likes of Hubert Parry and Henry Willis. John Goss left St. Paul’s in 1871 and Stainer succeeded him, reinvigorating the choral program at the Cathedral just as he had done at Magdalen. Stainer eventually accumulated other posts, including Director of the Madrigal Society of London and Inspector of Music in Schools and Colleges. Poor eyesight forced his retirement from St. Paul’s in 1888, but he soon followed Ouseley as Professor of Music at Oxford and continued his writing. He died on Palm Sunday, 1901 while traveling in Verona and was buried from St. Cross Church, Oxford. His 1887 Oratorio The Crucifixion is still sung annually in countless churches throughout the world during Lent.

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Hamburg-born Otto Goldschmidt studied at the Leipzig Conservatory under Hans von Bülow and Felix Mendelssohn and took private piano lessons with Clara Schumann. In 1852 Goldschmidt married the world-famous soprano Jenny Lind in Boston, Massachusetts. Moving to London in 1858, he became a professor at the Royal Academy of Music and in1876 was named founding director of the London Bach Choir. Irishman Charles Wood was in the inaugural class of the Royal College of Music where he studied with Sir Charles V. Stanford and Parry. Wood taught at both R.C.M. and Cambridge University where he was also Organist of Gonville and Caius College for a time. Like Stanford and Parry, Wood is remembered for his Anglican church music and for his influence as a teacher; his pupils included William Harris, Herbert Howells, and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow studied organ with John Farmer of Balliol College, Oxford, Frederick Bridge of Westminster Abbey, and Walter Alcock of the R.C.M. He earned a Doctorate of Music from the University of Durham in 1901. Bairstow succeeded T. Tertius Noble as organist of York Minster in 1913 after Noble emigrated to New York to found the St. Thomas Choir School. Bairstow stayed at the Minster until his death, even turning down an offer of appointment at Westminster Abbey in 1928, and was succeeded by his former pupil Francis Jackson. For his contributions to music, Bairstow was knighted in 1932. Simon Preston sang as a chorister at King’s College, Cambridge, and began organ studies with Hugh McLean and with C. H. Trevor at the Royal Academy. He returned to King’s as an organ scholar under Sir David Willcocks. He served Westminster Abbey as Sub-Organist from 1962-1967 and as Master of the Choristers from 1970-1987, between which tenures he was Organist of Christ Church, Oxford. Since 1987, he has focused on his international concert career, composing, and recording Dubliner Sir Charles Villiers Stanford was appointed organist of Trinity College, Cambridge while still an undergraduate. He was a founding professor of the R.C.M. (1882) and also was Professor of Music at Cambridge University (1887-1924), teaching an entire generation of significant composers. Stanford conducted the London Bach Choir from 1885-1902, succeeding Goldshmidt. From 1902, he was music director of the Leeds Music Festival. Apart from his teaching legacy, Stanford is best remembered for his contributions to the Anglican choral tradition, chiefly his settings of the Evening Canticles. More recently, his orchestral works, including seven symphonies, have gained much-overdue recognition

THE PARISH OF ST. VINCENT FERRER AND ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA

www.svsc.info (212) 744-2080

The Church of St. Vincent Ferrer 869 Lexington Avenue at 66th Street

The Church of St. Catherine of Siena 411 East 68th Street

THE PARISH OF ST. VINCENT FERRER AND ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA

Welcome to the Parish of St. Vincent Ferrer and St. Catherine of Siena in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, served by the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph.

For information about upcoming events, please take a weekly Parish Bulletin.

For general information about the Parish, its many organizations, an overview of the current year’s schedule of events, and how to become more involved in our common life, please take a green Parish Handbook.

To register as a parishioner, please use the form found at the back of the Handbook or online. Follow us on facebook @StVincentandStCatherine and sign-up for email alerts by notifying parish@svsc.info.

The Parish’s own professional Schola Cantorum sings every Sunday at the 12:00 Noon Solemn Mass at St. Vincent Ferrer as well as for numerous weekday feasts. The 2019-2020 Music List, Music as Holy Preaching, contains a list of this season’s concerts and repertoire for all choral services as well as information about the St. Cecilia Guild, our Friends of Music program that financially supports music in the Parish.

Choral music at next Sunday’s Solemn Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent: Marc’Antonio Ingegneri’s Missa Kyrie Primi Toni; Curzio Valcampi’s Canite tuba in Sion; and Andrea Rota’s Veni Domine.