A solemn litany
All Saints/All Souls The Litany of Saints is not a once-a-year text, but we sometimes think it is because we encounter it most often only at the Easter Vigil. But the Litany of Saints has a rich tradition of being … Read More
Bulletin Shorts for the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time – 30 October 2022 Wisdom 11:22–12:2. Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14. 2 Thessalonians 1:11–2:2. Luke 19:1-10. Whom Does Jesus Seek? The short of stature Zacchaeus runs ahead, climbs a tree, and seeks Jesus as … Read More
Presenting the sequences
31st Sunday Ordinary Time – C One way the church highlights the preeminence of the Easter season in the liturgical year is by prescribing two special sung texts called sequences to bookend the season on Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday. … Read More
Bulletin Shorts for the Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – 23 October 2022 Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18. Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23. 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18. Luke 18:9-14. Does God Have Favorites? The first reading asserts that while God, indeed, attends to everyone, there is … Read More
The Sacrifice of Praise
30th Sunday Ordinary Time – C In the spirit of progressive solemnity, let’s look at texts that are only sung at the most important days of the liturgical year. These texts do not accompany any ritual action because the singing … Read More
Following “Progressive Solemnity”
29th Sunday Ordinary Time – C Not everything that can be sung should be sung, nor should it be sung the same way every time. We need to follow a principle of “progressive solemnity.” Think of it like musical dynamics … Read More
Bulletin Shorts for the Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time – 16 October 2022 Exodus 17:8-13. Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8. 2 Timothy 3:14–4:2. Luke 18:1-8. Is God Slow to Answer Prayer? Moses wearily struggles to keep his hands raised in prayer for the benefit … Read More
Bulletin Shorts for the Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time – 09 October 2022 2 Kings 5:14-17. Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4. 2 Timothy 2:8-13. Luke 17:11-19. How Does Faith Save? In the first reading today, Naaman, the foreigner, wants two loads of earth for his … Read More
Bulletin Shorts for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – 02 October 2022 Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4. Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9. 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14. Luke 17:5-10. What About Seed and Service? Here are two puzzling teachings for today. One, of mulberry tree and mustard … Read More
What you don’t sing
28th Sunday Ordinary Time – C We’ve focused on what to sing from the Mass ordinary and propers. Let’s take a look at what you don’t sing. This happens mostly in Advent and Lent. For some background, we turn to … Read More