Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
Lance ·
Nov 6, 2011 at 7:28pm
Hearing this sung in church is one of the fringe benefits of being Catholic.
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Nov '10
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
Like?
May '10
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
I love the way the Litany of the Saints puts before the eyes of the mind that "great cloud of witnesses" who have gone before us and who are rooting us on from heaven.
Nov '10
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
Agreed. And its certainly inspiring to think of all these "holy men and women pray(ing) for us."
May '10
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
Thanks Lance for this post. Of course listening to Bach is one the gifts of being a Protestant :-) .
Heard this at All Saints service in my local Anglican church, in a more traditional presentation, complete with the incense and the wavering voice of our bishop who is getting on. (I attend the St Peters the local parish church of Melbourne, which has a better choir than the nearby Anglican Cathedral of St Pauls)
In fact G-d's beauty in such music transcends all our doctrinal differences.
Mar '11
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
Reminds me of Philip Green's St. Patrick's Mass.
Nov '10
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
Talleyrand: Thanks Lance for this post. Of course listening to Bach is one the gifts of being a Protestant :-) ...
In fact G-d's beauty in such music transcends all our doctrinal differences. · Nov 6 at 6:28am
Yeah, I don't mean to denigrate the music of the varying denominations. I am sure they all have there masterpieces. I just know in the Methodist church I grew up in, I didn't pay much attention to what was being played. I am not ashamed to admit that the bells and smells of the Catholic Church were a big draw for me when I converted as an adult. I now know those could have been found in other houses of the Lord as well. Those others didn't have Jesuits though, impressing me with their scholarly homilies. It's all about finding a home to pursue and explore your faith.
May '10
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
It was a gentle ribbing Lance nothing more
Nov '10
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
Oh, Man, I am sorry to have implied anything other than enthusiastic appreciation for the comment! I sincerely apologize! I loved your comments and was inspired, not compelled to reply.
My post's brevity was a deliberate exercise in trying to be more concise with my thoughts. Problem is, that in being concise, I have to ignore all the nuance that colors my general perspective. I don't know whether or not this is sung in venues beyond a Catholic church. I knew when I posted it that I was opening myself up to the fact that I don't know more than I know. Reading your comment gave me a sense of license to elaborate further on my musings, thoughts that meander far from the core intentions of the post, that of music.
Again, thanks for commenting. Its such a lovely piece that I had hoped to draw such participation with the posting.
Feb '11
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
Lance -- that is a truly groovy tune, but the visuals in the video are a little dull. This is a different litany, and the visual are contemporary icons that are stunning and so peaceful. See what you think?
Feb '11
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
And in a jocular aside to Talleyrand, I love listening to Bach at Holy Mass every time they sing the Ave Maria!
Jun '11
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
Lovely, lovely all of the above.
Nov '10
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
I almost selected that one, and plan to include that one on a special meditative mix I am working on for a certain Ricochet member. Among other reasons, I went with the other because that is what would have been performed at my church last week on All Saints day. But you are right, I do enjoy its contemporary arrangement, and the list of saints are a bit more well known that the longer version.
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
If you want great hymnody every day of the church year, it's hard to beat a Lutheran congregation. Today we sang some of the greats including For All the Saints, We Sing for All the Unsung Saints, Sing with All the Saints in Glory, By All Your Saints in Warfare.
And my personal favorite, which I would like to be sung at my funeral, please, Behold A Host, Arrayed in White.
Now, I will confess to a slight bit of confusion about why the Song of the Day would be sung for All Saints. Our pastor explained to us today that the Festival of All Saints is particularly for remembering the great saints who are not regularly remembered during other parts of the church year.
Apr '11
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
Enjoy it while you can, suckas. The new Roman Missal re-introduces Chant, and the "low Mass culture" is on the skids!
Jan '11
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
This particular litany was a standard when I was in the Jesuits, and so this song immediately brought me back. We used it for ordinations every year, and it was one of the true highlights. It's so easy to do, and easy to sing, that it's perfect for the liturgy.
What can I say? Another home run, Lance!
Nov '10
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
Nope, sorry. Doesn't work for me.
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus..." (Paul in his first letter to Timothy). This makes His mediatorial role exclusive and you know, there is great comfort in that exclusivity for this Christian.
What scriptural evidence do do you have that departed saints have any interest and/or knowledge of what transpires in this realm? The "cloud of witnesses" from Hebrews Chapter 12 quoted by someone above can be understood in two ways in English: one can see something and therefore bear witness to what they have seen or giving testimony to something (i.e. faith works). The context gives the latter sense in that those given as immediately preceding examples of faith are our witnesses as to the results of a life of faith. Hence the writer goes on to say "therefore...laying aside every weight and sin, which so easily entangles us, run with endurance the race that lies before us, looking steadfastly on Jesus, the leader and completer of faith...". Thus occupied, it is hard to seek the intercession of another.
Edited on Nov 6, 2011 at 9:51pmRe: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
Ah, I love this song; I always look forward to it when there's a special mass.
Though I am partial to my university mission choir's version, this is nice too.
Feb '11
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
Robert Promm: · Nov 6 at 9:44pm
Edited on Nov 06 at 09:51 pm
The Bible does not contain a verse, "There are Saints in Heaven who can pray for us and their collective Feast shall be November 1." But, St. Paul repeatedly exhorts his epistle readers to imitate him in following Christ. The saints are marvelous examples. Ordinary people like you and me born without the sanctifying grace from Christ who rose with God's infinite grace and mercy to Paradise. Their stories inspire us. If, as a Christian, I believe that these people are in Heaven with God, I cannot see any possible reason why they would have turned their eyes from the rest of humanity so completely as to stop praying for others. Instead, I would think they encourage us constantly with their prayers to join them there. These people are our friends in Christ -- I do not worship them, but I love them and know they love me. Ora pro nobis!
Feb '11
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.:
Now, I will confess to a slight bit of confusion about why the Song of the Day would be sung for All Saints. Our pastor explained to us today that the Festival of All Saints is particularly for remembering the great saints who are not regularly remembered during other parts of the church year. · Nov 6 at 7:32pm
I think the answer comes in the song when they sing, "All you holy men and women, pray for us." This great listing just makes one realize how many many more saints there are, thousands upon thousands. One of Pope John Paul II's greatest gifts was the canonization of so many holy saints, especially of lay people, helping inspire Christians with so many models.
Pace to Robert Promm, but just as in sport the examples of athletes can inspire us and help us work toward an ideal, so can the lives of saints edify us on the Christian life.
Feb '11
Re: Today's Song of the Day: St. Matthews Choir- "Litany of the Saints"
And finally one last comment before I get about my morning here -- Lance, I will be playing this video for my students first thing today here in the St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Home School. Thanks again!
*** OK, one really last comment: While posting the link above, I was reminded that St. Teresa Bened. o.t.C. was inspired to become a Christian by the examples of holy men and women she knew, and by reading a biography of a great saint, St. Theresa of Avila. Hmmm. Makes one think....
Edited on Nov 7, 2011 at 2:30am