First Friday of the Year

Today is the first Friday of the month and the first for the year 2012. It marks the end of the first weekday of 2012. This first weekday of the year for me has been one of rest and preparation for the coming week. For the next two weeks, I'll be having training sessions and God knows maybe even until a third or fourth week. And speaking of God, this first Friday is specially dedicated to him. I've sang many church songs with the choir. The one below is one of my favorites--Ave Verum Corpus.

Ave verum corpus is A short Eucharistic hymn dating from the 14th century and attributed to Pope Innocent VI (d 1362). During the Middle Ages it was sung at the elevation of the Host during the consecration. It was also used frequently during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

The most popular version is Mozart's composition. Personally, I prefer Charles Gounod's version of the hymn and this is the composition being sung in the video. 

Ave, verum corpus                       Hail,true body
natum de Maria Virgine,               born of the Virgin Mary,
Vere passum immolatum              Who truly suffered, sacrificed
in Cruce pro homine,                   on the Cross for man,
Cujus latus perforatum                 Whose pierced side
fluxit unda et sanguine,                 overflowed with water and blood,
Esto nobis praegustatum              Be for us a foretaste
in mortis examine.                        In the trial of death.


O dulcis, O pie,                           O sweet, o merciful,
O Jesu, Fili Mariae.                     O Jesus, Son of Mary
Pro nobis miserere.                      Have mercy on us!

Ah, what a way to end the first weekday of the year. The weekend has come and there's more time for relaxation and reminiscing and sharing my fave choral pieces.