Prayer for Healing

When I do my prayers, prayer for healing forms part of my daily set. These days we all need some form of healing. In the recent events that happened to our country--the monsoon, the typhoons, the death of an efficient and effective government official, the rise in prices of basic commodities among others--some may feel that it's the end of the world, the end of their lives. So what else is there to live for? Well, this may be an age-old adage, but the only way is to turn our attention to the one and only author of life: Jesus Christ.

 Any form of healing that we may need--physical, mental, spiritual, psychological--let God in and welcome him as he does the one thing he's always been doing since he created us--to heal us of our heartaches, our pains, our sufferings. Whatever it is that we've been through, know that he himself has undergone them too. He became man for us, grew up just like an ordinary human being. To this day, he remains with us in several churches all over the world. Every hurt that we feel, he feels it too. Every suffering we go through, he suffers alongside us to. Despite being the author of life, he did not spare himself of the pain and suffering that we as human beings go through in this world. Shall we not go to this man and ask for his help and learn from him what it truly means to suffer for the sake of loving others?

One song expresses this more than any other. Let's all pray that God may heal our land.

HEAL OUR LAND

If my people will humble themselves 
Humble themselves and pray 
If they seek my face and humble themselves 
And turn from their wicked ways 

[REFRAIN 1]
I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins 
I will hear from heaven and heal their land 
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsty.com/jamie-rivera-heal-our-land-lyrics.html ]
[CHORUS] 
Lord, heal our land 
Father, heal our land 
Hear our cry and turn our nation back to You 
Lord, heal our land 
Hear us oh, Lord, and heal our land 
Forgive our sin and heal our broken land 

Lord, we vow our knee, we humble ourselves 
Humble ourselves and pray 
Lord, we seek your face and humble ourselves 
And turn from my wicked ways 

[REFRAIN 2]
Father in Your mercy, forgive our sins 
Father in Your mercy, come heal our land 

[Repeat CHORUS twice] 

[CODA]
(Lord, heal our land 
Father, heal our land) 
Hear our cry and heal our broken land 

Because He Loves Us

There are so many things that's happening around the world that it's almost impossible to keep up. Some are simply caught up in the immediate things like work or business or pleasure while some are busy supposedly with things that matter to us all, like the environment, good governance, educational opportunities, caring for the family and household and so on. So many things call for our attention these days that we might be forgetting the one important person who made all these things possible for us.

This world seems to forget him and I think it's right that we should remember just how blessed we are with all the things that we need to make this world a better place. The video I'm presenting is a compilation of pictures of this one awesome man who made a huge impact in the lives of humanity. I remember someone telling me that love songs can actually be addressed or dedicated to God, whether as man loving him or God loving us. This song is not a song I sang with  the choir, but it has been one of my favorite love songs--Because You Loved Me. I like this song because it speaks of someone selfless and doing everything for the sake of his beloved one. Well, I could only think of one person who is like that for all times--Jesus Christ.

I hope you'd understand the progression of the pictures. It may not be completely in sync with the song, but it is my hope that the message will get across. Let us indeed thank God for such an incredible gift to humanity! 

Ascension Sunday -- Canticorum Iubilo

19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19)


Today is Ascension Sunday commemorating the time of the Lord's ascension into heaven after 40 days of appearing to his disciples and performing miracles and signs to them. They say that this is the end of his mission--on Earth. But his mission continued in the lives of the disciples and the saints. In our own small way, we can also be living witnesses of Christ's teaching by loving one another as Christ has loved us.

While at Mass, the choir sang a song that I knew was originally written in Latin. They sang it in English. Honestly, I'd rather hear it sung in its original Latin verse. There are some English translated songs that are not entirely faithful to its original text. But more than that, I think the Latin text is much better synched with its music and musical lines compared to when you sing the song in English. The song I am referring to is Canticorum Iubilo (i.e. Let Us Sing With Joy!). It is a song that honors Christ as our King. It is a fitting opening song for today's Holy Mass. Here is the song in its Latin verse and faithful English translation.

CANTICORUM

Canticorum jubilo
Regi magno psalite

Jamresultent musica
Unda tellus sidera

Canticorum jubilo
Regi magno psalite

Personantes organis
Iubilate, plaudite

Canticorum jubilo
Regi magno psalite

 

English Translation
Let us sing aloud! Play for our reigning King!
Let the music now strikes sharp as a spear coming from on high.
Let us sing aloud! Play for our reigning King!
Let each one play his own instrument and burst aloud in praises.
Let us sing aloud! Play for our reigning King!

Psalm 132 Ecce Quam Bonum -- United in Love

This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.  No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

(John 15:12-13)

The passage above comes from today's Gospel in which the central theme of the readings is about God's Love. As Christians, we are reminded that this is the one that should characterize our actions--that we do everything out of love and our model for this love is none other than Jesus Christ.

We have many songs in Musica Sacra that pertain to God's love and one of them is Ecce Quam Bonum. This song speaks about Christian brotherhood as expressed in Psalm 132. It reminds us that this unity that we have as Christians centered on the love that Jesus has given to us through the Holy Eucharist. We united ourselves in this sacrifice of Christ in order to share in the life and be granted the grace from the Father in heaven in order to imitate his love that Christ has shown us. And this love is to "lay down one's life for one's friends"--it is not forced, but offered, not conditional, but pure giving in the spirit of generosity. Here is the Latin lyrics and it's English equivalent from Psalm 132. (source: Breviary) The rendition sang by Novo Concertante Manila is that composed by Hans Leo Hassler.

Ecce quam bonum, et quam jucúndum * habitáre fratres in unum. 2  Sicut unguéntum in cápite, * quod descéndit in barbam, barbam Aaron. 3  Quod descéndit in oram vestiménti ejus: * sicut ros Hermon, qui descéndit in montem Sion. 4  Quóniam illic mandávit Dóminus benedictiónem, * et vitam usque in sæculum.

Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is, * for brethren to dwell together in unity. 2  It is like the precious oil upon the head, * that ran down upon the beard, even upon the beard of Aaron. 3  That went down to the skirts of his clothing : * like as the dew of Hermon, which fell upon mount Sion. 4  For there the Lord hath commanded blessing, * and life for evermore.

It's truly difficult to love one's neighbor let alone to the point of laying down your life for another. But it is a challenge to all of us if we really want to love. Sometimes I hesitate to share how I feel if it means I'll end up hurting the other person. And because it is also something that hurts me, I tend to keep it. What's dangerous about it is that whatever it is that you're hiding, might eat you up or make you isolated from people who could show love to you. Hence, in cases like these, it is also good to resort to prayer. If there's anybody who'd always be willing to listen  to our cares and sufferings, that would be Jesus Christ. Because he is the one who loved us first before he even tried to save us.

Regina Coeli (A. Lotti) - Easter Season Prayer

Happy Easter! This week marks the beginning of the Easter Season. For the next fifty days (culminating on the Pentecost), the noon time prayer to our Blessed Mother changes from the Angelus to Regina Caeli. The latter speaks of the joy of our dear Blessed Mother to the glorious resurrection of his son Jesus Christ from the dead.

I've sang two versions of this song when I was starting out as a choir member. I sang this with a group of all female vocalists and this was one of the songs we'd sing during the Easter Vigil. I had a hard time looking for the specific version that I like on the Internet. I didn't know the name of the composer then. But after trying every combination of search words on Google, I finally found the version I was looking for--Antonio Lotti.

Antonio Lotti was born at Venice in 1667; died there, 5 January, 1740 and studied under Legrenzi, producing an opera, "Il Giustino", in his sixteenth year. On 31 May, 1692, he was appointed second organist of St. Mark's, and on 17 August, 1704, he succeeded Spada as first organist. On 2 April, 1736, he was elected maestro di cappella, though Pollarolo, Porpora, and Porta were formidable rivals for the much-coveted post, with a salary of 400 ducats. Between the years 1703 and 1730 he composed numerous masses and motets, especially his "Miserere", which supplanted the version of Legrenzi and is still sung at St. Mark's on Holy Thursday. Lotti also composed twenty-seven operas (1693-1717), and he spent two years at Dresden, producing various works. After his return to Venice, in November, 1719, he gave up secular writing, and devoted himself solely to church and chamber music.
 via Catholic Encyclopedia

Additional reading on Lotti can be found here.

In this rendition, the choir is accompanied by organ. This song could also be sung a capella style. I like this version of Regina Caeli because its tone is a combination of solemn soft tones and grand celebration style tones. Hope you enjoy this video. Happy Easter once again!

Latin Text

Regina coeli laetare, Alleluia,

Quia quem meruisti portare, Alleluia,

Resurrexit sicut dixit, Alleluia.

Ora pro nobis Deum. Alleluia.

English Translation

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

For He whom you were worthy to bear, alleluia,

has risen, as He said, alleluia.

Pray for us to God, alleluia.

Christus Factus Est -- A Reflection on the Passion and Memories of Singing

Philippians 2:6-11

Christ, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.

Thus it is written in today's second reading. Today is Passion (Palm) Sunday. I was looking for a song that would be featured in my blog. Upon doing so, I stumbled upon a memory, a song that I sang with the choir during my first year with them--Christus Factus Est.

Christus Factus Est This text is used both as a gradual and, during the triduum, as an antiphon in place of the responsory. In the modern Graduale Romanum, this text is the Gradual for Passion (Palm) Sunday and The Exultation of the Holy Cross (September 14). In the extraordinary or ‘Tridentine’ rite, this text is the gradual for the Mass of Maundy Thursday, as well as for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. via ChoralWiki

The composition I'll be featuring is the one of Anton Bruckner. Josef Anton Bruckner was born on September 4, 1824 in the upper Austrian town of Ansfelden. His father was a schoolteacher and church organist, and Bruckner's initial studies followed similar lines. When Bruckner was 13, his father died, and he enrolled in the church school at St. Florian (some ten miles from Linz) as a chorister. There, he studied organ, piano, and music theory. On his own, Bruckner assiduously studied the music of Renaissance Italian polyphonic masters such as Palestrina and German Baroque composers, especially J.S. Bach. via Notes on four Bruckner Motets.

The video presents the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist in a Holy Mass presided by Pope Benedict XVI at Westminster Cathedral. The Westminster Cathedral Choir sings Bruckner's Christus Factus Est, which became a beautiful background to the offertory ceremonies being conducted at this point in the Holy Mass. The text of the song came from the quoted text above, the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians.

Christus / factus / est / pro / nobis / obediens 
Christ / made / was / for / us / obedient 

usque / ad / mortem, / mortem / autem / crucis. 
even / unto / death / death / on / cross 

Propter / quod / et / Deus / exaltavit / illum 
because of / this / and / God / raised / him 

et / dedit / illi / nomen, 
and / bestowed / on him / name 

quod / est / super / omne / nomen. 
which / is / above / all / names 

Truly it is a mystery to be grasped. Our Lord's passion is the perfect example of obedience to the will of the Heavenly Father. By this act of obedience, Jesus opened the doors for us to save us from our sins. He bore it all on the cross in the spirit of a willing victim to be offered up once and for all to our Father God. It is difficult to explain the magnitude of this act of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hopefully, when we join the activities of the Catholic Church this week, we'd focus our minds in reflecting upon our Lord's passion and death.

Hearing the song once again brought back memories of joyful singing with the choir. We sang many sacred music pieces as it forms part of our usual repertoire when preparing for concerts. The singing of sacred music became the first in the line of pieces to be sung. The purpose of which is to give glory and honor to God for the wonderful gift of music. These are memories truly worth cherishing.

Ave Verum Corpus -- Worth Reflecting Again

“I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. (John 12:27)

Although there were other verses that the priest emphasized in today's Gospel, I chose to reflect on these words. It reminded me of a song I featured in one of my earlier blogs in January of this year: Ave Verum. Here I will feature the song again, this time presenting Mozart's composition. When I was still singing with the choir, this is the version I learned first. It's accompanied by an orchestra or an organist. It's solemn and uplifting. Here are the words in Latin and English. It will truly help in reflecting the passage above. Have a wonderful day!

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
unda fluxit et sanguine,                 overflowed with water and blood,
Esto nobis praegustatum              Be for us a foretaste
in mortis examine.                        In the trial of death.

Recharge In His Heart

A colleague has this Dilbert mug with the following inscription: "Away you demons of stupidity!" Well, so many struggles in our life involve in one form or the other--not just demons of stupidity--but the "daemon" himself. After this gruelling week of training, I remember a song entitled "Daemon Irrepit Calidus" by Gyorgy Orban. It's one of the songs I used to sing with the choir in which I was quite challenged with the pacing, exchange and overlapping lines among the different voices. Also, this song brought back wonderful memories of my first trip outside of the Philippines. It's nice to sometimes go back a relish the good times as a way of recharging oneself and prepare for another possible challenging week ahead. And it's my personal prayer as well as a command in the name of Jesus Christ--away with you "daemons."

Daemon Irrepit Callidus György Orbán
Daemon irrepit calidus,
Allicit cor honoribus.
Quid amabile Daemon dat
Cor jesu minus aestimat
Daemon point frauds inter cantus,
Saltus, Daemon!
Caro venaratur sensibus;
Sen sus adhaeret dapibus;
In aescatur, impinguatur dilatatur.
Cordis Aestum non explebunt, non arcebunt, Daemon! Daemon!


Translation:
The Demon sneaks expertly
Tempting the honorable heart:
He sets forth trickery amidst praise, song and dance.
However amiably the Demon acts,
It is still worth less than the heart of Jesus.
The Flesh is tempted by sensuality;
Gluttony clings to our senses;
It overgrows, it encroaches, it stretches.
However appealing the Flesh is,
It is still worth less than the heart of Jesus.
Though the Universe may confer
Thousands upon thousands of praises,
They neither fulfill nor put out the desire of the heart.
However appealing the whole Universe is,
It is still worth less than the heart of Jesus.

The Greatest Gift of Love

When I was still with the choir, we were learning some new songs to sing for the mass. One of them was a song entitled "Sa Iyong Mga Yapak." When we were working on our harmony, I seem to remember our choirmaster telling us to feel and understand every word that we sing. Taking that suggestion to heart, we began singing the song and while the sopranos (I being one of them) were singing the words, I almost choked and found myself wanting to cry. It's like a revelation at that time that the song that I'm singing refers to the loving act of our Lord Jesus Christ as he suffered and died for our sins. It's a good thing that there were eight of us in the soprano section and so, my stopping at mid-song wasn't too obvious. Since then, whenever we sing this song during the mass, I try my best to hold back the tears for a few minutes so that the beauty of the song and it's reflective words may touch those people hearing mass. I knew then that this song is truly perfect for Lenten Season. But I'd take it a step further that this song truly reflects Jesus' everyday sacrifice to us whenever he changes the host and the wine into his body and blood. This is one of my favorite and most loved Filipino Sacred Music. Here I share it with you in the spirit of the Lenten Season and in thanksgiving for God's marvelous gift of love and mercy.

By the way, the English translation is a rough one. Pardon my efforts if I have not completely captured the essence of the song. I hope that you'd be touched by the song itself.

SA IYONG MGA YAPAK                                         English Translation

Landas na kay tinik sa Iyo'y inilaan                              A path filled with thorns was intended for You

Bawa't hakbang nito'y dusa't hirap ang laman               Every step is filled with suffering and anguish

Sa kalooban ng Ama nagpasakop kang ganap             You submitted to the Father’s will fully

Buhay Mo O Hesus ang siyang alay na sapat               Your life, O Jesus, was the only offering that’s enough

Laban sa agos ng mundo,                                            Against the grain of the world,

Lumakad ka sa landas Mo                                          You walked the path only you have chosen

Laban sa lakad ng mundo,                                           Against the trend of the world,

Landas na sa 'ki'y nais Mo                                          You walked the path you wished that I would take

Sa Iyong mga yapak, ako ay tatahak                           I will walk in Your footsteps,

Kahit tigib ng luha ang nilakaran Mong landas              Even though the path You trod is full of tears

Pasakit man at dusa dulot ng mundo'y kamtan              Even if the world may bring me pain and suffering

Bawat bakas ng Iyong mga yapak                               Every trace of Your footsteps

Bawat hakbang Mo'y aking susundan                          Every step You take, I shall take it too

Kay hirap Mang gawin kalooban Mo'y tupdin             Though it’s hard to do Thy will completely

Pinili kong sundan bakas ng 'Yong mga hakbang          I choose to follow the path treaded by your footsteps

Ang buhay ko'y laan sa Iyo kailanpaman                     My life I give fully to Thee forevermore

Maglilingkod sa'Yo Panginoon hanggang wakas           I shall serve you, O God, to the end

Praying For Others

It is only now that I've had the time to write a blog. I guess when I do a week's training, I realize that I haven't got the time to write and organize my blog. Last week was Valentine's week--a week dedicated to love and friendship. So how have I been during that week?

I admit that I am an impatient person. I even get impatient with myself--not finding the file I'm looking for in my computer at one time led me to a childish tantrum. At that time, I was alone in the room. As my trainees came in, they did see the distress in my face, but the tantrum was over by then. If I get impatient with myself, so much more with other people.

Last Friday, I had a sinking feeling of sadness. Yes, I pray to the Lord everyday. But I'm saddened by the fact that how I am in prayer is not how I am in practice. I may be "holier than thou" in front of the Lord in a chapel or church. But where is the love when I'm out there facing different types of people and being impatient when they do something that's not to my liking? I was saddened by the fact that I am angry at some people and I am impatient with others. Realizing that I myself am imperfect and no better than any human being, why am I being so impatient with others? Have I lost the love of Christ?

I struggle with my impatience everyday. It's more of a spiritual struggle and times like these call for prayers--not only my own--of other people, especially those who are close to me. Today, I reflect on the importance of praying for other people. I remember being told that praying for others is actually quite powerful. The inspiration for this song came from the Gospel according to St. Matthew 18: 19-20. I know I couldn't face my struggles alone. With God--and others praying for me and I for them--every struggle can be overcome.

ESTO LES DIGO

Esto les digo,                                                           'This I say to you,
si dos de ustedes se ponen,                                      if two of you are put,
se ponen de acuerdo aquí en,                                    are put in accord here in,
en la tierra para pedir,                                                in the earth to ask,
pedir algo en oración,                                                to ask anything in prayer,
mi padre que está en el cielo,                                     my Father which is in heaven,
se lo dará.                                                                 will give it to you.
Porque donde dos o tres se reúnen en mi nombre,        Because where two or three are gathered in my name,
allí estoy yo,                                                               there am I,
en medio de ellos.                                                      in the midst of them.'

Let's Be Generous--Prayer for Generosity

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” (Mark 1:41)

Sometimes it's disheartening to listen or read the news. You'll hear public servants getting impeached, politicians simply grandstanding during impeachment trial proceedings, rumors about who's who and who's the president dating these days. Then lately you've heard the devastating earthquake that struck our brothers and sisters in Negros Oriental. Then, you have your own personal problems to take care of--the primary needs of your family, the duties you need to fulfill at work, the everyday commute, and to some, the demands of serving your community.

Jesus Christ had a lot to do when he did his ministry. During such times, he healed many people who are sick. In today's Gospel, he cured a man who had leprosy. The passage above is truly something that shows the Godliness and humanity of our Lord--he was moved with pity. It was compassion and love that made him do the healing. But after this episode, despite asking the man who was cured not to spread it around, the man broadcasted it through out the city. Jesus became popular but he doesn't need or want that popularity at all. And despite going to a deserted place to rest and pray, people eventually found him and he would serve them still. But are the people only after his healing and not appreciating his compassion for them?

How many of us take time to be compassionate towards one another? Sometimes, we are too focused on the "bad news" or our own problems that sometimes we tend to forget what also matters--to love one another as Jesus loved us. When we do our work, do we do it whole-heartedly, not just out of a sense of duty? When we take care of the needs of our family, do we take time also to simply tell them that we love them? When we watch the news or other TV programs, do we feel pity and try to help out if we hear victims of natural disasters? When we are with friends, is it only because we need them or we enjoy their company or do we stop at times and think about what do they need that you could help them out with?

Despite all the negative vibes from "bad news" and other things that preoccupy us, we could counter this one by asking the Lord to also make us clean--clean us of our impatience, of our indifference, of our selfishness, of our hatred or anger towards other people. Then, we can also stretch out our hands to the people who need us, to be of service not just because it is a duty or an obligation but out of love and compassion. 

Let's all join our hands in prayer as we all ask for a generous heart from our Lord Jesus Christ. I'm sure some of you have heard this song before. It is the Prayer for Generosity. Feel free to sing with the Ateneo choirs.

Prayer for Generosity

Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous

Teach me to serve you as I should

To give and not to count the cost

To fight and not to heed the wounds

To toil and not to seek for rest

To labor and ask not for reward

Save that of knowing that I do

Your most Holy Will.

A Soul Thirsts For God

I haven't written a blog in three days. Today, I'm trying to write it using the keyboard in typing this out on my tablet PC. A few minutes ago, I restarted this blog because my sister turned the Wi-Fi router off. Right now, I'm so freaking frustrated as I realize that it's hard to write my blog on my tablet PC. I am getting pissed off at the fact that the virtual keyboard keeps popping up and it blocks my post window that I can't see what I'm writing. There's nothing in the settings that could keep it from popping up and I have yet to figure out how to turn the thing off. Why the hell did I even bother to buy an external keyboard?

There were just so many things to take care of during the previous week. I wasn't able to fill up my blog for Madrigal week. But today is a Sunday and I dedicate this to the Lord Jesus Christ. I feature sacred music genre on this day. Amidst all the daily cares of life, what keeps me focused is prayer and deepening my relationship with God. Just now, I thought about the problem with my tablet PC and keyboard. How petty it is compared to other things in life that we struggle with.

In one of my consultations with my trainees, I explained to her how her writing activity turned out to be something I did not instruct the class to do. In fact, she was the only one who did not follow instructions. When she tried to explain why, I realized that she was struggling with a problem at work. It was another case of being blamed for something that she did not do or that she had no intention of hurting anyone. As she was telling me this, I felt pity for her and so I asked her how she copes with it. She clings on to support from her bosses and colleagues. But I asked her if she prays. To tell you honestly, I thought that I'd get the eyebrow raised up look or the surprised look. But when she said that she does pray all the time and she believed in the power of God to make things all right, I was humbled by what she said.

It is good to know that in this world where people think that they don't need God that there are still those who hold on to God to help them as they go through their struggles in life. That Jesus is truly the one to go to if we are faced with problems whether big or small. This song that I'll feature talks about Jesus as the source of strength as what he told the Samaritan woman in the gospel: "but those who drink the water that I will give them will never be thirsty." (John 4:14). The song is "Sicut Cervus" composed by one of the famous masters of music during the Renaissance period: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. When you see the English translation of this song, you'll see that it's a familiar song that is being sung during the Holy Mass. This song soothes the soul through it's polyphonic lines. It's like streams of river gently flowing the sound of which makes one relax and calm down. 

This video shows the musical score while the choir sings as though it is its background. What's nice about this is that you'd get to follow the beautiful lines of the text--how the different lines move on their own and finally converge at the end. Hope this would make us appreciate the wonderful art of choral music.

Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum,ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus.

As the deer longs for running water, so longs my soul for you, O God. 

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.