10 Hail Mary - Ave Maria

Last week the object of faith was the Angelus prayer - this week we continue remembering the role Mary played in God's plan of salvation as we explore the Hail Mary.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

During the week we will be including musical and video versions of the Hail Mary.  You might like to talk with others about the one you like best.

9 Angelus - Art and Media

The Angelus (1857–59) by Jean-Francois Millet

This painting by Millet was originally known entitled Prayer for the Potato Crop, but after adding a church steeple in the background it was changed to the Angelus It reminds us of how when the church bell rang, people stopped their work and said a prayer. This happened three times a day; morning, noon, and evening. In the painting we see the man and his wife stopping  in the middle of their work, to pray after hearing the church bell. 

Some churches still ring out the Angelus bell at 9.00, noon and at 6.00.  And on Irish television RTE each day at 6.00pm just before the news a bell rings and they show images of people stopping what they are doing to pray.  Click here for link to RTE listings.  The video below is a collection of examples.

9 Angelus - Fulfilling God's plan

The catechism also tells us of events that we remember in the Angelus.

CCC 723 In Mary, the Holy Spirit fulfills the plan of the Father's loving goodness. Through the Holy Spirit, the Virgin conceives and gives birth to the Son of God. By the Holy Spirit's power and her faith, her virginity became uniquely fruitful

One of the many versions of the Angelus this version is sung in Latin with the English and Latin translation and a series of images of Mary. 

Our Lady of Guadaloupe
Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadaloupe, to find out more about this feast day and some activities for children click here to a site with resources to celebrate this day.  

9 Angelus - Mary's YES

Anunciation: a plaque in the reredos (altarpiece)
behind the Lady Chapel altar, Lancaster Cathedral

The Angelus is a prayer which reflects on the events of the Annunciation, when the Angel of the Lord appeared to Mary and told her she had been chosen by God to be the mother of His son. Mary said yes to God and she became the mother of the Son of God. The Angelus bell rings three times a day in the morning, midday and in the evening and it is a call to pray the Angelus and give thanks to God for the gift of His son, Jesus, made possible by Mary's yes.

V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary,...

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord

R. Let it be done unto me according to thy word.

Hail Mary,...

V. And the Word was made flesh

R. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary,...

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord,

Thy grace into our hearts,

That we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son

was made known by the message of an angel,

may, by His Passion and Cross,

be brought to the glory of His Resurrection

Through the same Christ, Our Lord. Amen

8 - Advent Wreath - hope and expecation

CCC 524 When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Saviour's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming. By celebrating the precursor's birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: "He must increase, but I must decrease."

Advent is a time of preparation.  As well as the Advent wreath there are other customs used to celebrate this  season.  The following video lasts only 2 minutes and contains a useful summary.  It reminds us that Advent is not meant to be about shopping, stressing, planning and buying, but about expecting, waiting, hoping and praying.

Remember that during advent there will be details and activities organised by the Cathedral Children's Liturgy Team and weekly reflections.  If you'd like to let us know how you are spending Advent use the contact us page.

8 Advent Candles and Wreath

 Advent Candles on Ambo at Lancaster Cathedral

Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ into our lives anew at Christmas. The Advent Wreath is a circular evergreen wreath containing four candles, three purple and one pink, and a fifth white candle in the middle. For each of the four weeks of Advent, a new candle is lit and the fifth candle is lit on Christmas Day. Three of the four candles are purple because this is the colour for the penitential seasons of the Church's year – a time when we reflect on our lives in the light of God's love and say sorry to God for the times we have turned away from Him. The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent which is known as Gaudete or Rejoicing Sunday. The evergreen circle of the wreath reminds us that God's love has no beginning or end – it is everlasting.

During advent there will be details and activities organised by the Cathedral Children's Liturgy Team and weekly reflections.  In our Friday Photos of Faith we would  like to display photos of Advent wreaths and Advent calendars and hear about how families and schools are celebrating Advent.  

7 Hymn Books - beauty expressive of prayer

Lancaster Cathedral Ladies Choir rehearsing Lent 2012
Top right Damian Cathedral Musical Director
Mark playing organ Feast of Christ the King 2012

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) includes four paragraphs including the term music. We read about the liturgical action, as a source of prayer and for participation of those present.  Do you like to sing?  Do you prefer to listen to others?  What are your favourite hymns?  If you have a favourite hymn and would like to share why it is important and how it helps you to praise God, please use our contact sheet, we will include examples in the Cathedral parish blog.

CCC 1191 Song and music are closely connected with the liturgical action. The criteria for their proper use are the beauty expressive of prayer, the unanimous participation of the assembly, and the sacred character of the celebration.

View from organ loft of congregation singing 

CCC 1158 The harmony of signs (song, music, words, and actions) is all the more expressive and fruitful when expressed in the cultural richness of the People of God who celebrate. Hence "religious singing by the faithful is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises as well as in liturgical services," in conformity with the Church's norms, "the voices of the faithful may be heard." But "the texts intended to be sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine. Indeed they should be drawn chiefly from the Sacred Scripture and from liturgical sources."