On "Ashes"

Over at the Ignatius Insight Scoop, Carl Olson addresses an incorrect lyric in a popular hymn that happens to be on my unofficial forbidden list: "Ashes."

I'm happy to say that - by my request - the song was not sung this year in either of my parishes for the very reason Carl addresses.

In honor of the day

The favorite song of Saint Anthony of Padua, which he sang on his deathbed, was O Gloriosa Virginum. Translated into English, it sings something like this:

O Glorious Virgin Mary, exalted far above the heavens,

you nursed your Creator as your very own child.

What was sadly lost through Adam and Eve

you have restored through the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

You opened the doors of heaven to us

who cry out from here below.

Through you came heaven's exalted King,

through you shone the Light of our Salvation, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Give praise all you nations redeemed by Christ,

for Jesus, our life, given through the Virgin Mary.

Glory to you, Lord Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary,

to the Father and the Life-Giving Spirit, for age upon age unending. Amen.

Favorite Hymns Meme

The Roving Medievalist has exacted a bit of revenge for my tagging him for the Book Meme by tagging me for the Favorite Hymns Meme.

This is no easy task! Sadly, though, I can say that we do not sing too many of them very often at all.

At any rate, here goes, in no particular order (Christmas hymns, of course, are excepted):

1. All People that on Earth Do Dwell

2. Lift High the Cross

3. All Creatures of Our God and King

4. Lord, You Give the Great Commission

5. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

6. For All the Saints

7. Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven

8. For the Beauty of the Earth

9. What Wondrous Love Is This

10. Where Charity and Love Prevail

Having too many to chose from, I've added five more than requested.

I hereby tag Thom of Ad Dominum, Barb of and my soul shall live for him, Megan of Musings of Faith, and - to find out about the other side of the world - Andrew of Unam Sanctam.

The statue of Saint Cecilia comes from the choir loft of Saint Francis Solanus parish in Quincy, Illinois. She stands in front of the organ pipes, which are painted with an Alpha on the one side and an Omega on the other.