Mysterium

Guess I missed posting this during Advent...it is almost Epiphany now.  I love this music, so I will share this old post I never published.



For those of us who celebrate Advent--the season of waiting and preparation before Christmas--tomorrow will be the first Sunday of Advent.  In the Episcopal Church we do not sing traditional Christmas carols in church until Christmas Day (and after for the twelve days of the Christmas season).   However, 12 days for all these beautiful hymns is just not long enough for me, so

I found myself singing this morning--at the top of my voice--one of my fav-o-rites from my Murrah Singers days, "O Magnum Mysterium."  I decided I wanted to sing along with the choir, so I put on the album ;-)  Yes, I still have a copy, AND I still have a turntable.

Listening to "O Holy Night"  for the first time this year, I was moved to tears and to my knees.  What else can I do when faced with such love--that He would humble himself to become like us to show us the way? 

The season of Advent (time of preparation and waiting) begins Sunday.  I am praying I will slow down instead of speed up like the world says I should this time of year.  I am praying I will intentionally love and give my best to those I hold dear...and to those I don't.  I am praying that Christ's love will flourish in my heart--and that I can truly rest in the truth that "the joy of the LORD is my strength"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O3aCCGjuvY

O Magnum Mysterium is a responsorial chant from the Matins of Christmas.


Latin text

O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
Alleluia.

English translation

O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!