07 April 2009

EWTN

Today during the preparation of the gifts, the cantor sang a lovely piece: "O Dearest Jesus." I love it when a Lutheran chorale is sung on that broadcast. As I said before, somehow, somewhere, deep down, the unity of the Western Church still holds - and shows up in such moments.

15 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:48 PM

    One of the Lutheran chorales that has always been dearest to my heart.

    I remember it as "Ah, Holy Jesus" from childhood. Same one, yes?

    That's one area I have to give credit to EWTN. They use the Adoremus Hymnal which contains some of the finest Christian music across the centuries.

    No Marty Haugen and St. Louis Jesuits for them.

    Christine

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  2. Yes, Christine, one and the same: Herzliebster Jesu.

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  3. What punishment so strange is suffered yonder?
    The Shepherd dies for sheep that loved to wander.
    The Master pays the debt His servant owes Him,
    Who would not know Him.

    The sinless Son of God must die in sadness;
    the sinful child of man may live in gladness;
    Man forfeited his lift and is acquitted;
    God is committed.

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  4. P.S. I really appreciated the writing from Hugh of St. Victor today in the Treasury. What did you think of it?

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  5. Anonymous10:14 PM

    Hugh of St. Victor was wonderful! Very evangelical and catholic, I'd say! Indeed rites and ceremonies when sanctified by the Word of God are most edifying for the Church.

    Christine

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  6. Anonymous6:50 AM

    Pastor Weedon
    I love your blog although new so I do not know insider speak. What is AV and what is EWTN? Thanks

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  7. EWTN: Eternal Word Television Network. Basically the Roman Catholic channel. :)

    Pr. Weedon, did he sing all 15 verses?

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  8. Anonymous11:33 AM

    Poor EWTN. Tries very hard to be the paradigm of "continuity" with the preconcilar church but doesn't quite make it.

    At one time the U.S. bishops wanted to take it over but Mother Angelica, the Poor Clare nun who founded it would have none of it, realizing the direction it would take. Her public dispute with the current Archbishop of Los Angeles, Roger Mahony, was all over the news a few years ago. As far as I know EWTN receives no support from the U.S. hierarchy (some of whom consider it a thorn in the side), it is all privately funded.

    For Catholics who are devotees of endless rosaries, devotions to the Sacred Heart, Immaculate Heart, St. Michael the Archangel and especially the Fatima apparition, papal decrees and numerous other devotional practices it's right up their alley.

    Christine

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  9. Hi Anon -- it's a busy week for pastors, maybe an old elder can help.

    AV stands for Authorised Version. Basically that means the King James Bible.

    The thing is, the KJV wasn't just one text. Due to publishing at the time, both the technology itself and what we call now outsourcing, as well as some first class fights over who would do it, the KJV existed in lots of variations and didn't really get to what we call the KJV until 1769, quite some time after the publication of the KJV in 1611.

    Pastor is referring to one of the KJV versions before what we now call the KJV.

    "Authorised" comes from being authorised by the English government for use in English state churches -- so far as I know, having no jurisdiction in either the US or LCMS!

    EWTN, as Chritine notes, is not an official Catholic thing, and in fact is quite resisted in some corners of Catholic officialdom, so it cannot be taken as either official or representative.

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  10. Mike Bryant2:14 PM

    I only have a vague notion of what a cantor is. Can you elaborate?

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  11. I have come to the conclusion that the folks behind EWTN are somewhat equivalent in the Roman Church to what the Confessional Lutheran Blogosphere/New Media is to the Lutheran communions - only we are right (obviously) and much poorer.

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  12. The Cantor is the person responsible with helping the Congregation sing - and he may or may not lead a choir. Many times on EWTN they have a cantor only; many times at St. Paul's we have a cantor only (who sings the Introit, Gradual, alleluia verse).

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  13. Dear Anon,

    Sorry for the abbreviations! Others have answered for me, though, and I am appreciative of that.

    Terry,

    I have a copy of the 1611 - original spellings and all. I love it!

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  14. Mike Bryant4:04 PM

    So, the cantor sings the congregational response / petitions?

    Sounds kinda like a baptist songleader?

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  15. Not exactly. He is the choir reduced to one or the leader of the choir. But the choir's liturgy is distinct from the congregation's music and song.

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