Gregorio Allegri - "Miserere Mei, Deus"

English translation

Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness
According to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences.
Wash me throughly from my wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me.
Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified in Thy saying, and clear when Thou art judged.
Behold, I was shapen in wickedness: and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts: and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness: that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice.
Turn Thy face from my sins: and put out all my misdeeds.
Make me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence: and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
O give me the comfort of Thy help again: and establish me with Thy free Spirit.
Then shall I teach Thy ways unto the wicked: and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou that art the God of my health: and my tongue shall sing of Thy righteousness.
Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth shall shew Thy praise.
For Thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it Thee: but Thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt Thou not despise.
O be favourable and gracious unto Sion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations: then shall they offer young calves upon Thine altar.

Living Holy Week: Holy Thursday - Cardinal Rigali

Pange Lingua

Pange Lingua Gloriosi Corporis Mysterium is an evocative hymn written by St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) for the Feast of Corpus Christi. It is also sung on Holy Thursday, during the procession from the church to the place where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved until Good Friday. The hymn expresses the doctrine of transubstantiation, in which the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ.

Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory,

of His flesh the mystery sing;

of the Blood, all price exceeding,

shed by our immortal King,

destined, for the world's redemption,

from a noble womb to spring.

Of a pure and spotless Virgin

born for us on earth below,

He, as Man, with man conversing,

stayed, the seeds of truth to sow;

then He closed in solemn order

wondrously His life of woe.

On the night of that Last Supper,

seated with His chosen band,

He the Pascal victim eating,

first fulfills the Law's command;

then as Food to His Apostles

gives Himself with His own hand.

Word-made-Flesh, the bread of nature

by His word to Flesh He turns;

wine into His Blood He changes;

what though sense no change discerns?

Only be the heart in earnest,

faith her lesson quickly learns.

Down in adoration falling,

Lo! the sacred Host we hail;

Lo! o'er ancient forms departing,

newer rites of grace prevail;

faith for all defects supplying,

where the feeble senses fail.

To the everlasting Father,

and the Son who reigns on high,

with the Holy Ghost proceeding

forth from Each eternally,

be salvation, honor, blessing,

might and endless majesty.

Amen. Alleluia.

Reading Phoenix Choir - "Ride On, Ride On in Majesty!"

Moscow Boys Choir/Cathedral Choir - "Let My Prayer Rise Up" - Tchesnokov

'Let my prayer rise up to thee as the incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.'
Psalm 140, 1-4

This chant is performed on Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent in the liturgy of the Russian Orthodox Church. It expresses the striving of the soul to raise its voice to God.

The Orthodox Church observes four major Lenten periods each year. Of these, the most important and significant is Great Lent preceding Easter and lasting for seven weeks. A Lenten period comes before any of the major feasts of the Church as an opportunity to spiritually prepare for the fullness of the feast and to appreciate its significance.

Living Lent: The Fifth Sunday - Cardinal Rigali

Living Lent: The Fourth Sunday - Cardinal Rigali

How do you Live Lent faithfully? Cardinal Justin Rigali, the Archbishop of Philadelphia, gives a brief reflection on the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

A Lenten Reflection: "The Ways of the Desert"

A Lenten Reflection: "It Took Forty Days"

Living Lent: The Second Sunday - Cardinal Rigali