Our world is full of distractions. We have responsibilities, obligations, and a bevy of other expectations constantly vying for our limited attention, energy, and time. But, as a gift to her children, the Church has generously given us a season each liturgical year to cut through these distractions with penance and reorder our hearts, minds, and priorities towards the heavenly voices from above instead of the wailings of world. Christ calls out to us, "Take up your cross and follow me," and we are invited to travel with Him along the road to Calvary, to tithe a tenth of a year's time; through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving; and unite our efforts, our little crosses, with His. As a language of God, I firmly believe that music can help us in these endeavors.
To help create a more penitential atmosphere in our homes that drowns out the noise of the world and focus on the sacrifice of Christ this season I've shared some of my favorite music of Lent in the form of a one musical piece a day Lenten calendar. You can use the following Lenten playlist and downloadable calendar to join us for each day's suggested listening.
Your family is free to play the day's piece at any time, but here are a few ideas for inspiration:
- During a meal
- During Morning Time ("Morning Liturgy")
- During your daily commute
- During your children's play time
- During bath time
- During nap time
- During afternoon tea
- During your family's bed time ritual
The possibilities are endless.
The daily selections are pulled from varying musical eras, medieval to modern, and include differing types of works from a wide range of composers and genres. Echoing the pattern presented in the Holy Triduum, on Thursdays the chosen piece will be in honor of the Eucharist in remembrance of its institution at the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, while on Fridays our highlighted work will be an invitation to more deeply meditate on the temporal sufferings of Christ throughout the events of His Passion. In concurrence with their usual dedication, on Saturdays we will turn to Our Lady and in doing so our designated listening will be an opportunity to ponder her grief at the foot of the cross.
To participate in this devotion, you can click on the provided links to be taken to a youtube recording for each day's listening selection, download the digital calendar with links to reuse year after year, or use the Spotify playlist for free listening anytime. I pray this devotion is a blessing to your family this Lent!
What music does your family listen to during Lent? I'd love to read about it in the comments!
Pax,
Genie
Ash Wednesday Week
Miserere Mei, Deus by Gregorio Allegri
“O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden” from St. Matthew's Passion by J. S. Bach
“God So Loved the World” from The Crucifixion by John Stainer
"Stabat Mater Dolorosa" from Stabat Mater by Domenico Scarlatti
Week 1
Angelis Suis by Johann Joseph Fux
Remember Not Lord our Offences by Henry Purcell
“O Vos Omnes” from the Tenebrae Responsories by Tomás Luis de Victoria
"Troisième Leçon De Ténèbres À 2 Voix" from The Leçons de Ténèbres pour le Mercredi Saint by François Couperin
Ave Verum Corpus by Francis Poulenc
Agnus Dei by Samuel Barber
Lament of the Mother of God by John Tavener
Week 2
"Ne Irascaris Domine" from Ne Irascaris Domine by William Byrd
God Be in My Head by John Rutter
"Kyrie" from Requiem in D minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
"O Lamm Gottes, Unschuldig" from Orgelbüchlein by J. S. Bach
Nos Autem Gloriari by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Crux Fidelis by King John IV of Portugal
Drop, Drop Slow Tears by Orlando Gibbons
Week 3
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree by Elizabeth Poston
Lamentations of Jeremiah 1 by Thomas Tallis
Lamentations of Jeremiah 2 by Thomas Tallis
Wash Me Throughly by G. F. Handel
Pange Lingua Gloriosi by St. Thomas Aquinas & Anonymous
Christus Factus Est No. 3 by Anton Bruckner
"O Quam Tristis" Stabat Mater by Alessandro Scarlatti
Laetare Week
Rejoice in the Lord Alway by Henry Purcell
Sicut Cervus by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Media Vita in Morte Sumus by Henri du Mont
Salvator Mundi by John Blow
O Sacrum Convivium by Olivier Messiaen
"Crucifixus" from Mass in B minor by J. S. Bach
Ave Regina Caelorum by Michael Haydn
Week 5
"Vater, Vergib Ihnen" from The Seven Last Words of Christ by Joseph Haydn
Ubi Caritas Et Amor by Maurice Duruflé
"Surely He Hath Borne our Griefs" from Messiah by G. F. Handel
Vide Homo, Quae Pro Te Patior by Orlando di Lassus
O Salutaris Hostia by Giaochino Rossini
“The Crown of Roses” from Sixteen Songs for Children by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Stabat Mater by Antonio Lucio Vivaldi
Holy Week
Hosanna to the Son of David by Orlando Gibbons
Repentir (O Divine Redeemer) by Charles Gounod
Improperia (The Reproaches) by Tomás Luis de Victoria
If Ye Love Me by Thomas Tallis
Ave Verum Corpus by William Byrd
"Vidit Suum Dulcem Natum" from Stabat Mater by Giovanni Pergolesi
"Quando Corpus Morietur" from Stabat Mater by Antonín Dvořák
