The past few days, and yesterday's post, have felt like all trick, and no treat. As Jean pointed out in a comment, today's feast day celebrates our friends in heaven who intercede for us. The feast is an antidote to the ugliness which seems to be pervasive. Then-Cardinal Ratzinger is quoted as saying that the canonized saints are only the tip of the iceberg of the unsung blessed among us.
I have shared this video before. I like it for the visual images of the tapestries of All Saints which are displayed in the cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. But mostly I like it for the idea that the saints, both in heaven and right here, are among us.
Saints and Beloved of God - YouTube
I have updated the post to include some more songs about saints:
The next two are courtesy of Jean:
This one is a cute children's song from the Episcopalian tradition.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhjz4lyYSsU
This one is a peaceful and serene Latin chant version of the Litany of the Saints.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FvdB-_VVF-M
This one is a Mormon classic which I like. The video footage makes me think of my own pioneer forebearers:
Come, Come, Ye Saints | The Tabernacle Choir - YouTube
And last but not least, For All the Saints, to the tune Sine Nomine
For All the Saints youtube - Yahoo Search Results Video Search Results
If anyone else has saintly favorites, I would be glad to include them.
Here is one more, from the Norwegian Lutheran tradition, Behold a Host Arrayed in White: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B-_-rXYe_x0
Yes, I do love that tapestry.
ReplyDeleteHere's some kids singing one of my favorites from my Episcopalian days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhjz4lyYSsU
That’s my very favorite for All Saints.
DeleteIt's a very English hymn, "cheerful and encouraging," as they would say:
DeleteThey lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea,
in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea;
for the saints of God are just folk like me,
and I mean to be one too.
Jean, the first time I heard it was at the funeral of an English friend, long before I switched to the EC parish. Her husband was working for one of the international organization in DC. She was my age, only 42, mother of four. The youngest was 3. I remember when she was pregnant with him, telling me that they had decided on one more before getting too old -before hitting 40. When she was diagnosed with cancer, she was told that she had only 6-12 weeks or so. She fought for 9 months, during which time she essentially arranged for a new wife for her husband, and mother for her kids ( her best friend from England, who came to stay with them for the last several months of her life and later married her husband), read books to her children, and recorded her readings, told them stories of her life, and their families, and stories about each of them individually and how much she loved them, all video recorded, and did several other things to help her family with losing her, including planning her own funeral. She chose that hymn as part of the funeral liturgy, and it is a perfect reflection of who she was - one if the hundreds of thousands of saints that are still with us in this world.
DeleteVerse 3 is my favorite verse in the hymn. Years later, I heard it again at an All Saints liturgy at our new EC parish and now have it saved.
Hymns we hear at funerals are sometimes the ones that stick with us.
DeleteI am glad your friend was able to leave things for her children. Cancer groups and hospice really encourage that now.
Oh, here's my favorite litany that you asked for below: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FvdB-_VVF-M
ReplyDeleteThanks Jean!
ReplyDeleteYou can see images of the Our Lady of the Angels tapestries starting here: https://www.olacathedral.org/tapestries
ReplyDeleteHere's an agnostic's song for All Saints Day and All Souls Day—Let the Mystery Be by Iris DeMent.
ReplyDeleteThanks, David. This one has an agnostic cast to it also. https://youtu.be/w9H3qPqJ3uI
DeleteDavid, I'm excited that you are possibly an Iris DeMent fan!
DeleteWe didn't sing John Becker's Litany of the Saints at the mass I attended last night - and several people expressed disappointment. I think it's fairly well-known, and may have been linked to already, above or in previous years. Here is it, in case anyone is interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaWRPjNztTs
ReplyDeleteBecker also has written a Litany for a Funeral Procession which could be quite appropriate for All Souls Day today. But I struck out trying to find a recording to share - I guess it's not as popular as his Litany of the Saints.
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DeleteI've heard that version at ordinations, it's very moving. I am remembering that handbells were the accompaniment.
DeleteA bit too contemporary for my taste, but whatever reminds people that the saints are around is good in my book.
Delete