Last Friday December 4th, a prayer service for St. Nicholas Day with Archbishop Cordileone and the Benedict XVI Schola was livestreamed from the Main Chapel at St. Patrick's Seminary. Sponsored by the Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine Liturgy, their own Rebekah Wu led a four-person schola to deliver a hauntingly beautiful program.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event was closed to people outside the campus and severe social distancing restrictions were implemented. The schola needed to sing in sanctuary (see the photos below). They delivered a wonderful music program that included:
Lauds Hymn for St. Nicholas (a cappella)
THEME: Luke 21: 25-33 – 1st Sunday of Advent
- Creator alma siderunt (Gregorian chant)
- The Eyes of All (Jean Berger – c.1909-2002)
THEME: Baruch 4:36-5:5 – 2nd Sunday of Advent
- Jerusalem, Surge (Heinrich Isaac - c.1450-1517)
- People Look East (Stephen Carcciolo – b.1962)
THEME: Philippians 4:4-7 – Gaudete Sunday
- Veni, Veni Emmanuel (Gregorian chant)
- On Jordan’s Bank (Coffin/Monk)
THEME: Luke 1:26-55 & Isaiah 7:14 – 4th Sunday of Advent
- Magnificat (Mariano Garau b.1952)
- Ave Maria (Frank La Rocca b.1951 w/ B16 Schola )
- There is No Rose of Such Virtue (Philip Stopford b.1977 w/ B16 Schola)
Final Prayer
Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae (B16 Schola w/ Archbishop chanting Oremus in Latin; Chant melody was first compiled by Dom Charpentier, O.S.B. – c.1700 AD)
Alma Redemptoris (gregorian chant)
Please enjoy some slides from "behind the scene" on the challenges of putting on this livestream event. We pray that we will be able to resume our normal St. Nicholas Prayer service in 2021.
