Sacred Music

Lumen ad Revelationem Gentium - Explained

The feast of Candlemas is a feast of pure light. Fr. Jacob guides us through the antiphon sung on this holy day.

The O Antiphons, Explained

The height of penance and prayer during the Season of Advent is marked, in part, by the O Antiphons. Fr. Jacob takes us through each of the O Antiphons and explains how these ancient chants draw us into deeper devotion as Christmas draws near.

The Coventry Carol

Originally a medieval carol performed during the Mystery Plays of Coventry, this English carol depicting the account of the massacre of the Holy Innocents from the Gospel of Matthew has since become a Christmas classic. The hauntingly somber melody and heart-breaking lyrics evoke a spirit of mourning amidst the otherwise jubilant spirit of the Christmas octave. The song recalls the women of Bethlehem bidding farewell to their children who are about to be slaughtered by decree of King Herod.

Alma Redemptoris Mater

The Marian antiphon “Alma Redemptoris Mater” is sung at the end of the canonical hour of Compline from the first Sunday of Advent until after second Vespers of the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord, February 2. The text is attributed to Blessed Hermannus of Reichenau (1013-1054), a Benedictine monk and scholar of the 11th century.

Ecce Virgo - An Original Composition

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Imman'u-el." This text is one of the clearest Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament.

The First Chant of the Year

The Church teaches us how to pray through chant. The famous "Ad Te Levavi" chant helps orient us toward heaven during Advent.

Advent Lessons and Carols 2022

Although it had its origins in Protestantism, Lessons and Carols is a custom which has also been adapted by many Catholic churches, especially as a way to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas.

Lo! He Comes, with Clouds Descending

Lo! He Comes, with Clouds Descending is one of the most triumphant hymns of the Advent season. The text, composed by the great hymn-writer Charles Wesley (d. 1788), takes its inspiration from various passages of sacred Scripture which speak of Christ's second coming.

A Few Important Chants as We Begin Advent

The Church year starts not with January 1, but with the first Sunday of Advent, a period anticipating the Nativity of the Lord. Our salvation is at hand, and we must prepare for it with a season of joyful anticipation, and yes, some penance as well.

Christmas at St. Michael’s Abbey

Anthology: Chants & Polyphony

Anthology: Chants and Polyphony from St. Michael’s Abbey