DECEMBER 8, SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (A, B, C) Lectionary #689
Today's feast is about the conception of Mary, not about Mary's conception of Jesus. The conception of Mary by Anna as immaculate, that is, as free from original sin, is not taught in the Scriptures; it is a mystery that derives from her future role as the mother of the Lord. It is, in other words, a conclusion derived from the Church's understanding of who Jesus is and Mary's role as Theotokos, Mother of the Lord (see January 1). The readings, therefore, focus on Mary's relationship to Jesus and, indirectly, to the Church.
Genesis 3:9-15, 20. The story of the “original sin” was interpreted by the Church as suggesting that we are all bound by the failure of our first parents, subject to punishment for their sin. It became Church teaching that Mary was freed from this burden by a special gift of God to prepare her for her mission as the mother of Jesus. The Latin translation of this story gave Eve’s name as “Eva,” and made it possible for some Latin Christmas carols to pun that “Ave” (the angel's greeting to Mary) “fit ex Eva” (“Ave” was shaped from “Eva.”)
Psalm of the Day: Ps (97) 98
An “enthronement hymn,” celebrating the Lord as a king who has taken action on behalf of the nation and revealed the divine judgment before all the nations.
See also suggestions for Christmas Mass during the Day, below
Canten al Señor/Sing to the Lord (Alonso) SS
El Señor Revela a las Naciones: Respuesta II (Cortés) FYC 242
Sing to the Lord a New Song (Alstott) BB
Sing to the Lord a New Song (Bedford) SO 18/PRM A109/PMB 759
Sing to the Lord a New Song (Black) CBW 227
Sing to the Lord a New Song (Gelineau/Carroll) WOR 1060/RS 137/LPGG 1065
Sing to the Lord a New Song (Guimont) GC2 969/RS 136/LPMG 689
Sing to the Lord a New Song (Haas/Haugen/Kodner) RS 135/GC 95/GC2 55
Sing to the Lord a New Song (Schiavone) LP 213/JS 1065
Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12. Knowing how desperately humans would mess things up by misusing the gift of freedom, God planned to send Christ Jesus and to unite us to Christ. Passages like this led early Christian teachers to conclude that Mary, as part of that plan, would have been prepared by God.
Luke 1:26-38. Earlier (and somewhat inaccurate) translations of this announcement story were used to argue for Mary's freedom from sin. The Latin translations called her “gratia plena”—“full of grace”—and theologians argued that she could not be “full of grace” if she were subject to original sin. Our translation still identifies Mary as “full of grace,” but other modern English translations more accurately translate the Greek (e.g., as “highly favored one”), showing the problem with relying on “proof texts.” But the story, in any translation, certainly makes the point that Mary was a central part of God's plan to save humanity from its sin.
Songs for the Liturgy
*A Message Came to a Maiden Young (G) RS 478
All Who Claim the Faith of Jesus (G) RS 897GC 787
Alma Redemptoris Mater (G) JS 488
*Ave Maria (G) WOR 713/LMGM 95/WC 964/RS 896, 898/GC 785, 789/GC2 772, 774/JS 493, 504/MI‑BB/GP 429/PMB 532
*Behold, O Zion (E) IH 2
Canticle of the Turning (2) RS 678/GC 556/GC2 527
*Hail Mary (G) LMGM 98/GC 782/GC2 772, 779/RS 896/MI‑BB/PMB 528/WC 966, 980/WS
*Hail Mary: Gentle Woman (G) GP 426/JS 489/GC 782/GC2 779/MI‑BB/WC 966/WS
Highly Favored One (G) CBW 459
*Holy Mary, Full of Grace (G) CBW 461
*I Am for You, v 2 (G) GC 704/GC2 676
I Say "Yes," Lord/Digo "Si," Senor (G) RS 722/GC 597/GC2 581
I Sing a Maid (G) RS 899/GC 781/GC2 777/CBW 462
Immaculate Mary (G) WOR 708/GP 430/LMGM 99/CBW 463/WC 971/BB/RS 890/GC 790/GC2 783/JS 535/WS/PMB 530
*In God I Will Rejoice (E) IH 88
*Joy to You (G) PMB 526
*Let It Be Done to Us (G) MI-BB
Magnificat/Canticle of Mary (2) WOR 15, 87, 88, 534, 553/WC 208, 226, 452, 454, 837/MI‑BB/RS 17, 209, 210, 211, 656, 675/GP 163, 291, 292, 427, 428, 433, 434, 436/GC 14, 145, 146, 534, 788/GC2 13, 84, 522, 773, 782/CBW 14I, 575, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678/JS 11, 119, 120, 495, 501, 503, 505/PMB 9, 180, 181, 182/WS
*Mary, Full of Grace (G) MI‑BB
Mary, How Lovely the Light of Your Glory (G) WOR 711
*Mary, Woman of the Promise (G) CBW 465/JS 496/MI-BB
*No Wind at the Window (G) RS 876/GC 768
O Holy Mary (G) MI‑BB/JS 494
O Sanctissima RS 900/GC 780/GC2 775/WOR 712/CBW 468/WC 978/WS/JS 500/PMB 533/MI-BB
Praise We the Lord This Day (G) GC 777/GC2 769/RS 877/WOR 696/JS 512
Savior of the Nations, Come (G) WOR 372/BB/RS 480/GC 334/GC2 348/WC 469/JS 321
Servant of the Word (G) CBW 467
She Will Show Us the Promised One (G) WC 977/PMB 539
Sing of Mary (G) WOR 404/GP 432/LMGM 100/WC 975/MI‑BB/RS 528/GC 783/GC2 778/JS 490/WS/PMB 538
Sing We of the Blessed Mother (G) WOR 714/RS 895/GC 786/GC2 776/JS 491
Sion, Sing (G) RS 532
Stainless the Maiden (2) WC 967
*The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came (G) WOR 695/CBW 316/GP 441/JS 513/BB
The God Whom Earth and Sea and Sky (G) JS 514/CBW 464/WOR 405
| Title of Anthem, Voicing & Instrumentation | Composer/arranger/editor | Publisher & edition # | |
| And Mary Said to the Angel (SATB) | Hassler, Hans Leo/Bichsel, M. | Concordia (98-1960) | G |
| Angel Gabriel, The (Basque Carol) (SATB) | Schroeder | Concordia (98-2381) | G |
| Annunciation, The (SATB) Annunciation, The (SATB, Soprano, Tenor, soli, 3 Violins, Viola & Continuo) |
Christiansen, P. Schütz, Heinrich |
Augsburg (1124) J. Fischer (8999) |
G |
| Ave, Ave, the Angel Sang (SATB, Organ) | Lau, Robert | Wayne Leupold (WL 100016) | G |
| Ave Maria (SATB) Ave Maria (SATB) |
Aquilanti Caccini |
E.C. Schurmer GIA |
G |
| Behold the Handmaid of the Lord (SSA) | Goodman, Joseph | Merrymount (Mc 440) | G |
| Blessed Be the Father (SATB) | Christiansen, Paul | AMSI (200) | 2 |
| Cantate Domino (Unison/2-part with Keyboard) | Bedford, Michael | Choristers Guild (CGA 689) | P |
| Canticle of Celebration, A (SATB, Organ, opt. Brass) | Young, Gordon | Carl Fischer (CM 7792) | E |
| Diffusa Est Gratia | Nanini | CPDL | G |
| Dixit Maria (SATB, Latin) Dixit Maria (SATB, Latin/English) Dixit Maria (SATB, Latin) Dixit Maria (SATB, Latin) |
Hassler, Hans Leo Hassler, Hans Leo Hassler, Hans Leo Hassler, Hans Leo |
Arista (AE 288) J. Fischer (9679) J. W. Chester (JWC 55110) CPDL |
G |
| Dixit Maria ad Angelum (SATB, a capella) | Thompson, J. Michael (ed.) | World Library (WLP 005791) | G |
| Ecce Concipies (SATB, a cappella, Latin) Ecce Concipies (SATB, a cappella, Latin/English) Ecce Concipies (SATB, a cappella, Latin) Ecce Concipies (SATB, a cappella, Latin) |
Handl, Jacob Handl, Jacob/Simkins, Carl Handl, Jacob Handl, Jacob |
Arista (AE 243) Concordia (98-2244) J.W. Chester (55107) CPDL |
G G G G |
| Gabriel’s Message (SSA, Keyboard) | Prower | Concordia (98-3634) | G |
| God Chose Us in Christ (SATB, Solo, Piano, Organ, Keyboard) | Hutmacher, OFM, Robert M. | GIA (G-3101) | 2 |
| Hymn to the Queen of Heaven | Healey | E.C. Schirmer | G |
| I Sing A Maid (SATB, keyboard) | Ridge, M.D./Joncas, Michael | G | |
| I Will Greatly Rejoice (SATB) I Will Greatly Rejoice (SATB, Keyboard) |
Nystedt, Knut Butler, Eugene |
Hinshaw (HMC 226) Carl Fischer (CM 8118) |
E |
| I Will Greatly Rejoice in the Lord (Unison, w/descant, Organ) | Young, Phililp M. | Concordia (98-3093) | E |
| I Will Rejoice in the Lord (SSAA, Piano) | Van Vleck, J. | Carl Fischer (CM 7956) | E |
| Immaculate Mary, Lourdes Hymn (SATB, Organ) | Arr. by Daniel Laginya | GIA (G-3179) | G |
| In Venisti Enim Gratiam (SATB, Latin/English) | Victoria, Tomas Luis | G. Schirmer (11966) | G |
| King of Glory, King of Peace (SATB) | Stearns, P. Pindar | Paraclete (PPM 9901) | 2 |
| Magnificat (SSA) | R. Thompson arr. Seitz | E. C. Schirmer | G |
| Make a Joyful Noise (SATB, a cappella, finger cymbals, tambourine) | Kirk, Theron | Hope (A-533) | P |
| Make a Joyful Noise (2-part treble) | Roff, Joseph | Concordia (98-2957) | P |
| Messenger to Ephesus (SATB, Keyboard) | Butler, Eugene | Hope (EB 9205) | 2 |
| Missus est Gabriel (SSAA) | Morales, Cristobal/Goodale, R. | G. Schirmer (11147) | G |
| Ne Timeas Maria (SATB) Ne Timeas Maria (SATB) Ne Timeas Maria (SATB) |
Victoria, Tomas Luis/Washington, H. Victoria, Tomas Luis Victoria, Tomas Luis |
Alexander Broude (ABC-6) J.W. Chester (55110) CPDL |
G |
| O For a Thousand Tongues (SATB, Sop. & Bass Soli, Organ, opt. Brass) | Beck, John Ness | Gentry (G-308) | P |
| O Mary of All Women from “2 Hymns in the Dorian Mode” (SATB, a capella) | Jenkins, Joseph Wilcox(arr.) | World Library (WLP CA-1681-8) | G |
| O Sanctissima | Beethoven/Thatcher | MSM | G |
| O Sing Unto the Lord (SATB, Soprano Solo, Flute, Horn, Organ) O Sing Unto the Lord (SATB, Double Bass) O Sing Unto the Lord (SATB, Organ) O Sing Unto the Lord (TBB, Organ) |
Henderson, Ruth Watson Zimmerman, H. Huston, John Dello Joio, N. |
Oxford (94.236) Chantry Music H.W. Gray (2301) Carl Fischer (CM 7138) |
P |
| O Sing Unto the Lord a New Song (SATB, Bass solo, Organ, Brass Quartet) O Sing Unto the Lord a New Song (SA, keyboard) |
Willan, Healy Willan, Healy |
C.F. Peters (6016) Concordia (97-9760) |
P |
| Psalm 98 (2-part, Orff instr.) Psalm 98 (SA, Organ) Psalm 98 (SATB) Psalm 98 (SATB, a cappella) Psalm 98 (SATB, Trumpet) Psalm 98 (SATB/SATB) Psalm 98 (SATB/SATB) Psalm 98 (SATB/SATB, German only) Psalm 98 (TBB, Piano or Brass Quintet) Psalm 98 (Unison, Keyboard) Psaume XCVIII (SSATB, a cappella) |
Maeker Nelson, Ron Bourgeois, Louis/Van Halsema, Dick Distler, Hugo Martinson, Joel Schütz, Heinrich/Kaplan, A Schütz, Heinrich/Wullner, F. Schütz, Heinrich Crawford, John Marshall, Jane Gallus, Jacobus |
Concordia (98-3038) Augsburg (11-1634) Carl Fischer (CM 6982) Arista (AE 110) Concordia (98-3225) Mills (60829) G. Schirmer (5962) Barenreiter (2398) Oxford (94.102) Choristers Guild (CGA 427) Galaxy |
P |
| Rejoice in the Lord (SATB, Organ) | Haan, Raymond | Augsburg (11-0675) | P |
| Shout Joyfully (Unison, 2-part, Keyboard) | Rentz, Earlene | Choristers Guild (CGA 1004) | P |
| Sing a Joyful Song in Praise (SSATBB, Bass Solo, Organ) | Wood, Dale | Hall & McCreary (1710) | P |
| Sing a New Song (SATB/SATB, English/German) Sing a New Song (SATB/SATB) |
Pachelbel, J./Sateren, Leland Pachelbel, J./Ehret, Walter |
AMSI (329) Hinshaw (HMC 297) |
P |
| Sing a New Song to the Lord (Unison, Piano or Organ) | Wills, Arthur | Novello (A-1453) | P |
| Sing to the Lord (2-part, Organ) Sing to the Lord (Unison/2-part, Keyboard) |
Hughes, Howard Owens, Sam Batt |
GIA (G-2011) GIA (G-4717) |
P |
| Sing to the Lord a Brand New Song (SATB, English, German) | Schütz, Heinrich | GIA (G-1790) | P |
| Sing to the Lord a New Song (2-part mixed) | Pachelbel, J./Braun, Wm. | Concordia (98-3151) | P |
| Thanksgiving Hymn from Ephesus (SATB, Solo, Keyboard) | Hansen, James | GIA (G-4636) | 2 |
| Tota Pulchra Es Tota Pulchra Es |
Bruckner di Lasso |
CPDL CPDL |
G G |
| Visitation Carol, MIDDLEBURY (2-part, triangle) | Schulz-Widmar, Russell (arr.) | GIA (G-4740) | G |
| Within the Vale of Eden (SATB, a cappella) |
Clemens, James E. (arr.) | World Library (008715) | G, 1 |