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On 27 November 2015, Orthodox Vesper service was celebrated for the first time in history at the Cologne Cathedral during the autumn session of the Orthodox Episcopal Conference in Germany. Over one thousand worshippers from the Orthodox communities of Cologne and the neighboring cities attended. The Cologne Cathedral is unique church; its main sanctuary was consecrated in September 1322 on the site on which the believers used to gather for prayers even in the first centuries of Christianity. The celebration of an Orthodox service became possible thanks to friendly support by Dompropst Gerd Bachner and Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, Archbishop...

Lost Liturgies File and an Invitation: Solemn Sunday Vespers By: Msgr. Charles Pope One of the fixtures of larger parish churches prior to the last century was the singing of Vespers (evening prayer) on Sunday afternoons. Prior to the 1950s, Masses were not permitted to be celebrated after 12:00 noon and thus the concept of a Sunday (or Saturday) evening Mass was unknown. Some very beautiful music, indeed some of the greatest music of the Church, was composed for Sunday Vespers. Best known is the 1610 Vespers of Claudio Monteverdi (Vespro della Beata Vergine). Monteverdi (a Catholic priest and composer) also composed the...

While the world has already been celebrating a very secular "christmas" since before the Thanksgiving holiday, Christians ought not get caught up in the emptiness of it all.  Easter is now about bunnies and Christmas about buying and giving extravagant, and sometimes mountains of gifts for others.  Some will give to God what little time is left over, and other believers will give Him virtually not time at all.  Wtihin moderation, there is nothing wrong with gift giving.  But that should come secondary to something else.....  We must all ask ourselves if the practice of our faith revolves around our lives or...

On Saturday 9 May 2009, during his apostolic journey to the Holy Land, the Holy Father celebrated Vespers at the Greek-Melkite Cathedral of St. George in Amman, with the clergy, religious, seminarians and members of ecclesial movements. Dear Brothers and Sisters, It is a great joy for me to celebrate Vespers with you this evening in the Greek-Melkite Cathedral of Saint George. I warmly greet His Beatitude Gregorios III Laham, the Greek Melkite Patriarch, who has joined us from Damascus, Emeritus Archbishop Georges El-Murr and His Excellency Yaser Ayyach, Archbishop of Petra and Philadelphia, whom I thank for his kind...

“The Light Shines in the Darkness” (John 1:5)Tonight we are doing the traditional Good Friday evening service called “Tenebrae.” The Latin word, “tenebrae,” means “shadows” or “darkness.” This is the Service of the Shadows, the Service of Darkness--increasing darkness, as the service goes along. This reminds us of the darkness that came over the land when Christ was hanging on the cross, the great darkness that occurred when the author of life was put to death. And then his lifeless body was placed in the tomb, and night fell, and all was darkness and shadows. The loud noise at the...

Thanks to a reader tip, the NLM can inform you of a wonderful and rare opportunity for listener's who cannot visit London to hear sung Vespers live from the London Oratory today at 11:00AM EST (4:00PM BST) via BBC Radio 3's Choral Evensong programme. From the London Oratory. Organ Prelude: Intonatio del settimo tono (Andrea Gabrieli) Invitatory: Deu in adjutorium meum (Croce) Antiphons and Psalms: 110, 111, 112, 113, 117 (Plainsong) Hymn: Iste confessor (Palestrina) Antiphon: Hic vir despiciens (Plainsong) Canticle: Magnificat octavi toni (Victoria) Motet: O viridissima virga (Hildegard of Bingen) Antiphon of Our Lady: Salve Regina (Philips) Organ...

Benedict XVI's Address to the U.S. BishopsBasilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Washington, D.C., April 16, 2008 * * * Dear Brother Bishops, It gives me great joy to greet you today, at the start of my visit to this country, and I thank Cardinal George for the gracious words he has addressed to me on your behalf. I want to thank all of you, especially the Officers of the Episcopal Conference, for the hard work that has gone into the preparation of this visit. My grateful appreciation goes also to the staff and volunteers of the...

Dear Brothers and Sisters,As we celebrate the Octave of Christmas and the Feast of the Holy Innocents, we again focus our attention on Psalm 138. This hymn of praise proposes a theme that deeply resonates with the spirit of Christmas, when we commemorate the great mystery of the Son of God made man for our salvation. The second part of this psalm offers a meditation on God's all-encompassing loving gaze upon human beings. In order to describe the divine action within a mother's womb, the psalmist refers to classic biblical images. In particular, we see the Creator represented as a...

For those who missed it, this is the first time the Holy Father has celebrated First Vespers with a worldwide broadcast. It's becoming evident (IMHO) that he is using the media to draw in an audience to witness the Cathoic liturgy as he believes it should be celebrated. And what a magnificent and beautiful celebration we witnessed today. The announcer reminded listeners that Pope Benedict XVI has enacted norms to ensure the Basilica of St. Peter's provides respectful silence at all times. The Holy Father processed in wearing a magnificent new cope, more evidence of his intention to restore the...

Saturday November 11am Live Saturday November 3:30pm Encore 

Why do priests use incense at Mass? — A reader in AlexandriaIncense is an aromatic substance which is the resin from certain trees. When burned over charcoal, the incense produces a sweet smelling aroma. To make the smoke thicker and to enhance the fragrance, sometimes other perfumes are blended with the incense.The use of incense in the ancient world was common, especially in religious rites where it was used to keep demons away. Herodotus, the Greek historian, recorded that it was popular among the Assyrians, Babylonians and Egyptians. In Judaism, incense was included in the thanksgiving offerings of oil, grain,...

The Lord has truly risen, alleluia. O God, come to my aid.O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.) Psalm 121(122) Jerusalem, the holy city They filled me with joy when they said, "We will go to the house of the Lord". Now our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem. Jerusalem, built as a city, whole and self-contained: there the tribes...