It's been a long, long time since I've spoken with you! But here I
am again.
What songs are appropriate for All Saints Day? I think the
traditional hymn "For All The Saints," in which the Saints are
celebrated, is a great celebratory hymn! I'm not talking about the
New Orleans Saints; I'm talking about the Saints in Heaven.
Throughout the year, we honor individual saints, but there's one
day when we honor all the saints at once. Another great song for
the occasion is "Blest Are They," which is one of many songs
that are based on the Beautitudes, which Jesus preaches in his
Sermon on the Mount. The refrain, which is taken from the last
line of that portion of the sermon, "Rejoice and Be Glad, for Great
is your reward in Heaven," is a wonderful summation of our
promise in Heaven.,
On All Souls Day, we mourn, yet celebrate, the passing of all
those who have passed on from this life. In churches that
feature Latin Rite Masses, the thrilling Requiem Masses, such
as those of Mozart & Verdi, are an emotional roller coaster.
However, in Novus Ordo liturgies, songs that are appropriate for
this day include "We Will Rise Again," which presents the
promise of eternal resurrection. Also appropriate is "We Will
Sing Our Song To God," in which we sing our song despite
sorrow and pain, for we know that God's love is "love beyond all
measure."
I see that at St. John Cantius Church in Chicago, they are
planning a High Mass on Wednesday night with a very festive
selection of music. On Thursday night, they'll be doing a High
Mass with Mozart's version of the Requiem. EWTN broadcast
their Novus Ordo Latin Mass on the Feast of Our Lady of the
Rosary; I hope that they transmit a Latin Rite Mass one of these
days!