Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Requiem



     I've got my green on slogging my way toward Christmas. And I have a lot on my mind. Most of the shopping is done. Cards are addressed and stamped. Apart from the tree which has yet to be purchased, the halls are decked. But there is still the wrapping and posting and baking and all of those dangling bits of fa la la...

     Sadly, the most essential part of the celebration gets elbowed aside by my resolve to get it all done. So, even though there are piles of laundry to be folded and dust balls collecting in the corner of the kitchen, I sat down with a cup of calm to ponder two of my favorite Christmas hymns: Of the Father's Love Begotten and Pie Jesu.


Pie Jesu
Qui tollis peccata mundi
Dona eis requiem
Agnus Dei
Qui tollis peccata mundi
Dona eis requiem
Sempiternam requiem

Merciful Jesus
Who takes away the sins of the world
Grant them rest
Lamb of God
Who takes away the sins of the world
Grant them rest
Everlasting rest


     I shall be doing something similar to this every day until the end of the year. It doesn't change the number of things that need to get done, but it puts a smile on my face and makes the load feel significantly lighter.

2 comments:

  1. 'Of The Father's Love Begotten' is one of my favorite hymns ! You're so right Nibs, it is easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle and forget why we as believers celebrate this season. Although I can't sing well, I like your idea of opening the hymn book and thinking about the words and meanings in the songs.

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  2. Oh, Pie Jesu is such a gorgeous piece of music!!! I'm so glad to be singing in our church choir...so uplifting! I'm singing in the tenor section this year as the alto section is too large and two tenors have died within the last six months. It's so much fun to learn something new....

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