Hours

I don’t usually plug products on this site but I found a CD that really caught my attention. It is called Hours. It was produced by seminarians from the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in the Archdiocese of Denver.

The first track, O Sanctissima, begins with a peaceful, reflective piece. It feels like one of those relaxation CDs that Target sells. It places you at peace. An alarm clock sounds, a person breathes a sigh, a priest (sounds like one at least) talks over a police siren. Footsteps, chanting comes in with the music. A beat drops. You hear the words better now- O Sanctissima.

The second track, The Morning. Music again, peaceful. A voice- “my vocation is not to be a seminarian, it is to become a priest….” Various voices come in and out of the music and speak of the small wonder of the morning, the morning as they know it.

I haven’t really just sat and listened to all the tracks yet, but so far, track 5- The Mass- I really enjoy. It starts with a light beat with a voice- “Father all-powerful and everyliving God…” The Eucharstic Prayer continues… “…hoping the “… with all the angels in heaven, we proclaim your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise…”

The voice ends, the music continues lightly. We hear of what the Mass means to a few seminarians. The priest’s voice comes back- “Lord you are holy indeed, the fountain of all holiness, let your spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy so that can become for us the body and the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Another seminarian speak of what the Mass means with the music.

The Lamb of God, in Latin, starts and then fades out. Another statement of what the Mass means… Agnus Dei… another seminarian speaks… “Father you are holy indeed”, singing, it repeats. Agnus Dei comes back. “Father you are holy indeed” is played again over the music. “Before he was given up to death…” the priest continues. The host becomes the Body. Bells ring, Agnus Dei is sung. The wine becomes the Blood. Bells ring again, Agnus Dei is sung again, continued this time. “Father you are holy indeed” It fades out.