Propers and Music for Feast of St Stephen?
  • What propers should I use for the Feast of St Stephen?

    I was just asked if I could provide some music for the local branch of the Guild of St Stephen's mass to be held on... well, you.
  • The Graduale Romanum gives the following propers for St Stephen:

    IN: Etenim sederunt principes (GR 632)
    GR: Sederunt principes (GR 633)
    AL: Video caelos apertos (GR 634)
    OF: Elegerunt Apostoli Stephanum (GR 634)
    ad libitum: In virtute tua (GR 512)
    CO: Video caelos apertos (GR 635)

    The Lumen Christi Missal has the English propers from the Roman Missal set to simple psalmtones (p. 66), as well as the responsorial psalm.

    The Plainchant Gradual (1965, by G. Burgess and F. Palmer) has all the English propers (pp. 30-33).

    The Plainsong Propers (1966, by the the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, O'Fallon Missouri) has the following English propers for the feast of St Stephen:
    EN-IN-PrincesMet.pdf
    140K
    EN-OF-TheApostlesChose.pdf
    165K
    EN-CO-ISeeTheheavens.pdf
    160K
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  • Thanks!

    My work in preparing liturgies is irregular and I have only started doing it this year. I do not yet have knowledge or access to a lot of these gems of chant resources!

    I am still finding my way around the 1961 Graduale Romanum!
  • By the way, should I be mixing Christmas Carols into this liturgy? I am looking at using "What Child is This?" and maybe "Silent Night"

    I have chosen a Hymn for the liturgy for St Stephen and will try to have the propers sung.

    Hymn “By All Your Saints Still Striving” (Aurelia) By Horatio Bolton Nelson

    By all your saints still striving, for all your saints at rest
    Your Holy Name, Lord Jesus forevermore be blest!
    You rose, our king, victorious that they might wear the crown
    and ever shine in splendour, reflected from your throne.

    Saint Stephen:
    Praise for the first of Martyrs, who saw Thee ready stand,
    To aid in midst of torment, to plead at god's right hand.
    Share, we with him, if summon'd by death our Lord to own,
    On earth the faithful witness, in heaven the martyr-crown.

    Apostles, Prophets, Martyrs, and all the sacred throng
    Who wear the spotless raiment, who raise the ceaseless song;
    For these, pass'd on before us, Saviour, we Thee adore,
    And, walking in their footsteps, would serve Thee more and more.

    Then let us praise the Father, and worship God the Son,
    And sing to God the Spirit, Eternal Three in One;
    Till all the ransom'd number bow down before the Throne,
    And honour, power, and glory ascribe to God alone.
  • Sorry, this is so late it won't be much help. I probably wouldn't use any Christmas carols for a mass for St. Stephen. Maybe something like "Faith of Our Fathers" would be a good hymn. THe hymn you chose looks really good. If it is a Tridentine mass there are a lot of motets for this feast. Again, sorry this is after the fact, or I could have sent you a couple.
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,481
    How 'bout Good King Wenceslas?
    Thanked by 1gregp