From Advent to Christmas, Lent to Easter, and throughout Ordinary Time, music helps us to enter into the liturgical year. We often associate well-known and beloved hymns and songs with particular seasons. What would Advent be without O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Christmas without Joy to the World, or Easter without Jesus Christ is Risen Today?

In addition to the many hymns and songs that we sing throughout the year, it has also become customary to change the musical setting of the Mass Ordinary - the parts of the Mass that remain the same every week - when the liturgical seasons change. The Mass Ordinary includes the Kyrie, Gloria (Sundays outside of Advent and Lent), Sanctus, Mystery of Faith, Amen, and Agnus Dei. 

At most parish Masses this Advent, we will use the Mass in Honor of Saint Paul. For many years, we have sung the Kyrie and Agnus Dei from this Mass setting during Advent. This year, we will also sing the Sanctus, Mystery of Faith, and Amen.

At the Sunday 5:00 p.m. Mass, we will use the Kyrie, Alleluia, and Agnus Dei from the Mass for the Family of God. 

To help our entire community learn the music from these Mass settings, we have created the video playlists below. Please feel free to listen, pray, and sing along with these melodies as you enter into the Advent season! 

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