(1) 10 Fantasy Movies Without a Single Flaw (Collider)

(2) The bells of St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, MA. The audio was ripped from Festum Mariae Assumptae: Cistercian Chant (1957).

(2a) Back of Album Cover

Founded towards the end of the eleventh century, consecrated to Mary, Queen of heaven and earth, in the early part of the twelfth century, the Cistercian Order has ever looked upon its traditional devotion to Mary as one of its most prized heritages. The Order is consecrated to her under the title of the Assumption, and this Feast is, consequently, the Patronal Feast of the Order.

The monks of Saint Joseph’s Abbey have made this record and offer it to Mary & to music lovers as a witness of their consecration and devotion to her. The selections are taken principally from the Mass & Office of the Feast of the Assumption as found in the Cisterican Graduale & Antiphonary. Other selections are from the Cistercian Kyriale, Hymnal, and Laudes Vespertinae.

The Introit is the well-known “Gaudeamus” [let us rejoice], sounding the note of joy which will characterize the entire Mass. The same Introit is sung for a number of Marian & other feasts. The Graduale is “Propter veritatem” [because of the truth] from the Book of Psalms. As applied to Mary in the present instance the text points out her unique role in bringing the seed sown in the Old Testament to its full flowering in the New Testament of her Son. The Alleluia Verse is proper to the Cistercian Graduale. It embodies all the joy of the Feast – a joy felt by the entire Church, as Mary is beheld in her triumphant Assumption & as Queen of heaven and earth. “Assumpta est Maria in Coelum” [Mary has been taken up into Heaven], the Offertory, prolongs the joy of the Alleluia verse & reminds us that Mary’s queenship extends over the choirs of angels – “gaudent angeli” [the angels rejoice]. In this it recalls the message of the Introit. Our Lord’s words to Martha are sung for the Communion Verse – “Mary has chosen for herself the best part of all, that which shall never be taken away from her”. Saint Augustine saw in Martha a figure of the Church in this life which receives Our Lord into its heart. Mary was for him a figure of the same Church, but in the next world, where the virtues of this present life come to fruition in the Vision of God. No fruition more plenteous than Mary’s, as she is taken into heaven & crowned Queen of Angels & Saints! The Kyrie & Sanctus are those used by the early Cistercians on more solemn feasts. The Agnus Dei is an “ad libitum” [at will] selection from the new Cistercian Kyriale. The Gloria is borrowed from the Ambrosian Chant of the Church of Milan, & the Credo is the first Credo, simple & ancient.

Part of the Office of Tierce is also sung. The monks are here fulfilling their chief role- the chanting of the Divine Office. Their holy legislator, Saint Benedict, teaches that nothing is to be preferred to this work which he calls the “Opus Dei”, the Work of God. Our Lady’s “Magnificat” is sung in the first tone with the added solemnity of the Abbey bells. It is followed by the antiphon “Paradisi porta” [Gate of Heaven]. The antiphon for the procession on the Feast of the Assumption, “Ascendit Christus” [Christ ascends] is sung by the stately sixth mode.

“O Quam Glorifica” [how gloriously you shine], the Vespers hymn, is expressive of all the jubilation springing from Mary’s Assumption. Its restraint, an ever-present mark of Gregorian Chant, here reflects the deep spiritual joy of the soul – contemplating the lofty role of Mary in the mystery of salvation.

After her Assumption, Mary was crowned Queen of heaven & earth, & now exercises from on high the double office of Queen & Mother. With this truth in mind, the monks have chosen a hymn from the Office of the Feast of All Saints, “Jesu Salvator Saeculi” [Jesus, Saviour of the world]. In gratitude for her special protection of their own Cistercian Order, they sing the Vespers hymn of the Feast of All Saints of the Order, “Avete Solitudinis” [Hail dwellers in the solitude and in the lowly cloister cell].

“Tota pulchra es Maria” [You are all beautiful, Mary] is a tribute to the spotless purity of Mary’s soul & body which fitted her for her office as Mother of the Redeemer. The Church Triumphant & the Church Militant join in paying her homage on the Feast of her Assumption as they see her take her rightful place by the side of her Divine Son.