A PRAYER FROM SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA

Oh our Resurrection!
Oh our Resurrection!
Oh high eternal Trinity,
take my soul from my body!
Oh our Redeemer and Resurrection,
Oh eternal Trinity!
Oh Fire ever burning,
Fire that never goes out,
never dims,
never can be diminished
even if the whole world takes fire from you!
Oh light-giving Light
in whose light we see light!
In your light I see
and without it I cannot see,
for you are the one who is
and I am the one who is not.

This is a portion of a prayer by St. Catherine of Siena that likely dates to Thursday of Easter Week in 1379 as translated by Suzanne Noffke, OP. During Eastertide, Fr. Matt will be teaching a five-week series on St. Catherine at Adult Formation. The first session will be on Sunday, April 19, at 9:45 AM in St. Joseph’s Hall.

PARISH PRAYERS

We pray for Sarah, Archbishop of Canterbury, for the people and clergy of our sister parish, the Church of All Saints’, Margaret Street, London, and for the Anglican Church of Mexico, in the Anglican cycle of prayer.

We pray for those who are preparing for baptism or confirmation: Elena, Sam, Tom, and Yue.

We pray for those who have asked us for our prayers, for Willie, Sue, Sumar, Christine, Emilie, Sharon, Cal, Eric, Hamida, Monique, Khalid, Cassius, Lisa, Sue, Ruth Ann, Rosemary, Holly, Becky, Bill, Grady, Chris, Violet, Pat, Allen, Vicki, Brendon, Nadia, Giovanna, Ronald, Jose, Ben, Russell, Robert, Sandy, Georgia, Desarae, David, Tony, Jan, Carlos, Quincy, Leroy, Margaret, and Robert; Victoria and Laura Katherine, religious; Lind, deacon; and, Jurgen, Beth, Jay, and Stephen, priests.

We pray for the repose of the souls of those who have died, especially Beverly, and for those whose year’s mind is on April 5: Rachel McLellan (1886), Evelyn Tower (1888), Anna Holbrook Ely (1891), Daniel Cottier (1891), Henrietta Olive Favor (1901), Howard Lewsen Rescousie (1906), Henry Wiedner (1919), Irene McFall Meyers (1925), and Harold Bosworth Libbey (1964).

AROUND THE PARISH

Easter at Saint Mary’s — The Great Vigil of Easter is Saturday, April 4, at 7:00 PM. On Easter Day, we will offer a Said Mass with Hymns at 9:00 AM (Rite I) and a Procession and Solemn Mass at 11:00 AM. Evening Prayer is not prayed publicly on Easter Day.

Easter Monday — Daily Mass is offered at 10:00 AM on Easter Monday. The Daily Office is not prayed publicly. We return to our normal daily liturgical schedule on Tuesday in Easter Week.

Confessions in the Easter Octave — Confessions during the Easter Octave are by appointment only. Confessions at 11:00 AM on Saturdays resume on April 18.

Gallery 35 Art Exhibit — Gallery 35, an artist collective in Manhattan, will open a month-long exhibition at Saint Mary’s beginning April 10 in Saint Joseph’s Hall. Parishioner Ingrid Sletten is part of the collective and writes, “This show may resonate with your own spiritual journey. The artwork will explore themes related to individuals, groups, places of residence, frequently visited locations, objects or collections that evoke emotions, and significant events that have left an impression on you. If you are unable to attend the opening on April 10 from 6:00-8:00 PM, the artists will be present at coffee hour on April 12. They feel grateful for the opportunity to showcase their work within our community.” Click here for Gallery 35’s website.

Adult Formation — Adult Formation is on Easter Break until April 19, when Fr. Matt begins his series on Saint Catherine of Siena. We meet in Saint Joseph’s Hall at 9:45 AM, between the two Sunday Masses. Click here for more details about what we have planned at Adult Formation. All are welcome!

Thursday Bible Study on Break — Thursday evening Bible study is on break during Easter Week and resumes on April 16. We meet over Zoom at 6:00 PM. If interested, please email Fr. Wood for the link.

Neighbors in Need — As we enter warmer weather, you may have lost interest in your winter coat, but we have not. We can store coats until next winter—and we would love to! Please bring us your lightly-used coats and jackets. We accept all kinds of casual clothing: jackets, pants, tops and shoes, but we do not need professional clothing or children’s clothing. Thanks to many wonderful cash donations, we are able to purchase toiletries and underwear. Please speak to MaryJane Boland or Marie Rosseels for more information or send an email to neighbors@stmvnyc.org.

THE DIOCESE AND WIDER CHURCH

2026 Vocations Day: Listening Hearts Retreat — On Saturday, April 25, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM at Christ Episcopal Church (20 Carroll Street, Poughkeepsie, NY), join us for an intentional gathering to help those who are beginning to discern a call to lay or ordained leadership in the life of the Church. Seekers will hear from the Bishop and members of the Commission on Ministry about the ministry of the Laity and Clergy, the expectations of the Commission on Ministry for those seeking ordination, and clear and practical next steps. There will be prayer, a plenary session, breakout groups, and lunch. Break out groups will include sessions exploring priesthood, the diaconate, and discerning lay leadership for your community’s needs. Seekers are encouraged to attend with their clergy person, and the expectation is that participants will be present the whole day. Parking is available. Click here to register and learn more.

Spirit of the City: Annual Benefit for the Cathedral — On Wednesday, May 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, join the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine for their annual benefit, Spirit of the City. This year, instead of a traditional seated gala dinner, the Cathedral will fill with community members, partners, congregations, and friends from New York and beyond, to celebrate what brings our communities to life. Complimented by sumptuous hors d'oeuvres, mocktails, and cocktails, attendees will explore the Cathedral throughout the evening and discover opportunities to interact with stone carving and artistic experiences, before gathering together to recognize the incredible honorees: The Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde and Dr. Elizabeth Alexander. Click here to learn more and to buy tickets.

Law Day Celebration at the Cathedral — The 2026 Law Day Evensong and Celebration will be on May 17 at 4:00 PM. Bishop Matthew F. Heyd will lead the evensong service to celebrate Law Day and the work of attorneys in the Diocese. Reception to follow at 5:00 PM. Click here to register by May 15.

ABOUT THE MUSIC ON EASTER DAY

The organ prelude on Easter Day is based upon the well-known Easter hymn O filii et filiae (O sons and daughters). The melody of this hymn is thought to be of fifteenth century French origin. It is found in two different forms in The Hymnal 1982.  At #203, The Hymnal provides a rhythmic form of the tune, in the manner of a carol, with the stanzas most suitable for Easter Day. Several French composers of organ music since the seventeenth century have composed pieces based upon popular carol melodies. Ofertoire pour le jour de Pâques (Offertory for Easter Day) from the First Organ Book of Jean-François Dandrieu (c.1682–1739) is a continuous set of twelve variations on O filii et filiae. Dandrieu was born into a Paris family of artists and musicians, and he gave a harpsichord performance at the royalty court as young as age five. From age eighteen he was organist at the Church of Saint Merri where he was named titular organist five years later. In 1721 he became one of the four organists of the Chapelle Royale of France. His variations on O filii et filiae call forth the characteristic reed and cornet sounds of the French classical organs.

The musical setting of the Mass is Missa Paschalis by Orlando di Lasso (1532–1594). Roland de Lassus, as he was also known, was one of the most prolific and admired European composers of his time. Born at Mons in the Franco-Flemish province of Hainaut, Lassus was well traveled particularly in northern Italy, but was centered in Munich much his adult life. His compositions include about sixty authenticated Mass settings, most of which are elaborate parody works based upon motets—often his own—as well as French chansons, and Italian madrigals from such composers as Gombert, Willaert, Resta, Arcadelt, Rore and Palestrina. Missa Paschalis (1576), however, is one of Lassus’ few Masses based upon chant. Only in the Kyrie (not sung this Sunday) is the cantus firmus plainly stated in long notes in soprano and tenor voices. Following the Kyrie the chant elements are integrated into the polyphonic texture. The present performing edition derives from a 1579 collection of various composers’ works entitled Liber primus Missarum quinque vocum (First Book of Masses for Five Voices). Notable in this Mass setting are several passages where polyphony turns to chordal writing, giving particular emphasis to certain phrases of the text.

During the Communion, the choir will sing the anthem Christ rising again by the English composer John Amner (1579–1641). Amner was born in Ely and, for the last three decades of his life was Informator choristarum (director of music) of Ely Cathedral. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Oxford in 1613 and was later ordained to the diaconate. His known works include Sacred Hymnes of three, four, five, and six parts for the Voyces and Vyols, published in 1615 as well as several anthems and a pair of evening canticles. His four-voice Easter anthem Christ rising again derives its text from Romans 6:9-11 and 1 Corinthians 15:.20-22.

Click below, where you can make a one-time or recurring donation.
We are very grateful to all those who make such donations and continue to support Saint Mary’s so generously.

Saint Mary’s is a vibrant Anglo-Catholic witness in the heart of NYC. With our identity in Christ and a preference for the poor, we are an inclusive, diverse community called to love God and each other for the life of the world.

This edition of The Angelus was written and edited by Father Matt Jacobson, except as noted. Father Matt is also responsible for formatting it on the parish website and distributing it via mail and e-mail, with the assistance of parish volunteer, Clint Best. If you have an idea for an article that you would like to publish in an upcoming issue of The Angelus, Father Matt would be happy to discuss it with you.