Marian Songs for Advent

Revised and updated (particularly with YouTube videos) from my original post in 2006.

It seems to me that it would be appropriate to emphasize Our Lady during Advent and hymns about her fiat and her pregnancy are most appropriate. (I did notice that "Castle of the Immaculate" has a post about a Marian theme for Advent). Here are a few of our favorite songs (still hope to find a few more resources to make these more accessible, I'll add them when/if I find them)...

Maria Walks Amid the Thorn

Lyrics and a midi file can be found here.

Beautiful listening:





The Angel Gabriel

Lyrics and a midi file can be found here.



This is the version Sting performed about 20 years ago which re-popularized the song. I like the music, but not so much the video:



A more traditional rendition:




Alma Redemptoris Mater
(Marian antiphon for Advent)

Click to enlarge the music to this chant:
Here's a decent way to learn the traditional chant:



Palestrina's gorgeous polyphonic version:



More about Marian antiphons here

You may find this article from First Things interesting and relevant.

Pomerian Dancers at the Holiday Folk Fair

Pomerian Dancers, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

More Ballet Folklorico

DSC_3608, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

I love this shot!

Ballet Folklorico at the Holiday Folk Fair

DSC_3631, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

Ballet Folklorico were special guests at this year's fair and performed a number of dances from different parts of Mexico (each with its own unique costumes). They were wonderful!

I'm Not Sure Where They're From...

More Holiday Folk Fair 2009 in Milwaukee:

DSC_3666, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

Serbia? Slovakia?

But they really started hamming it up when they saw me with the camera. :)

Scottish Dancers

DSC_3705, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

Holiday Folk Fair

DSC_3730, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

We've been awfully busy around here - more the case of way too much to write about than too little. We've got a new archbishop, Ria's been working her way through admissions tests and college visits, we survived two big rounds of viruses, but no swine flu. Tonight we're discussing the Iliad with the teen discussion group and two of my kids are in a Shakespeare play.

Since I don't have time to write real posts right now, I thought I'd share a few more pictures. These are Polish dancers from Milwaukee's 66th annual International Holiday Folk Fair which we visited on Sunday.

From Today's Morning Prayer...

Guard against foul talk; let your words be for the improvement of others, as occasion offers, and do good to your listeners, otherwise you will only be grieving the Holy Spirit of God who has marked you with his seal for you to be set free when the day comes. Never have grudges against others, or lose your temper, or raise your voice to anybody, or call each other names, or allow any sort of spitefulness. Be friends with one another, and kind, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ.

(Ephesians 4:29-32)

SAT Prep ;)

DSC_3415.JPG, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

And One More...

DSC_3412.JPG, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

I'm still thinking of changing the far right picture (though it's a gorgeous baby picture of Gus) to one that's a little more congruous with the other two.

Cute Old Pictures of the Family

DSC_3410.JPG, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

I've had this frame sitting around for ages (it's actually been sitting out on my dresser for months with just the fake pictures included with it when it's new) and finally filled it up.

Anyway, these are a few favorites.

Happy All Saints Day!

DSC_3387.JPG, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

I'm not always long on ideas for celebrating All Saints Day - especially since our homeschool group's All Saints' Day party is long over (and especially when All Saints Day falls on a busy Sunday after having company over for Halloween), but we did come up with this idea this morning - and I liked how it worked out. We have a flash card chart up on one wall which happened to be standing empty this morning and so we collected all the holy cards we could find to fill it. I rather like how it turned out!