Today is the birthday of a very good friend of mine. She’s half Euro (a Scandi-French mix), half-native (Mohawk and Nez Pierce). Thus her name is a Scandi version of Kateri, after Kateri Tekawitha, the Iroquois saint.

So today I’d like to highlight a song that belongs to North America– and, to be specific, Canada, and Huron people. I’ve loved this carol for many years– it’s such a haunting tune.

It was written by Jesuit missionary to the Huron, Jean de Brebeuf, in 1643, using a French Melody and writing the lyrics in the Huron/Wedat language. Due to this, the carol speaks of a child wrapped in rabbit skin, three chieftains instead of kings, hunters instead of shepherds, a tree-bark shelter instead of a stable and manger. Because the Huron people of the time didn’t have the concepts for shepherds, stables, mangers, kings. . . Fr. Jean used the closest equivalents the people had.

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A dear friend texted me today, wishing me a happy Feast of St. John of the Cross. This is the same dear friend who once gave me a book of the poetry of St. John of the Cross for St. Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately for my personal prospects, he played for the not-advantageous-to-me-team. *sigh* Always the way of it, innit? lol. But he’s a good guy, a dear friend, even if our opinions on things have greatly diverged over the years.

St. John of the Cross (a Doctor of the Church) was a Spanish Carmelite priest who lived in the 16th Century. Together with his close friend St. Theresa of Avila, they reformed the Carmelites and founded the Discalced Camelites (who were more hardcore on that “poverty” thing, thus the discalced part). John is most well known for his writings– poetry and studies of the growth of souls.

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So, picking the “Gaudete” theme back up, today’s selection is two versions of “In Dulci Jubilo.” You’ll note that the sung version is part Latin, part English. This is the way the song was written, some 500 years ago. This “mixing of languages” in a text is called “Macaronic.” I always thought that a silly word for the idea, because it always reminded me of macaroni, and thus Mac & Cheese. This song has nothing to do with Mac & Cheese, but I always thing of it when I hear the song. . . and now, you will, too! *snickers*

But the thought passes quickly, because the music is so lovely, that thoughts of blue box lunches are swept from the brain with only a few measures.

“In Dulci Jubilo” translates as “With Sweet Rejoicing”. Indeed!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt9xm–p-aY

I was all ready to continue with the “gaudete” today. Then the world hit me, too many stories of corruption, deliberate ignorance, and civilization-ending envy. Getting it from several directions set me aback, and chased the “gaudete” away.

I know for a fact I’m not the only one feeling this. Glenn Beck has finally betrayed the very people he claimed to stand for and, even though we half suspected this would happen sooner than later, it’s still, somehow, a shock. The Secretary of State is busy helping institute sharia in our nation, and a bunch of whiny brats are throwing a tantrum and blocking the ports. And that’s only a small part of what we’ve been bombarded with, only today.

In desperation, I turned to a trusted playlist and, first up, was a song not only appropriate to the season, but a song that never fails to give me goosebumps. The lyrics were written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, after his wife died and his son was wounded while fighting in the Civil War.

If you know this version, sing along. . .

For those who keep track, this is Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent. On the wreath, it’s the pink candle. While all of Advent is a season of anticipation, this Sunday is a ratcheting up of the anticipation– a theological version of breaking out the first cup of eggnog, or the first plate of cookies. The volume is not at eleven, not yet, but we’re definitely building up to that.

So, this Sunday, we take a moment from the chaos of the world-unraveling-about-us, and celebrate the impending Nativity, and the stunning OT victory of the Brocos over the Bears (if only so it sticks in the craw of the godless commentators who have been rooting for Tebow’s demise. . .)

To accompany our revels, here’s a nice Gaudete from the Mediaevel Baebes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obLayCNhbHw

More baking today– 6 types of cookies , plus two doughs in the fridge for tomorrow. Good times with Mom, with the Army-Navy game on the TV. That match-up is always a win-win for me: One is my employer, the other is a “home” team.
Here’s another win-win for you. Who doesn’t love Johnny Cash? Followed up by some Jars of Clay. And then, of course, Mr. Crosby and Mr. Bowie. (This is another time when I can’t pick just one version. Or two. Geez . . . ). I always considered this song a bit military flavored, even if we don’t use drummers in battle anymore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hRVGIM4qH4&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHzxpECFm2Q

I’m late posting this. Sorry about that. I’m quite tired from cookie making, though, so there’s no real commentary from me today. . .
Today’s song is a cool Spanish ditty called Riu, Riu Chiu. (translation at the link). It’s got a great beat, good for dancing.
Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu6wgsH2zKs

Over in the open thread, some of us have commented that today is, for Catholics, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. For those who don’t know, this is not about the conception of Our Lord, but it is his Mom’s conception that is “Immaculate”– Mary was conceived completely according to the strictures of the Law and, we Catholics believe, without the stain of original sin (this was a special grace conferred by God, so the she could even have the ability to conceive and bear The Savior). The readings at Mass today generally include the Annunciation, since that’s such a key part of her life.
However, today, I wish to give a little attention to another player in the tale– Joseph. I certainly am not trying to downplay the role of the Blessed Mother, but she’s so key to this whole season (after her Son, of course), that poor humble Joseph sometimes gets overlooked. This is understandable, because scripture really doesn’t say much about him– but it says enough that we can infer the essentials, and see what a wonderful husband and dad he must have been. So, what can we take from Scripture about Saint Joseph?
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This one has always spoken for itself. Chosen because of the date. Enjoy, and pray for those who aren’t home for Christmas.

Continuing in the same vein as last night, this is one we all know. But, before you sing along, make sure you listen to the descant that comes in verse two.
This is one of those songs that is best sung without vibrato. For this reason, many “trained” voices can’t sing it well. Too many professional singers put too much voice into it. Things need to be scaled back for this. Straight tones, untrained voices. . . these are most fitting for this song. Not overly polished, wobbliness. Pure tones are good, but not vibrato. As much as I love voices like Placido Domingo. . .no. No. This song, to me, illustrates the problem so many times with the “elites” of anything. Too many times in college (I majored in singing, remember), professors and students would always favor the trained voice, holding all other musics and voices as something lesser. But the problem with any sort of training, is that if one is not careful, the mind is fettered into believing that the “trained” way is always best. It may be best many times, even most, but not always.
This song illustrates that somethings are better in a less refined form.