The Propers (that is, the Introit, Gradual, Tract, Alleluia, Sequence, Offertory, and Communion) are an integral part of the Divine Service. More than any other part of the liturgy, they give shape and life to the rhythm of the liturgical year. Unfortunately, the Propers frequently are misunderstood textually, musically, and liturgically. This series of articles…
As we continue along the editing and translation processes for The Lutheran Missal, we are also keeping an eye on the future publication of The Lutheran Breviary, which has been under discussion for some time, and is now ready for your help. As with the process of putting together The Lutheran Missal, the breviary project…
The Common Service of 1888 was a high water mark, of sorts, for the liturgy of English-speaking Lutherans in North America. Based on a variety of Lutheran and medieval sources, it was commissioned by the General Synod, the General Council, and the United Synod in the South to provide a solid and historically grounded foundation…
Two years ago, we began soliciting volunteers to field test the temporal lectionary for The Lutheran Missal, followed by the sanctoral lectionary last year. This year, we are in search of volunteers to help us by field testing the lectionary and gradual texts for both the temporale and sanctorale beginning in Advent. What is required…
While the celebration of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary may be less than familiar to many American Lutherans, its observance is noted from the Gelasian sacramentary onward, appearing in medieval missals, Lutheran missals, Lutheran chant books, and Lutheran postils, as well as the hymnals and agendas of the Missouri Synod and Wisconsin Synod….
Of all the genres of liturgical Psalmody, the Alleluias have required the most editorial attention. Our sources generally agree concerning the Introits, Graduals, Communions, and Offertories, but not always so with the Alleluias, particularly for the latter half of Trinitytide. And the Alleluias of Easter? Fuhgeddaboudit. The map of the Alleluias for a given Sunday…
Among the gems that have been uncovered in our work for The Lutheran Missal, one shines with particular brightness: the compilation reading from Zechariah which beautifully weaves together a string of prophecies concerning our Lord’s passion. That the Holy Spirit foretold the events of the Crucifixion is no surprise to Christians familiar with Psalm 22…
As we add several more Lutheran sources to our database to get a broader picture of post-Reformation use and to iron out a few questions of majority usage, we could use some people with capabilities in the late medieval/early modern versions of various languages, specifically the following: Finnish Hungarian [Sorry, no image for this one….
St. Matthias is an unusual apostle. He is never mentioned until he is chosen to fill the spot vacated by Judas. And then, having been “numbered with the eleven apostles,” Matthias is never heard from again. Some theologians are not certain that he should have been chosen at all. It was St. Peter’s idea, true,…
The editorial team for The Lutheran Missal has been primarily focused on the Psalmody (Introits, Graduals, Alleluias, etc.) for the better part of a year. Even though the word count of the Psalmody is much less than that of the Lections (readings), the Psalmody requires more editorial attention, for reasons I’ll explain in later posts….
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