18 March 2013

St Joseph, an Italian-Argentinian Pope and an Italian Jesuit-composer in Argentina

The Holy Family, Andrea del Sarto, c.1528 (Web Gallery of Art)

Ant. ad introitum  Cf Lc 12:42

Ecce fidélis servus et prudens, 
quem constítuit Dóminus super famíliam suam.

Entrance Antiphon  Cf Luke 12:42

Behold, a faithful and prudent steward, 
whom the Lord set over his household.


Fidelis servus et prudens,
quem constituit Dominus super familiam suam.

A faithful and prudent steward, 
whom the Lord set over his household.

This is an anonymous setting of today's Introit or Entrance Antiphon from the 18th century. It might have been written by Domenico Zípoli (17 October 1688 – 2 January 1726), an Italian Jesuit who died in Córdoba, in what is now Argentina. Or it might have been written by Martin Schmid, also known as Esmid (September 26, 1694 – March 10 1772), a Swiss Jesuit who died in what is now Bolivia.

The antiphon is sung here by El Coro de Niños cantores de Córdoba del Instituto Domingo Zípoli, Argentina, with the Ensemble Elyma, conducted by Argentinian conductor Gabriel Garrido who was born in Buenos Aires in 1950.



The website of the Cathedral gives this encouraging information:

CONFESIONES - CONFESSIONS
Lunes a Viernes - Monday to Friday: 9.45 a 13.15 - 14.30 a 17.30.

Clearly the Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires, of which Pope Francis was Archbishop for the last 15 years, gives priority to the Sacrament of Confession.

I started out this post with the intention of having something about St Joseph. The Introit of the Mass for the Solemnity led me to the musical setting with close links to the native country of our new Holy Father and two fellow Jesuits, and with links to the country of his parents, Italy. 



Pope Francis (when still Cardinal Bergoglio, 2008)

This is what the Vatican website gives as the activity of Pope Francis on the Solemnity of St Joseph:

19 Tuesday 
Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saint Peter's Square, at 9:30
PAPAL MASS
Imposition of the Pallium, conferral of the Fisherman's Ring and Holy Mass 
for the beginning of the Petrine Ministry of the Bishop of Rome Francis.


The Church honours St Joseph on this feast as the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But he is also Patron of the Universal Church and the Collect of the Mass reflects both of these. May he protect Pope Francis in a very special way, as he protected Jesus.

Collect

Grant, we pray, almighty God, 
that by Saint Joseph's intercession 
your Church may constantly watch over 
the unfolding of the mysteries of human salvation, 
whose beginnings you entrusted to his faithful care.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, 
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 
one God, for ever and ever.

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