A joyful noise was heard in St. Columba Cathedral Dec. 11. The Lessons and Carols concert, this year under the direction of Ralph Holtzhauser, diocesan director of music and cathedral musician, returned to the cathedral for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parishioners performed an Advent procession, the Cathedral Choir sang anthems and antiphons based on the “O Antiphons” tradition, and Bishop David Bonnar presided over the service.
The world’s first Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols concerts were held in the 19th century, in England. These services usually included nine “lessons,” or short readings from Genesis and the prophetic books and the Gospels, and nine accompanying carols or hymns. King’s College, Cambridge, popularized Lessons and Carols with its first such service in 1918, and the practice spread rapidly from there. It is now used around the world and in many denominations.
St. Columba Cathedral’s Lessons and Carols concert is an annual tradition. Other parishes that offered Lessons and Carols services this year include Canton St. Joseph, St. Ambrose and St. Michael Canfield.
Holtzhauser’s primary musical selections this year, the “O Antiphons” of Advent, have been sung in the Roman Catholic Church since the eighth century or earlier. An antiphon is a piece of music sung in a chant form, usually before or after a psalm. The antiphon at Lessons and Carols was sung in Latin, a cappella (i.e., without musical accompaniment).
“I chose this musical setting because it is absolutely beautiful and it shows how the different styles of chant and accessible liturgical music can be combined,” said Holtzhauser.
The choir also sang several anthems during the service, including a Johann Sebastian Bach piece with the lyrics “Prepare to receive him // The promised Messiah // The love, the caring, the Savior of all.” The lyrics and the words of the Scriptural readings expressed the anticipation of Jesus’ birth.
As part of the Advent procession, families walked up the center aisle with lanterns and banners.
“I chose families who are parishioners at St. Columba Cathedral,” said Ursuline Sister Martha Reed, director of religious education and pastoral minister at St. Columba. “One person carried a lantern to light the way and another member of the family carried the banner that was placed on the altar,”
The banners represented the last seven days of Advent and were named in Latin: “Sapientia” (O Wisdom), “Adonai” (Lord), “Radix Jesse” (Root of Jesse), “Clavis David” (Key of David), “Oriens” (O Dawn of the East), “Rex Gentium” (O King of the Gentiles) and “Emmanuel” (God Is With Us).
Lisa and John Ostrowski and their 4-year-old son, Jack, walked with the third fuchsia-colored banner, Radix Jesse, to the altar.
The couple said they were proud of how well Jack did carrying the lantern. They agreed that this was a good way to celebrate the upcoming culmination of the Advent season.
Becky and Tod Morris brought the fifth banner, Oriens, to the altar. This was a family event for the Morrises. “Our son, Zack, was a server at the event. He goes to Girard High School,” said Becky Morris.
Marilyn and Tom Butler brought the sixth banner, Rex Gentium, to the altar. Tom Butler said he enjoys coming to this service every year.
“This is a great way to enjoy part of the Advent season,” said Bill Wainio. Bill and his wife, Jean, brought up the seventh, navy blue, banner, Emmanuel.
Denise Deltondo, a Girard St. Rose parishioner, said, “This was a beautiful celebration of Advent and to remind us that Christ is coming.”
Sister Martha said she was happy to attend the event after being involved in the planning of this service. “I just love ‘O Antiphons.’ It is so prayerful and a spiritual highlight of the Old Testament to the birth of Jesus,” she said.
Holtzhauser said that the Cathedral Choir began rehearsing for this service on Oct. 27. This was his first diocesan music event of the year in his new position.
One of the choir members, Barb Zorn, said Lessons and Carols prepares her for “the spirit of Christmas.”
Her husband, Bill, said, “I have been coming to hear my wife sing in this service ever since she has been a member of the Cathedral Choir. It is a wonderful evening for Christians to remember what the season is all about.”
Cathedral Choir member Tim Elder said he enjoys the opportunity to express himself through this music. “I love being in the choir. It feeds my soul. This is literature that is not normally performed at other venues, and I love the challenge.” Elder’s wife, Laura, coordinated the lectors for the service.
