This introit is truly the definitive Christmas "hymn" . It is as sober as it is powerful in proclaiming the mystery of the incarnation. No rendition of "O Come all ye Faithful", even with brass and Sir David's descant, could evince the same gravitas.
We sing this as it should be in our catholic church in Evesham in Worcestershire. The High Mass on Sundays and Solemnities is exactly how the new Roman Rite was meant to be...everything is sung either by the priest or cantor/choir and laity. Beautiful.
The person in red leading the procession is a Mace Bearer. It's traditional in English Cathedrals (both Anglican and Cathlolic) for there to be one at great Masses (or services for the Anglicans). Hope that helps :)
It is a beautiful setting of the Psalm. Sadly too many Roman Catholic Choirs have bombarded their people with appalling modern rubbish. This beautiful choir has brought me closer to God
Con O Sullivan it’s a world class boys choir. One of the best in the world. Check out the traditional Latin mass. Just remember to dress modestly when you attend. Pax
As a Roman Catholic I agree. I miss these beautiful old hymns. Practically at every church I've been to over the years for Mass, it's always some modern nonsense that I've never heard of, nor know the words to.
A magnificent cathedral. I visited London recently and attended mass both nights I was there. The Cathedral school choristers are wonderful. Their music in such a wonderful building is really a very uplifting spiritual experience. Thanks for posting and hats off to the boys.
Truly an uplifting and spiritual video. Thanks for posting. I visited the cathedral recently and attended evening mass. The choristers from the cathedral school are magnificent. Beautiful music and a lovely cathedral with great acoustics.
As a "traddie" myself, I see where you are coming from, but Westminster Cathedral has never had a tabernacle on the High Altar. In fact, it was only just a few months before this Mass was filmed that the Vatican II Altar was removed. Be grateful for small mercies. The true Altar is back in use. Although it's Versus Populum rather than Ad Orientem, it's still a step in the right direction. The Altar of the Blessed sacrament is still beautifully in its original form. Have a look if you wish.
Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te. Quare fremuerunt genes: et populi meditati sunt inania? Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritu Sancto, sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum, amen. Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te.
Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te. Quare fremuerunt gentes: et populi meditati sunt inania? Astierunt reges terrae, et principes convenierunt in unum adversus Dominum et adversus Christus eius.
Simply beautiful exactly how music should be done. None of this show off flashy kendrick rubbish. The organ accompaniment is ethereal and just gorgeous to listen to
Truly breathtaking. A pity about the altar serviette, but it was wonderful to see Westminster Cathedral alive on this great solemnity. Living water to the parched throats in Japan!
I think you're referring to the verger. This is very English! He can be seen in both Anglican and Catholic liturgies. I think in the good ol' days, he would use that staff to thwack misbehavin' folk :)
@@Rumptertumskin79 that's right I'm a Verger in the Anglican Church the "Verge" was a type of trungeon original,used "to keep order". thankfully I've never had to use it for that purpose but still use it "to lead the way".
This mass was celebrated facing the people. However the altar cross and “big six” candles are never (and we’re never) on the actual altar itself. They are on the gradine shelf behind the altar. Even prior to the Vatican 2 liturgical changes, the crucifix and candles were not permitted in the altar itself and were meant to be on a gradine (shelf) behind the altar.
It is given to the Statue of the Infant Jesus because Christ is the King of the Universe and so he receives the sceptre - instead in the Anglican services it is given to the Queen.
It's an honour given by the Pope to Primates and Patriarchs of major sees in a country. At the restoration of the English Catholic hierarchy in England, the pope decree that the Archbishop of Westminster should have the crucifix carried before him and he is to be the head bishop of the church in England and Wales. That is why the archbishop of Westminster is automatically the President of the English bishops conference. Ordinarily he would have been granted the title of "primate of England" but this was avoided to prevent a conflict with the title already held by the archbishop of York "primate of England" or that of the Archbishop of Canterbury "primate of all England" (within the Church of England). After the reformation, bishops of the Anglican Church retained this tradition. Ordinarily it is an honour granted to primates and patriarchs of a country's head church by the bishop of Rome.
@@simongleaden2864 True , the equivalent Catholic Cathedral in Scotland is St.Mary's RC Cathedral in Edinburgh , the seat of The Archbishop of St.Andrews and Edinburgh ( there is also an Episcopalian / Anglican Cathedral in Edinburgh also called St.Marys ) . I have never been and inly seen photos if it But St.Mary's RC Cathedral is a very modest church .
Do you think it's Christian to assume the worst intentions behind every action? Don't be so quick to condemn when you clearly don't know the facts (the Blessed Sacrament is not reserved on that altar, which was an altar, by the way, long before the liturgical upheaval).
This is true Judhaism the Psalm given by Devine Inspiration to King David . God the Father talking to God the Son in eternity. The Tridentine has the Jewish Passover Prayers said in the Temple in Jerusalem in it.
Bob Robinson girls should not be serving mass. Only boys should. It’s preparation for the priesthood and women can’t be priests. Do you work at Westminster or something? Why are you so liberal?
Rob Groot You clearly know little about Scripture. The Sanctuary is supposed to be for the priest and his altar servers, not for women, who should remain in the nave.
Retew Boy Well if you say Benedict XVI is liberal be prepared because Pope Francis goes even further as it suggested. There's always a choice for the ultra liberal or conservative: promote church unity or leave it behind to serve your own.
Well the female altar server serves with reverence and diligence. Have you thought about how she might feel if she read your contemptuous comment? Hardly a Christian attitude!
@@bobrobinson5014 It's a valid Christian attitude to be faithful to Tradition, and in the first 1,950 years of the Roman Catholic Church the sanctuary was an all-male area. She might have carried out with reverence the tasks allotted to her, but the archbishop is going against nearly 2,000 years of Tradition in giving her those tasks.
Unfortunately in Catholic Churches in England I have seen such liturgical disasters. Like children coming back from outside with drawings they made about the day's gospel, and presenting it to the people. Where is that authorized?
Nothing wrong with female altar servers. Pope Benedict didn’t object to their presence when he celebrated mass in this great cathedral. Stop trying to be more catholic than the pope!
The problem is that people think this is acceptable in little churches, cathedrals are often large with many people so they have a side chapel for the Most Blessed Sacrament
Apparently at these Novus Ordo services, they do not believe in the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, they do not even genuflect!!! The only good thing is the Latin chants and the relics on their "altar"
They do not genuflect because the tabernacle (blessed sacrament) is not reserved on the high altar but is located in the adjacent chapel. They do however genuflect during the Eucharistic prayer.
@@bobrobinson5014 Quite. The correct form of reverence for an altar is a bow, is it not? It's just that most altars have a tabernacle on or just behind them and the genuflection to the Blessed Sacrament takes precedence over the bow to the altar.
This is nothing to do with Novus Ordo services...Genuflection is a comparatively modern replacement for the "profound bow" of head and body that remains the supreme act of liturgical reverence in the Eastern Church to this day. In the medieval church in England as elsewhere, during the Mass (Sarum Rite etc) the priest made the "profound bow" at the consecration...genuflection was introduced as the norm by the late fifteenth century and made obligatory around 1502! Bowing to the altar is totally the correct liturgical act especially at an altar where the Blessed Sacrament is not in reservation. As a "traddie" myself and a church historian, if one wanted to be pedantic about it; the original and correct liturgical reverence is and always was....the profound Bow!.
It's pithy, rather than contemptuous. It's a pity, because having female altar boys is a holdover from a failed experiment and a dying chapter in the history of the Church.
![Te Deum [Alternatim] Martin Baker / Westminster Cathedral Choir plus Tournemire - Victimae Paschali](/img/n.gif)
Best version of the Christmas introit I've ever heard.
I am so grateful for the BBC showing this. It was the most beautiful Mass.
missgreeneyes56 - Save our BBC!
This introit is truly the definitive Christmas "hymn" . It is as sober as it is powerful in proclaiming the mystery of the incarnation. No rendition of "O Come all ye Faithful", even with brass and Sir David's descant, could evince the same gravitas.
We sing this as it should be in our catholic church in Evesham in Worcestershire. The High Mass on Sundays and Solemnities is exactly how the new Roman Rite was meant to be...everything is sung either by the priest or cantor/choir and laity. Beautiful.
Thanks man, it is pleasing to see that such a canonical liturgy exists in the Catholic Church.
It was the Midnight Mass broadcast on BBC on this Christmas Eve.
The person in red leading the procession is a Mace Bearer. It's traditional in English Cathedrals (both Anglican and Cathlolic) for there to be one at great Masses (or services for the Anglicans). Hope that helps :)
It is a beautiful setting of the Psalm. Sadly too many Roman Catholic Choirs have bombarded their people with appalling modern rubbish. This beautiful choir has brought me closer to God
Con O Sullivan it’s a world class boys choir. One of the best in the world. Check out the traditional Latin mass. Just remember to dress modestly when you attend. Pax
I see where you’re coming from, but to describe it as rubbish is not acceptable.
As a Roman Catholic I agree. I miss these beautiful old hymns. Practically at every church I've been to over the years for Mass, it's always some modern nonsense that I've never heard of, nor know the words to.
@@jedvillanueva9918 It is rubbish not Divine Worship Music .
Charity please.
A magnificent cathedral. I visited London recently and attended mass both nights I was there. The Cathedral school choristers are wonderful. Their music in such a wonderful building is really a very uplifting spiritual experience. Thanks for posting and hats off to the boys.
Truly an uplifting and spiritual video. Thanks for posting. I visited the cathedral recently and attended evening mass. The choristers from the cathedral school are magnificent. Beautiful music and a lovely cathedral with great acoustics.
This is beautiful. We need more of this!!!!!
Angels are gathered to make such sweet music....
Thank you George Basil. Your example and inspiration has left us a wonderful lagacy of your love for Church/Choral music.
Simply majestic in the finest traditions of the Word
Absolutely Beautiful! I love my Catholic faith🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼
As a "traddie" myself, I see where you are coming from, but Westminster Cathedral has never had a tabernacle on the High Altar. In fact, it was only just a few months before this Mass was filmed that the Vatican II Altar was removed. Be grateful for small mercies. The true Altar is back in use. Although it's Versus Populum rather than Ad Orientem, it's still a step in the right direction.
The Altar of the Blessed sacrament is still beautifully in its original form. Have a look if you wish.
Great moment with this psalm.
I attended mass here once while visiting London. It really is as breathtaking as it seems. I would love to go back.
For Sundays' half past ten Masses at Westminster Cathedral are really breathtaking.
The choir sing high mass every weekday at 5.30pm too... and have done ever since the Cathedral opened.
I hear the best Masses in London are at the Brompton Oratory.
Great hearing this Gregorian chant sung by boys!
Dominus dixit ad me: “Filius meus es tu;
ego hodie genui te.
Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate them.
Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te.
Quare fremuerunt genes: et populi meditati sunt inania?
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritu Sancto, sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum, amen.
Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te.
¡Cuánto esplendor! ¡Incomparable belleza!
Maravilhosa a Westminster Cathedral.
One of the side benefits of converting to the Catholic faith. I never got this in the Lutheran church
Excelent choir of the Westminster Cathedral. English Choirs beat that!
Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te.
Quare fremuerunt gentes: et populi meditati sunt inania?
Astierunt reges terrae,
et principes convenierunt
in unum adversus Dominum et adversus Christus eius.
Bellísimo!!!! Muy emotivo!!!!
One step at a time. Let's celebrate the improvement so far!
Simply beautiful exactly how music should be done. None of this show off flashy kendrick rubbish. The organ accompaniment is ethereal and just gorgeous to listen to
thank you!
Beyond beauty
I FEEL LIFTED
Magnífico 🙃
High level David, yes
Splendido
It enraptures you, such music. You don't need to understand the words.
in heaven
Truly breathtaking. A pity about the altar serviette, but it was wonderful to see Westminster Cathedral alive on this great solemnity. Living water to the parched throats in Japan!
"Altar serviette"? Why the contemptuous reference? And why "a pity"?
very nice
Juan Francisco Gómez López used
a eternidade !
Beautiful. Who leads the procession? What is he carrying?
Merry Christmas.
leaveitalone Usually led by the thurifer who carries the thurible containing burning incense.
leaveitalone but in this case since it is Christmas Mass he is possibly carrying the baby Jesus statue.
I think you're referring to the verger. This is very English! He can be seen in both Anglican and Catholic liturgies. I think in the good ol' days, he would use that staff to thwack misbehavin' folk :)
@@Rumptertumskin79 that's right I'm a Verger in the Anglican Church the "Verge" was a type of trungeon original,used "to keep order". thankfully I've never had to use it for that purpose but still use it "to lead the way".
Like si t’es la a cause de la musique 🤘5°2
Was this mass celebrated 'ad orientem'? Very beautiful, dignified liturgy, with fine music, as always from this choir.
Colin Do not think so
Colin candles on wrong side of altar for ad orientem.
This mass was celebrated facing the people. However the altar cross and “big six” candles are never (and we’re never) on the actual altar itself. They are on the gradine shelf behind the altar. Even prior to the Vatican 2 liturgical changes, the crucifix and candles were not permitted in the altar itself and were meant to be on a gradine (shelf) behind the altar.
What is the significance of the tree in the back with the blue lights on it?
Are you referring to the Christmas tree?
Lumisatmi I thot maybe the blue lights had a specific significance.
Blue is the associated colour of Mary, mother of Jesus
Amen…
Laudetur Iesus Christus.
These chants sung in the presence of a believing Christian Community is uplifting.
Can someone explain to me what is the meaning of the first person who enters in the procession. I've seen the same thing in Anglican ceremonies..
He is carrying the sceptre with the orb.
It is given to the Statue of the Infant Jesus because Christ is the King of the Universe and so he receives the sceptre - instead in the Anglican services it is given to the Queen.
Thank You Jacob!
You are welcome. May God forever bless you.
It's an honour given by the Pope to Primates and Patriarchs of major sees in a country. At the restoration of the English Catholic hierarchy in England, the pope decree that the Archbishop of Westminster should have the crucifix carried before him and he is to be the head bishop of the church in England and Wales. That is why the archbishop of Westminster is automatically the President of the English bishops conference.
Ordinarily he would have been granted the title of "primate of England" but this was avoided to prevent a conflict with the title already held by the archbishop of York "primate of England" or that of the Archbishop of Canterbury "primate of all England" (within the Church of England).
After the reformation, bishops of the Anglican Church retained this tradition. Ordinarily it is an honour granted to primates and patriarchs of a country's head church by the bishop of Rome.
Is this a catholic liturgy, or anglican celebration?
ascilon Catholic! One of the main Catholic Church's of Great Britain.
ascilon check out the catholic traditional Latin mass.
Actually Westminster Cathedral is the principal Catholic Church in England & Wales.
@@bobrobinson5014 That's right. There's a separate hierarchy in Scotland.
@@simongleaden2864 True , the equivalent Catholic Cathedral in Scotland is St.Mary's RC Cathedral in Edinburgh , the seat of The Archbishop of St.Andrews and Edinburgh ( there is also an Episcopalian / Anglican Cathedral in Edinburgh also called St.Marys ) . I have never been and inly seen photos if it But St.Mary's RC Cathedral is a very modest church .
I’m wondering why British have beautiful liturgy and choir better than a lot of catholics nowadays.
All who enjoy this are invited to join "Great Boys'Choirs of the World" on Facebook.
Wish my Latin was more than I understand now
Do you think it's Christian to assume the worst intentions behind every action? Don't be so quick to condemn when you clearly don't know the facts (the Blessed Sacrament is not reserved on that altar, which was an altar, by the way, long before the liturgical upheaval).
gril altar sever whyy
Because they are part of God's church and women make up at least 50% of it's members and in many places there probably arent enough boys .
This is true Judhaism the Psalm given by Devine Inspiration to King David . God the Father talking to God the Son in eternity. The Tridentine has the Jewish Passover Prayers said in the Temple in Jerusalem in it.
For it is written ... For ye are to not kiss thee altar. Amen
Girl alter boy messes everything up
M - Hayek - the choir is men and boys BUT the altar servers are male and female. No lazy traddie sexism in the great cathedral of Westminster!
Bob Robinson girls should not be serving mass. Only boys should. It’s preparation for the priesthood and women can’t be priests. Do you work at Westminster or something? Why are you so liberal?
Virgin Mary didn't serve at masses. He sent out Apostles they were men. No women servers allowed.
@@bobrobinson5014 No Females at altar please.
@@m-hayek1985 How many these days go on to be priests ?
IF you confess with your mouth, "Jesus Is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
I don't know what is more shocking, the sight of women altar servers, or the fact that there allowed in the sanctuary
Pope Benedict xvi seems to have less problem with that than you.
Retew Boy What a ridiculous remark !!!! The more at the altar the more. It should be a mixture of male and female.
Rob Groot You clearly know little about Scripture. The Sanctuary is supposed to be for the priest and his altar servers, not for women, who should remain in the nave.
Lex Parsimoniae The Holy Father is rather liberal in these matters, it must be said
Retew Boy Well if you say Benedict XVI is liberal be prepared because Pope Francis goes even further as it suggested. There's always a choice for the ultra liberal or conservative: promote church unity or leave it behind to serve your own.
hmm a female server...
Well the female altar server serves with reverence and diligence. Have you thought about how she might feel if she read your contemptuous comment? Hardly a Christian attitude!
@@bobrobinson5014 It's a valid Christian attitude to be faithful to Tradition, and in the first 1,950 years of the Roman Catholic Church the sanctuary was an all-male area. She might have carried out with reverence the tasks allotted to her, but the archbishop is going against nearly 2,000 years of Tradition in giving her those tasks.
@@simongleaden2864 Are only men allowed to clean the sanctuary , or is it OK for women to be deemed Holy enough for that task when required ?
Unfortunately in Catholic Churches in England I have seen such liturgical disasters. Like children coming back from outside with drawings they made about the day's gospel, and presenting it to the people. Where is that authorized?
The children are the church of tomorrow . Should they not learn about the Gospel ?
Altar girl.... Bad Bad Bad...
Nothing wrong with female altar servers. Pope Benedict didn’t object to their presence when he celebrated mass in this great cathedral. Stop trying to be more catholic than the pope!
@@bobrobinson5014 No body told me the Virgin Mary served mass. Novus Ordo is a Counterfeit and the greatest con ever .
There is no tabernacle at the Altar...
The problem is that people think this is acceptable in little churches, cathedrals are often large with many people so they have a side chapel for the Most Blessed Sacrament
@@RezaChity-G He should always be in the center not in the side chapel.
@@janettedavis6627 You may be right, but keep in mind that St Peter's doesn't (and maybe never did) have the tabernacle on the altar.
Apparently at these Novus Ordo services, they do not believe in the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, they do not even genuflect!!! The only good thing is the Latin chants and the relics on their "altar"
They do not genuflect because the tabernacle (blessed sacrament) is not reserved on the high altar but is located in the adjacent chapel. They do however genuflect during the Eucharistic prayer.
@@bobrobinson5014 Quite. The correct form of reverence for an altar is a bow, is it not? It's just that most altars have a tabernacle on or just behind them and the genuflection to the Blessed Sacrament takes precedence over the bow to the altar.
This is nothing to do with Novus Ordo services...Genuflection is a comparatively modern replacement for the "profound bow" of head and body that remains the supreme act of liturgical reverence in the Eastern Church to this day. In the medieval church in England as elsewhere, during the Mass (Sarum Rite etc) the priest made the "profound bow" at the consecration...genuflection was introduced as the norm by the late fifteenth century and made obligatory around 1502! Bowing to the altar is totally the correct liturgical act especially at an altar where the Blessed Sacrament is not in reservation. As a "traddie" myself and a church historian, if one wanted to be pedantic about it; the original and correct liturgical reverence is and always was....the profound Bow!.
Love the chant... But, then there's the girl altar server... Like it's a big no no
It's pithy, rather than contemptuous. It's a pity, because having female altar boys is a holdover from a failed experiment and a dying chapter in the history of the Church.
Nonsense!