William Byrd was an English composer, born in London in c. 1542 and died in 1623. He was the son of a musician, and studied music principally under composer Thomas Tallis. He became organist at Lincoln Cathedral in 1563, chorister in the Chapel Royal in 1570, and in 1575 received the title of Organist of the Chapel Royal without being obliged to perform the functions of that office. Byrd was the most distinguished contrapuntist and the most prolific composer of his time in England. Fétis calls him the English Palestrina. He was the first Englishman to write madrigals, a form which originated in Italy in the thirteenth century, and received its highest development in the sixteenth century at the hands of Arcadelt and other masters. Three masses - for three, four, and five voices, respectively - belong to the composer's best period. Two of his motets, "Domine, ne irascaris" and "Civitas sancti tui", with English texts, are in the repertoire of most Anglican cathedrals.

The Mass for Four Voices by William Byrd (c. 1540-1623) is one of three settings of the Mass Ordinary which he published in London in the early 1590s.

As settings of the Catholic Mass in post-Reformation England the partbooks which contained Byrd's manuscripts for The Mass for Four Voices were highly sensitive documents and might well have resulted in the arrest of anybody caught with them. It is probably for this reason that Byrd chose not to publish the Masses as a set but individually in single bifolia which were easy to conceal.

LASchola's voices create a most beautiful and soulful accompaniment to the monthly Vigil mass in St. Thomas the Apostle's century-old neo-gothic church. Hear rarely sung early choral music performed in the liturgical setting for which it was originally composed - the liturgy. LASchola is a local a cappella ensemble comprised of professional musicians.

All are welcome!

On Saturday, 2 November, three Requiem Masses will take place (8am, 12pm, 7:30pm). Every name from the Parish Chantry Book will be prayed for during the course of the day:

Jan-Apr at 8am

May-Aug at noon

Sept-Dec at 7:30pm

At the 7:30pm Requiem Mass, the Parish Choir will be singing a Requiem Mass.

Please note that there will be no 5pm Latin Vigil Mass on this day. 

The President's Devotional is a collection of the best of these message, meant to offer encouragement and daily inspiration for an entire year. Through his years of working closely with the president, DuBois learned many life-changing lessons as well as gained an inside view on the faith and values of President Obama. In addition to 365 of the best readings and prayers that were sent to the President, Dubois offers longer meditations on the spiritual lessons learned by accompanying the President as he faced many historic challenges - two elections, meeting Billy Graham, the Sandy Hook shootings, and more. Sources include Biblical verses as well as words of advice from notable figures, past and present, including Thomas Jefferson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, C.S. Lewis, Martin Luther King Jr., and Maya Angelou. A short prayer is offered daily.

& Whitney Wyatt

Thanangadan

& Jesse Thompson