GREGORIAN CHANTS

Before continuing to read my blog and see the pictures of Burgundy, I invite you to watch this video, listening to the gregorian chants that help evolve a contemplative spirit within you...

FRANCE - BURGUNDY

 

PANORAMIC VIEW FROM VEZELAY

Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You! (Psalm 84, 5+12)

With these words in our hearts we (a group of 9 people) travelled from Austria to Burgundy in France in Spring 2008. The focus of our one week PILGRIMAGE was on the "Romanic Burgundy". Prayer times in monasteries, churches and on the fields, alone or with other catholic communities, walks and talks, silent times and lectures were the ingredients that enriched our daily program.

INFORMATION AND ORDERS:
Photos and Photo-Video-CDs are availabe:
Claudia.Henzler[at]henzlerworks.com

 

ARMELLE GIRODON, Dreaming of Heaven and Earth.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
(Psalm 105, 1-4)

When 13 year old Armelle is singing, her soprano voice seems to call down heaven to kiss the earth. Born into a catholic family, along with her 2 brothers and 3 sisters she first learned singing through the daily family prayers. Nowadays the young lady from Dijon dedicates about 9 hours per week to her vocal education.

 

DIJON, Bishop blessing the visitors of the Garden of the Poor Sisters

Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands, they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. (Psalm 91, 8-12)

 

DIJON, Curch Saint Michel, Romanic Interior

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." (Psalm 91, 1-2)

 

DIJON, Church Sain Michel, Wall Inscription near the Reliques of Saint Elisabeth of the Holy Trinity

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made; He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. (Psalm 33,6)

 

DIJON, Church of Saint Michel, Holy Water Font, Detail

For the angel of the Lord is a guard;he surrounds and defends all who fear him. (Psalm 33, 7)

 

DIJON, Notre Dame Church, Statue of Jeanne D´Arc

Lead me in Your truth and tach me, for You are the God of my salvation. (Psalm 25,5)

 

VEZELAY - St. Mary Magdalene Basilica, midday prayers of the Community of Jerusalem

We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near. (Psalm 75,1)

 

VEZELAY - Mary Magdalene Basilica. St. Anthony, Detail

Remember O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindness... (Psalm 25,6)

 

VEZELAY - sisters of the Community of Jerusalem departing from the Mary Magdalene Basilica after their midday prayers

Show me your Ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. (Psalm 25,4)

 

VEZELAY - Cemetary Detail

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons- because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High, therefore He brought down their heart with labor, they fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the chidtren of men. For he has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two. (Psalm 107,1+9-16)

 

RIMONT

Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord. For He is coming, for He is coming... (Psalm 96, 12-13)

 

VEZELAY

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights!
Praise Him, all His angels, Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Praise the Lord from the earth, fire and hail, snow and clouds, stormy wind, fulfilling His word; mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars, Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, both young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. (fragments of Psalm 148)

 

PARAY-LE-MONIAL - Sacré Coeur, Detail of a Capital at the Entry

God sleeps in the rock. He dreams in the plants and awakes in man.

 

RIMONT - Monk of the Community of Saint John

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, my Kind and my God, for to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning. I wil direct it to You, and I will look up. (Psalm 5, 1-3)

 

SEMUR - Sunrise

And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord. (Psalm 89, 5)

 

SEMUR - Nun, praying

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. (Psalm 90, 1-2)

 

SEMUR

How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. (Psalm 84,1-2)

 

SEMUR, Novice of the Community of Saint John

There is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogehter. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from your Spirit? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. (Psalm 139, 4-10)

 

VEZELAY, Jesus Christ, Detail on a Grave

To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my defense, my God of mercy.
(Psalm 59, 17)

 

VEZELAY, flowers on a cemetary

How precious are your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You. (Psalm, 139, 17-18)

 

RIMONT, Sunrise

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens! When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. (Psalm 8, 1+3-5)

 

ANCY-LE-DUC, Cemetary

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23, 1-4)

 

VEZELAY, Mary Magdalene Basilica

Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me Your statutes. (Psalm 119,135)

 

VEZELAY - Mary Magdalene Basilica, Capital Detail

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anonoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23, 5-6)

 

ST. MARTIN LA VALLEE, monk of the Community of Saint John, singing the morning prayers.

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You. I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. (Psalm 9, 1-2)

 

VEZELAY, Cemetary Detail

To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock: do not be silent to me... (Psalm 28,1)

 

SEMUR, Fields

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young - even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house. they will still be praising You. (Psalm 84, 3-4)

 

ANCY-LE-DUC, farm land

Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name. All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You. (Psalm 66,1+4)

SALVE REGINA



Even though the video does display the beautiful voices of the Choir of the Cathedral of Einsiedeln, this song beautifully reminds me of the SALVE REGINA, that the community of Saint John sings almost every day.