Frank and I talked this morning about how we act like our parents, and how we feel about that. In general, it's good for both of us. We both get much of our working behavior from our fathers, and I get a lot from my mom. When we notice this behavior, it feels good, empowering--like a conversation with them that's gone well. We don't see much bad in our relationship stemming from this.

At the silo, I sang:
Morning Prayer--Monday of the 2nd week of Lent. Noticed: Psalm 19A
The heavens proclaim the glory of God
and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.
Day unto day takes up the story
and night unto jnight makes known the message.

NO speech, no word, no voice is heard
yet their span extends through all the earth,
their words to the utmost bounds of the world.

There he has placed a tent for the sun;
it comes forth like a bridegroom coming from his tent,
rejoices like a champion to run its course.

At the end of the sky is the rising of the sun;
to the furthest end of the sky is its course.
There is nothing concealed from its burning heat.

I've never really noticed this part of Psalm 19 before. Earlier this morning we'd prayed, "Holy Spirit, we look for you in the rising of the sun, in unexpected smiles from people we meet, in our work and in our relationships. Be with us today."

This would be a good psalm to work up as a unit, with its Latin antiphon. The antiphon in morning prayer is: "The vaults of heaven ring with your praise, O Lord." How can I go about finding the Latin chant for this?

Well, let me see where I find Psalm 19 in the Antiphonale Monasticum. Nope. It doesn't work that way. Maybe I can get the internet to translate the english into Latin.

Google says:

Your search - Latin "The vaults of heaven ring with your praise, O Lord." - did not match any documents.

(Interesting. The ads are trying to sell me O-rings. The only thing I know of that needs O-rings is the Challenger shuttle. )

It doesn't look as if the Antiphon is a line in the psalm.

I just got 39 Latin possiblibites for the English "vault" . That's not particularly useful. So, I guess I'll just keep my eyes open for this one.

Back to the program--after morning prayer, I sang "Morning Has Broken" on "Oh." I'm working on the O sound, and haven't done much of it in the past few days. I'll sing for Amy on Wednesday, so that gives me three days. INteresting: in the silo, it was easy to hit all the notes, even when I pitched it in a high key. Confidence? or just the echo?

New piece: Tibi dixit cor meum, quaesivi vultum tuum, vultum tuum Domine requiram: ne avertas faciem tuam a me. This is from Psalm 26(27), but it does not correspond to the text, as far as I can tell. The chant has a distinctive sound-effect--namely the long expressive passage on Do, dropping finally to la. So, I think this gives license to explore the canyon effect. I can't wait to try this one in St. Joe church, where the long echo is probably more like the writers experienced.

I sang Misereris omnium, Domine (Sap. 11, 24-25.27; Ps. 56, Graduale Triplex 62), which is exquisite. That which guides the universe takes even our faults, sins and failings, and, in loving them and us, can turn them into good. Our penitance is required, though. Humility and repentance, and constant attention to making amends.

Big decision to make in the next hour: Do I call Barbara, who needs help at the parish? I got her into that. But I don't want to commit to it. If I go for a few days, am I dragging myself into something I have managed to walk away from, and should stay away from? Or is it the right thing? I have more than enough to do here.