Christendom College will host a special “Advent Lessons and Carols” service in Christ the King Chapel at 7:00 p.m. on December 7. The college’s new St. Cecilia Choir, directed by Debbie Harne, wife of Christendom President George A. Harne, Ph.D., will perform ten musical pieces and a Matins Responsory, including classic motets like Hassler’s Dixit Maria, traditional carols such as O Come Divine Messiah, and adaptations of chants like O Come, O Come Emmanuel. The event is free and open to the public.
“Advent Lessons and Carols” is a new event at the college, though deeply rooted in both Anglican and Catholic tradition.
“Lessons and Carols was first sung in England in 1880 in the Anglican Truro Cathedral,” says Harne. “This para-liturgical service has been adopted by Catholics as a way to help prepare for the coming of Christmas. While the exact structure varies, the service always includes a series of lessons from scripture with each followed by a carol in response to the lesson. Some Advent Lessons and Carols are sung at the end of Advent and include Christmas carols. However, ours will take place on the second Sunday in Advent and will stay firmly planted in that season.”
Harne helped launch the college’s new St. Cecilia Choir earlier this year to provide music for special liturgical and para-liturgical events, such as Lessons and Carols. The new event fills an important place in Christendom’s musical offerings and will offer a fitting preparation for Christmas during the Advent season.
“Offering the celebration of an Advent Lessons and Carols service seemed to be a perfect fit,” said Harne. “God calls us to lift our voices in praise of Him in every season, and this service allows us to do so as a community during Advent.”
While the college already offers men’s and women’s scholas that sing for weekday Masses and a mixed choir for Sunday Mass, the St. Cecilia Choir marks the college’s first seasonal ensemble. Christendom’s musical opportunities are open to all students, not just those pursuing a music degree. With a mixed choir, student-run folk group, orchestral ensemble, and separate male and female scholas already active on campus, St. Cecilia Choir provides yet another opportunity for students to use their musical talents to enrich the Christendom community.
Christendom’s Advent Lessons and Carols service will take place in Christ the King Chapel at 7:00 p.m. on December 7. Parking will be available in the chapel’s connected lot.
Contributed by Bridget Palm ’28.