Hear, O Israel (SATB)

This SATB choral octavo is saddle-stitched, with two staples. Here is a summary of the contents:

The core of Jewish liturgy, morning and evening, is the Shema [Hear, O Israel], with its blessings before and afterward. For over two thousand years, devout Jews have prayed these words over and over again.

This profession of faith is central to both the Jewish and the Christian religion. It is also certainly the daily prayer of Jesus Christ; see Luke 10:26-28. The Shema, with its blessings, is included in both Lauds and Vespers in the American Catholic Hymnbook. The Shema is central to our faith, our tradition, and our union with Jesus Christ.

This booklet is illustrated by the renowned Virginia Broderick. On the inside title page is an image of Jesus Christ, with the words of the Shema: "Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul and with all your mind."

Each of the seven blessings is followed by a unison acclamation for the congregation, "Blest be God! Blest be God!" with a simple four-part accompaniment. The full text of each blessing, as in the American Catholic Hymnbook, is printed in place, in sequential order.

Also included, underneath a menorah, is the Gregorian Chant Antiphon that forms the musical basis for this arrangement, Jerusalem, Surge, with its notes in traditional Chant format. Also included in this booklet is a brief history of the Shema, a listing of some books for further study, and a copy of the unison settings that can be copied, for use in the local parish or school, for the congregation. Christians and Jews both profess faith in only one God, the same God who revealed himself to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel. In opposition to those who worship other gods, those who worship other realities, we believe that there is only one God, that he alone is sovereign, that he alone is worthy of adoration. In fact, our first duty is to love him above all things. As Catholics remember from the Baltimore catechism, our first duty is "to know him, to love him, and to serve him."

The seven blessings that precede and follow the Shema are themselves ancient, going back perhaps to 200 A.D. or earlier. Their form is that of the biblical berakah, which begins by praising God ["blessing" him], perhaps including a petition, and concludes with another statement of praise. Similar prayers are said during Mass by the priest, over the bread and wine, at the Preparation of the Gifts.

This format of prayer, the berakah, was that used by Jesus Christ and the first Christians, especially at mealtime, other daily prayer, and at weekend worship.