May Street Tapes - Good Night Prayers. Conclusion, with Mystery Poem.

Angels are the subject of the mystery poem, the prayer in verse, that runs from 2:43 to 3:43.

JPZ and JFZ Johnny read it together - is sounds like four lines - after which we hear JPZ's voice saying teraz razem. That is "now once".  Razem is a time, an occasion, an instance of something occurring.

So JPZ says teraz razem, whereon the two of them repeat the verse.

Then, in what is the most poignant part for me, we hear our JPZ say OK teraz Daddy.

JPZ performs the verse, in a way that emphasizes the phrasing; quite beautiful.

Then JPZ says teraz Johnny. Following the demonstration, the pupil has another go at the verse.


The show ends with the Goodnight Song in duet. There is a break in the tape, followed by a JPZ solo rendition, in a lower key no doubt more comfortable for him, and very possibly after a little nip, a little nightcap.

I've searched so far in vain for the text to this angel prayer. Can anybody make a suggestion?

Marty, thanks so much for retrieving these files for us so they can be archived.

May Street Tapes - Good Night Prayers. Zdrowaś Marjo, Hail Mary

We continue with Johnny's recording debut. Last episode featured Ojcze nasz, Our Father. This time we consider Zdrowaś Marjo, the recitation of which runs from 0:55 to 1:30.

Zdrowaśka is the name of the prayer itself:  Ave Maria, or "Hail Mary".


It starts off with the greeting attributed to the Angel Gabriel:

Zdrowaś Marjo, łaskiś pełna, Pan z tobą!

AVE MARIA, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.

Hail, Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with thee!


Next it offers a different greeting to Mary, this one given to her as she approaches the front door of her cousin Elizabeth's house, to stay and help her out during Elizabeth's last trimester of pregnancy with the future John the Baptist:

Błogosławionaś Ty między niewiastami,

Benedicta tu in mulieribus,

Blessed art thous among women,



i błogosławion owoc żywota Twojego, Jezus.

et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.


           (I repeated this prayer for several years as "FROO dove THY woom". Finally I figured out what the words were and meant.  In the meantime the adults surrounding me were spared being asked strange questions. But instantly on figuring it out I pounced on Sister Mary Ora and demanded to know why Mary married Joseph. Shouldn't she have married God? Wait, why hadn't she married God previously? Sister Mary Ora kept herself together there in Sunday school class, but the convent walls must have rung with laughter later on.)

The prayer concludes with direct speech from the person to Mary, asking for her intercession with her Son on behalf of the supplicant:

święta Marjo, Matko Boża, módl się za nami grzesznymi

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, 

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,


teraz i w godzinę śmierci naszej!  Amen.

nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

now, and in the hour of our death.  Amen.


The particulars of the Annunciation are expressed very beautifully in the Advent hymn Archanioł Boży Gabryjel.

And then of course, Gounod set the prayer to a Bach Prelude, transfixing hearers with the beauty ever since.

Kocham was - 

Julie

Marilla Christmas

Dad (EJZ), Mom (CAMZ) and Rita Sonnelitter,
c1970.

John (JFZ) and Tye, age 3.

Grandfather Clock, Then and Now

John Peter Zdrojewski, our JPZ, came to America on the boat in 1903 with his parents, Ludwig and Victoria Zdrojewski.  As a young man in Buffalo, he worked for a time in a carpentry shop.  We have a photo of the crew in the shop.  JPZ is second from right, identified for us by his son John, our JFZ.

John Peter built a grandfather clock, a "case clock," at home.  Family legend has him just finishing it up on the kitchen table when his firstborn, Eugene, our EJZ, was born in the next room.  That was October 7, 1923.

So it was always in the house, on St. Louis Street and then on May Street, in Buffalo.  Below we see Eugene home from Orchard Lake - high school? or college? - at Christmastime.  The grandfather clock is in the background, obscured by that lamp.

In 1940, JPZ's younger brother Casimir Zdrojewski and his wife Cecelia brought their firstborn, Paul, to visit.  Here is the photo of the young family seated by the grandfather clock.

During World War II, while Eugene was away 1943-1945, JPZ made a photo series about being a parent on the home front.  We have seen the photo below, here and also here.  This is the best photo we have found so far of that clock.

The grandfather clock moved to the Marilla house some time after its completion in 1957.  We have yet to find a photo of that clock in its place in the Marilla house!  That is a shock.  With luck we will find some.  It was important; it was a fixture; so where are the pictures?

In the 1980s Gene and Clara took the clock to somebody for refinishing.  We have a couple of Polaroids from their visit to the clock while it was in rehab.  Tye found them inside the case.

When the Marilla house was closed in 2008, the clock went to its new home with Tye and Kim Zdrojewski.  Thanks, Tye, for the photos.

The old, dark varnish had historic-sentimental value, but the new finish shows off the wood so much better.  Looks like curly maple, doesn't it?  

A treasure beyond price.

Witaj Królowo Nieba

"Hail, Queen of Heaven" is an old Polish hymn, traditionally sung at the graveside.  The singers ask Mary, Queen of Heaven, to intercede with her Son on behalf of the deceased, to hasten his admission to Heaven.  The simple melody sounds exactly like the voice and the tones of a child, a well-behaved and serious, loving and beloved child, asking his mother for favor and blessing for an important and worthy purpose.  The lyric conveys that request in simple, reverent, serious, yet confident phrases.

John Zdrojewski, our JFZ, gave a moving eulogy at the funeral of his brother Eugene, our EJZ, and one thing he mentioned was "Witaj Królowo Nieba."  This hymn the Zdrojewski sons, each in his turn, sang at funerals when they were altar boys at St. Luke's, wearing their robes, swinging the censer, accompanying the priest, and moving those present to tears.

This is Eugene's Polish hymnal, which is all new to me.  John has one, too, he tells me; everybody at St. Luke's had one.

"śpiewać" is "to sing;"   (similar to "spiel" and calling to mind our phrase "Don't give me that song and dance!")

"śpiewnik" is "songbook;"

"śpiewnik koscielny" is "songbook for church," hence "hymnal;"

"wielbij duszo moja pana śpiewnik koscielny"  can be rendered as a title and subtitle: 

"My Soul Glorifies my Lord - Sacred Songbook."

The volume format seems more intended for an organist than a chorister, and not too many lyrics are given.  So choristers would perhaps use this to learn a hymn for performance from memory.

 "Nihil obstat" proclaims the censor liborum: "Nothing stands in the way."  No doctrinal error stands in the way of use of this work by the faithful.

"Imprimatur," third-person singular present passive subjunctive of imprimo, print.

Hence, "It may be printed."

"Pieśni za Dusze Zmarłych" -  "Songs for the Souls of the Dead."

You see it just gives four bars, for which I do not know the proper names.  But they are an introductory phrase, the melody line with little lyric-phrasing marks, a long "Amen" phrase, and a final chord.

 Click to enlarge.

The Polish-American Liturgical Center at Orchard Lake Seminary (yes, our Orchard Lake) maintains a collection of these hymns.  Here are their lyrics for "Witaj Królowo Nieba."

Witaj Królowo nieba i Matko litości,
Witaj nadziejo nasza, w smutku i żałości!

K'Tobie wygnańcy Ewy wołamy, synowie,
K'Tobie wzdychamy płacząc z padołu, więźniowie.

Orędowniczko nasza, racz swe litościwe,
Oczy spuścić na nasze serca żałośliwe.

I owoc błogosławion żywota Twojego
Racz pokazać po zejściu z świata mizernego.

O łaskawa, pobożna, o święta Maryja,
Niechaj będą zbawieni wszyscy grzesznicy i ja.

O Jezu, niech po śmierci Ciebie oglądamy,
O Maryjo, uproś nam, czego pożądamy.

Uproś nam żywot wieczny, grzechów odpuszczenie,
A przy śmierci skon lekki i duszy zbawienie.

O Jezu, Jezu, Jezu, Jezu mój kochany,
Jezu wielkiej dobroci nigdy nie przebrany.

Źródło: Śpiewnik Stulecia Orchard Lake

This translation is offered here, where you can listen to a priest singing this hymn on an All Soul's Day at St. Casimir's Oratory in Buffalo.

Hail our Queen of Heaven and Mother of Mercy,
Hail our hope in sorrow and all adversity.
We, the banished sons of Eve, are calling out to Thee,
Sighing and weeping in this prison valley.
O our Mediatrix, direct Thy gaze so merciful
Upon our hearts unworthy, ever so pitiful.
Deign to show us Thy womb’s fruit
Glorious and most blessed,
When it’s time we leave this world
Miserable and wretched.
Hail Mary full of grace, piety and devotion
Let all sinners, me amongst them, obtain our salvation.

Julie

Gene Zdrojewski's Birthday

Eugene John Zdrojewski was born October 7, 1923.

On his 80th birthday he received this card from his brother John Francis.  He kept it.

"Johnny" Update

JFZ writes clarification of the previous post.: "The two other kids are my Auburn Kotwas cousins, Dick on left and Ken on the right."

"I think the man of the couple with my mother and me was my father's cousin of sorts. We met in Niagara Falls, Ontario. They were apparently mid-20th century immigrants from Poland and had to immigrate to Canada because of post-WWI marked immigration curtailment of people from eastern (and southern) Europe. Apparently they were anxious about coming to the US to meet for reasons not self evident to me. The reason I'm aware of this is that years later, when I was older and more savvy my father and I once again met them at the same location."

So the lady is not a relative of Eleanor.  Still, nice dress.

Julie

Johnny

I really need to fill out those insurance forms.  But there's other stuff on my desk!

Hell with it.

Not gonna make it to the Dalmatian Coast this year anyway, so I may as well take a virtual tour in time and space.

John Francis Zdrojewski was born in 1947.  Don't believe me?  Check it out at Familiae Personae Zdrojewski.

Neat how at Christmas we mix the Christian and the pagan elements together.  We have Saint Nicholas, and the Manger; we have Odin or Robin Goodfellow, precursors of the Saint, as well as evergreen trees and wreaths.  As individuals we are not atomized or isolated: we are  inheritors of history.

Nice wallpaper, too.

What's that on the mantel?

Święty Mikołaj!

So, John, you figure you're one year old, or two?  Is this 1948, or 1949?  Donna, what's your judgment?

"My Daddy likes Buster Keaton, and so do I !!"

Are these rivets?  Snaps?

Wow!  Santa Claus did come!  Looks familiar, too.  Can you imagine Clara gluing those cotton strips onto Gene's eyebrows?

Who knew Santa Claus had such a handsome nose?  And check out how he's got a good hold on his little bro; not letting him go.  Johnny's tie is terrific.  John, do you still have it?  Take a look around.  It might turn up!

And their hands.  Hand to hand; brother to brother.  What is in that little box? What?  What?

Who are these two other kids?

Who are the mystery lady and gent, first and second from the left?  The lady looks like Eleanor, who is there with Johnny.

Never in my life have I fashioned an article of clothing; - even in 7th grade Home Ec, my friends did all the thinking for me - nevertheless I did imbibe some tailoring terms while growing up.  Here in this collarless dress we have:  cap sleeves, black piping, contrasting buttonholing, appliqué, and a double row of rickrack.  How'd I do, Donna?

Whoops - when I click to enlarge, I see four rows of rickrack, two dark and two light.

Happy picnic to all, and to all a good weekend.

Julie

October 1945, St. Luke's Monthly Newsletter - Debate Contest Rules

At Eugene's funeral, his brother John gave the eulogy.  I recall John's voice as he reminded those present that Eugene loved debate and discussion, especially around the dinner table.  Paraphrasing here, I recall John saying, "But you had to follow the rules!  You had to be prepared to build and defend your argument!"

Now on looking over these St. Luke's Newsletters, we can discern one source of EJZ's conviction in these matters.  Father Walter L. Tomiak was Director of the PYC and the Debate Coach.

So here were kids in this working-class neighborhood learning the art and the discipline of rhetorical debate.  All of this was supported by voluntary contributions by households and individuals.  No one was forced to contribute; no one would be turned away from taking part or listening in.

Hot Times, Hot Dogs: Update

John has straightened me out about the hot dog post. 

"I think the caption is: "Taken in the summer",which is rather obvious, and it should be 1948.

The "three men with hot dogs" was taken at Glen Park, a small scale amusement park for children in Williamsville. It is Marty. And the young man on the right is my cousin, Dick Kotwas, then of Auburn, now a dentist near Plymouth, Ma. It was him and his two brothers that we visited with last summer in Saratoga."

Thanks, John.  That's why I put these things up: to get things straightened out.

Julie

Hot Times, Hot Dogs

Okay I'm invoking Curator's Privilege to travel, even lurch, forward in time here.  It's going to be 97 degrees today, so here for your sympathetic delectation we present "Jahew in the Summer."

That's Eleanor Zdrojewski's caption to this photo.  Too bad the Beach Boys never heard it; they could have run with the lyric.

So, John, can you verify for us that this is summer 1948?

Can you identify the location?  See that classic wood door in the left background?

See the update to this post!

On to hot dogs:

Hang on tight, here we go . . . 1954?  Is that Marty, or Mark, in the terrific hat with pom-pom?  He's chowing down with such verve that I can't really see his face.  Good work, kid.

John, is something the matter?  You're, what, six years old and you have a hot dog.  What could possibly go wrong?

Who is Mystery Boy, coolly regarding the photographer whilst tending properly to his own lunch?  And no mustard on that suit jacket yet!

And where is this taken?  Looks like a log cabin in the background, with tourists milling around.  A Santa's Village somewhere?

I invite you to send me photos of summer fun.  Our family is scattered around now, so it would be gratifying to be able to post pictures of all branches of the family.

Johnny's Graduation

JFZ, John Francis Zdrojewski, receives his diploma.
Is this Niagara U?  What is the year?  What was your cume?

Who knows?  This could have been an earlier graduation.
Let's say it was  and put  this  Total Cuteness up here.



Please post comments, folks, with details of these matters.  The younger generations thirst for knowledge out here.  Also, we can keep this graduation theme going; just email me photos and data about family members graduating and I will put them up.