Participation

There has been some discussion going on with other blogs about the sad day when music died. Seems this pastor wanted the congregation to be invited to sing the entrance antiphon, and the psalm response. It apparently did not matter whether it was English or Latin. In response, the choir kicked up their heels, shook the dust from their feet and left. In much of the comments the pastor has been taking a bit of heat. In my humble opinion, the pastor's request was legitimate, and even possible to fulfill, without loss of integrity.

One person was heard to say, "My heart is very sad. It is a sad day indeed for the status of Roman Catholic church music and lack of appreciation of historical musical modes." On further reading it seems not to be lack of appreciation of music, but ignorance of the liturgy by the musicians. Here, many months later, the Mass is still celebrated in Latin. It seems the choir was also devoted to sacred polyphany and to concerts and to cutting CDs.

There are different degrees of participation, and pride of place is to be given to chant and to the sacred traditions of the church. But the congregation should not be silent spectators, no matter how beautiful the music.

It was all chant and polypany at the Duomo in Florence Italy two years ago, and the Mass was sung in Latin and Italian. But I was able to sing the chant and understand the Latin even when I did not know the Italian. I was in a foreign land but felt right at home in the Sunday Eucharist. The Shrine Choir at the Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi in San Francisco does a beautiful job, but we got to sing the psalm, and they printed out the Credo for us to sing along. I visit that church when I can when I am at home. (Hey Peggy, I have no commitments on 2/16, want to go to Mass at the shrine?)

Here is what we will be singing at Bond Chapel for most of the next four Sundays before Lent starts. Most of it comes from Missa II from the Ordinary Time section form the Graduale Simplex The Antiphons are all printed for the assembly and they are invited and expected to participate. If it is in Latin, an English translation is provided. The more the music is repeated, the better the assembly does.

Tempus per Annum
Sundays in Ordinary Time

Antiphona ad Introitum: Psalm 18, You, Lord, have become my defender, BFW 230
Kyrie XVI, Liber Cantualis 4
Gloria de Angelis, Liber Cantualis 40
Psalmody: BFW 267,268, vs 1-6
Alleluia: Psalmus Alleluiaticus C I, Graduale Simplex, 239
Preparation of the Table: Intende Voci, Graduale Simplex 223
Sanctus XVIII (Liber Cantualis, 17)
Mysterium Fidei (Liber Cantualis, 18)
Amen (Liber Cantualis, 19)
Agnus Dei XVIII (Liber Cantualis, 23)
Communion: Cantabo Domino, Graduale Simplex 224, Fundamenta eius, Gradulae Simplex 264
Closing: Father We Thank Thee

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 10:29 PM link

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Whatever inner groanings...

In a parish community where I preached a mission last year, there is a school principal who apparently is still reminding them of "the prayer Fr. Jeff taught." Basically what I taught is something I learned from a spiritual director. Sometimes the words do not come. Sometimes words are unimportant. Sometimes all you can muster is a heavy sigh. The key is faith. Knowing the divine presence and resigning oneself to patience, if all one can do is sigh, it is still prayer. Breathing by itself, or being conscious of breathing is not, in itself, prayer. Prayer is about a relationship, and even in this relationship one can sometimes only come up with a sigh. That spiritual director learned this from St. Gaspar, so what I teach is basically what I have learned from St. Gaspar. He often wrote letters of spirituial direction. Letter 911 is one of my favorites. Eventually I may past the whole letter here. Here is a short stroke of Gaspar's pen:

The answer lies in the thought: what may one not await from prayer etc. Perhaps you may not feel that you can hold to your mode of life, and, if that is the will of God, why get upset? The basic consideration is that in aspiring towards God, with whatever inner groanings there may be, in being convinced of divine presence, the substantial nature of prayer is not lost. What is necessary is that we maintain the intention of serving God without becoming discouraged. I conclude by saying that you are like a person who sings out, but at the same time being deaf, does not hear the harmony. Think about this etc. God is strengthening you in humility, so, with his grace, work hard; and, I repeat, be courageous.

from Letter 911 to Mr. Giovanni Francesco Palmucci, June 24, 1824

This passage came to mind when I was pondering the situation at St. Sabina's. All I can come up with is a heavy sigh.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 5:24 PM link

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Catholic?

I have not been there, so I should probably keep my mouth shut. However, one can wonder if this is indeed a Catholic Church we are talking about. sigh......

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 5:01 PM link

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Consecrated Life

Here is the Vatican link to the Pope's homily on the World Day of Consecrated Life.

Earlier I had only been able to find it in Italian. There is a web service that translates web pages in other languages. There is now a link to it on my side bar on the right. When using mechanical translations like this it is important to know that these services do not understand Church Langage and customs. This means that you have to have a sense of humor and read through the translation to see if it actually is translated right. This became most clear when the Pope begans an address with Carissimi Fratelli e Sorelle! and it gets translated as Most expensive Siblings and Sisters! instead of My dearest Brothers and sisters. In another place on our CPPS Italian site our shrine “Madonna del Fosco” gets translated as “Madonna of the gloomy one” instead of “Sorrowful Mother.”

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 2:24 PM link

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