Music for the New Translation

The preparation for the new translation is underway.

In an effort to foster diocesan unity, Bishop Sample of Marquette, MI, has indicated that he would like to begin with one common Mass setting that can be used by the parishes/missions as well as for diocesan events. The musical setting chosen is Mass of Resurrection by Randall DeBruyan, published by OCP.

Listen to this Mass here. Or here are some of the various parts separately:

Glory to God; Holy, holy; We proclaim your death; Save us Savior; Amen.

These settings are elegant, simple, beautiful. Although rendered in these samples by a choir and a trumpet accompanying the organ, I think they are easily within the capability of a parish of modest means. The melodies will be easy to pick up by a congregation.

And if every parish in the diocese will have at least this setting as a standard, it will make for great unity at diocesan Masses.

Examples of Chant to be used in the new English Missal

The diocese of Marquette has launched its website on preparing the people of the diocese for the new translation of the Roman Missal: One Banquet, One Sacrifice, One Voice. The new translation is scheduled to be in use from First Sunday of Advent 2011.

The website is still being updated but gives a clear programme of preparation and catechesis.

Of particular interest to me was the link to The Chant Cafe with its tutorial videos on the chants to be used in the English Mass. They are clearly modelled on Gregorian Chant.

Here's the Gloria, for example:



Do go and listen to the others. May we hope for an end to 'big music' in the Mass and a return to the sober intoxication that characteris the authentic Roman Liturgy?

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The Mass, Old and New

I have just seen Damian Thompson's blog post about the attempts by Scottish Liturgists to block the use of James MacMillan's composition at the Papal Mass in Bellahouston Park. See MacMillan's Daily Telegraph blog post: How trendy 'liturgists' tried to stop my Mass being performed for the Pope.

The two pictures Thompson uses on his blog are quite funny but they illustrate what I have just experienced earlier this evening at the Northern Michigan University Catholic Campus meeting.

An old-style Mass before the papal reforms...

... and the updated style of liturgy favoured by younger catholics.

After our study of the Sunday readings, the students themselves mentioned that they had heard that the 'Tridentine' Mass was to be introduced at St Peter's Cathedral here at Marquette. They all expressed excitement about the prospect and said how young people want to know more about the tradition of the Church.

I am reminded of a very wise reply a priest-friend of mine made to a suggestion by an older religious sister (one of those whose orders are sadly dying out, who do not wear a habit and who live in their own apartments rather than in community) that he was somewhat conservative. 'Oh no, Sister, I don't think I could be described as conservative - what is there to conserve of the modern church?' Hoots of laughter around the table. (Please, please, I hope readers have a sense of humour - the priest in question is an extremely well qualified canonist, is a parish priest who looks after more than one parish church, celebrates Mass in both Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms, incorporating the improvements of Pope Benedict XVI in the former.)

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Youth Liturgy needs to do a 180 degree turn

Thanks to Fr Finigan's Hermeneutic of Continuity blog for carrying this item concerning an interview given by Cardinal Cañizares Llovera (Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Sacraments, the dicastery that oversees liturgical matters in the Church) to the German Catholic newspaper Die Tagespost on the occasion of the third anniversary of the publication of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum.

Fr Finigan quotes the following words concerning the participation of young people at the Liturgy, which could very well apply to so-called youth Masses, Life Teen liturgies, etc:

We need a new introduction to Christianity. Also for children and young people. An introduction to the liturgy does not only mean to know something about the celebration, although of course that is indispensable both theologically and doctrinally. Young people and children should participate in liturgies celebrated with great dignity, which are entirely permeated by the mystery of God in which the individual konws himself to be included. Active participation does not mean to do something, but to enter into the worship and the silence, into listening and also the prayer of petition and all that which really constitutes the liturgy. As long as that does not happen, there will be no liturgical renewal. We have to turn around one hundred eighty degrees. Youth ministry should be a place where the encounter with the living Christ in the Church takes place . Where Jesus Christ appears as someone of yesterday, neither liturgical education nor active participation is possible. As long as the awareness of the living Christ does not awake again, nothing will come of the much-needed renewal.

To turn 180 degrees means to go in the opposite direction to which one has been travelling. It means to stop going in the wrong direction, further and further away from our tradition and authentic liturgy, and to return to a renewed understanding and experience of the transcendent in the liturgy. Noisy guitars and drums, I'm sorry, do not help one pray the Mass.

My experience has been that introducing children at a young age to the beauty of chant gives them a sense of 'awe and reverence' at Mass. The use of incense, candles, processions also enhances this. Oh, and altar rails provide a clear sense that there is a part of the Church - quite rightly called the Sanctuary - which is more sacred than the rest by reason of the Sacrifice that is offered there and the liturgical actions that are performed there.

Pentecost and Harmony

Last Pentecost (2009) the Holy Father said the following in his homily referring to the unity of the apostles gathered in prayer with Mary (it was 31st May, feast of the Visitation):

The music and singing that accompany this liturgy help us likewise to be with one accord devoted to prayer, and for this I express my deep gratitude to the Cathedral Choir and the Kammerorchester of Cologne. Joseph Haydn's Harmoniemesse has very appropriately been chosen for this liturgy on the bicentenary of his death, the last of the "Masses" composed by the great musician and a sublime symphony to the glory of God.

I have put a couple of tracks on autoplay in the mixpod on my sidebar. Hope you enjoy it. How sublime it would be to have this at our Pentecost Mass tomorrow! (If it blocks your dial-up, just let me know and I'll set autoplay off.)

Henryk Gorecki and Arvo Part

Have just taken a bit of time out to watch this most beautiful programme from the BBC's Sacred Music series. To hear two men from a modern yet past era speak about their faith in God and the inner dialogue that produces such beautiful music was truly moving, as is the music they composed.

There is much to learn for the Church. Part says words to the effect that: "I don't want to offend my listeners but I have nothing to say to them. My music is a fruit of a dialogue I have with myself." I would like to think that what he means is that he is listening to the inspiration of God within him. And the sacred music he produces is something transcendent, that is outwith this world, draws you out of this world and to a higher plane.

This is what the Sacred Liturgy should do too, and what our preaching must be the fruit of. The Church has tried for too long to be 'relevant.' The more it stays true to its timeless nature, the more it will respond to the yearning of modern man who despairs if he places his trust in this world but who soars if he places his hope in the transcendent, i.e. the Divine.

The progamme makes clear the link between religion, culture and the freedom that Poland and Estonia won from the Soviet Union.

The programme is available to watch on the BBC iplayer until 9.29pm Friday 9th April or you can download it to watch it later.

If you love Sacred Music...

... you have got to watch this series.

Many of my parishioners are experiencing a sense of grief just now. I am going through an emotional roller coaster. Watching this programme about Brahms and Bruckner (available until 9th April on the BBC iplayer) harmonised with all that is happening just now. Watch it and listen to it and see how these two men, one with not much faith in God but with faith in his music, the other a devout Catholic who hoped that God would consider his music and treat him with mercy, have composed music that touches the human heart and raises us to God.

It was just right for me at present.

Oh, and please pray for my dearly beloved parishioners.

As I have said before, I believe that no organisation does this sort of thing better than the BBC.

Pope Benedict and The Priests nominated for Classic BRIT awards

I'm not sure how good Alma Mater is but wouldn't it be fun if it or The Priests won the award? You can vote here.

Prayers on Radio 3 for the former Bishop of London - now a Catholic!

As I was reviewing and revising/updating tomorrow's Canon Law lecture, I had the sublime Choral Evensong from St Paul's Cathedral playing through the computer. It was a 1982 archive broadcast. When they came to the intercessions, they prayed for 'Graham our bishop.' Graham is now Mgr Graham Leonard. I hope Anglicans listening will have seen the funny side of this. Say a prayer for them.


Listen again if you want to hear a beautiful service.

UPDATE: See sad news about Mgr Leonard's health in the combox. Pray for him and his family.

Komm, Jesu, Komm!

I happened to 'listen again' to the BBC Prom 17 consisting of Bach's motets. With all the depressing talk of assisted suicide going on at present, I found this conert so consoling. You can only listen to it for another two days (and then, I presume, only if you are in the UK). Must get a recording of it!