A Traditional—But Bizarre!—Way To Assist At Mass

ECAUSE I served on the committee which produced the Brébeuf hymnal, I was allowed to examine all the source material. Our team spent five years scanning thousands of pages of old Catholic hymnals, so we would be fully aware of the traditions. (The quality of the hymns varied greatly.) Something we found often was a tradition of singing English throughout Low Mass. I know it sounds incredible, but Catholics used to sing vernacular hymns while the priest was quietly offering Mass in Latin. If you doubt what I say, feel free to examine the full documentation.

I won’t repeat what I’ve already explained about this bizarre practice, which I don’t endorse. Some people will probably object, saying children need a way to participate in Mass; and I do understand such a sentiment. But—in my humble opinion—these musical compositions and the poetry (see below) are of a very poor quality. Pope Leo XIII said people should pray the Rosary during Mass, and I feel that makes a lot more sense than (for example) singing English hymns while the priest quietly proclaims the Gospel. I don’t want to condemn people’s devotion; it just strikes me as bizarre.

Today, I release for your consideration another example of singing English during Low Mass, taken from the Crown of Jesus Roman Catholic Hymnal (London, 1864):

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A closer view of that page:

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