“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)
Here’s an audio excerpt (33 seconds) of a setting for Kyrie VIII which was recorded live last Sunday at our parish in Los Angeles. The setting (“Missa de Angelis”) is by composer Richard Rice, and you can download the free PDF if you click here and scroll to the bottom. I think Richard’s composition is […]
William F. Buckley speaking on television about Monsignor Ronald Knox.
“Custom preserves many things in liturgy after their first reason has ceased.” —Father Adrian Fortescue
Can Gregorian Chant be harmonized? Does it work?
Vernacular hymns at Communion during EF High Mass—your thoughts?
Covid restrictions here in California are still extremely severe—switching “two weeks to flatten the curve” into “two years to flatten the curve.” Since 2020, we’ve had police breaking into our church to check if everyone is wearing a mask…even when only 5-6 people are present! But we were allowed to have a small percentage of […]
…including rehearsal videos for each individual voice.
From a manuscript created circa A.D. 1497.
Also included: Five (5) rare rhyming renderings into English.
“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families […]
On Palm Sunday, the Passion was read. Immediately after mention is made of the betrayal by Judas, the Holy Eucharist is introduced. Is this not a condemnation of “Christians” who deny the Church teaching on the SANCTISSIMUM? Here is Matthew 26: And Judas that betrayed him, answering, said: “Is it I, Rabbi?” He saith to […]
What is a Catholic Hymnal? How old are these hymns?
The National Association of Pastoral Musicians has created “liturgical” materials honoring Buddha and Darwin.
Here’s a 20-second audio clip (live) from yesterday. It’s the INTROIT from Passion Sunday, when the Gospel says Jesus “hid himself” because the crowds wanted to kill Him…after He said He was greater than Abraham. Our parish uses The Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal for all sung Masses, and we cherish the choral supplement because […]
We are called to do something very strange…
This luscious manuscript was created about A.D. 1453 for a French Noblewoman.
When it seemed Father Jean de Brébeuf and his companions were about to meet death on 28 October 1637, he wrote a letter to his superiors. Here’s an excerpt: “It is a singular favor that His Goodness gives us, to allow us to endure something for love of Him. Now it is that we consider […]
There are so many wonderful Gregorian hymns, but the “HYMN TO SAINT JOSEPH” is my favorite.
I love Venerable Pius XII very much, but this particular change was unconscionable.
I consider myself a “flexible” choirmaster. When I sing with men who have low voices, I join with them at a low pitch. Here’s an excerpt from yesterday, which was LAETARE SUNDAY (the 4th Sunday of Lent). Later that same day, I sang at another Mass with a singer who has a very high voice. […]
I agree with Keven Smith that Covid-19 has been a huge boon to my skills of improvisation on the organ. I wanted to share this amazing email (which gave me such joy), sent to me by somebody I don’t know: “My name is —— and I attended the 7:00pm Mass today at St Vitus. The […]
You can’t have too many harmonizations of this piece!
Like everyone else, we are struggling under the Covid-19 restrictions. The number of singers we’re allowed have has been reduced in a severe way. But we charge forward, trusting in God. Here is a 50-second live excerpt from Mass last Sunday here in Los Angeles. Not many voices, but still beautiful (in my humble opinion).
Here’s something we tried recently, and I’d be grateful to hear your feedback.
Sophia Institute Press has authorized us to release marvelous secrets about the 3rd edition!
