Details About Sung Masses In “The Old Days”
“During a High Mass, the Choir will begin the Graduale etc. while the Priest recites the Epistle.” — St. Gregory Hymnal (1941)
“If we do not love those whom we see, how can we love God, Whom we do not see?” Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
A theorist, organist, and conductor, Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004), and did graduate work in Musicology. He serves as choirmaster for the new FSSP parish in Los Angeles, where he resides with his wife and children.—Read full biography (with photographs).
“During a High Mass, the Choir will begin the Graduale etc. while the Priest recites the Epistle.” — St. Gregory Hymnal (1941)
Here are seven (7) videos explaining how to sing according to the rhythm of the Editio Vaticana (Vatican Edition) created by Abbot Pothier at the request of Pope Pius X.
Some editors believe in their hearts there is only one “correct” way
“I have noticed that when the present Lectionary occasionally proposes a ‘Shorter Form’ for one of the Gospel readings, the lines edited are something Our Lord said that comfortable people would rather He had not said.” — Fr. George W. Rutler
When a certain bishop stood up at Vatican II and expressed concern that “the entire Mass might be held in the language of the people,” the entire hall burst into uproarious laughter.
“In this country either for want of books or inability to read, the great part of our congregations must be utterly ignorant of the meaning and sense of the publick offices of the Church.” — Archbishop of Baltimore (1787)
“Whenever school children must be placed in the choir loft at High Mass, the Boys may sing but the Girls must keep silent, unless the whole congregation takes part in the singing.” — Diocese of Pittsburgh Regulations (1931)
“Stella Splendens” features unaccompanied sacred vocal music sung by six ladies in high school.
This short video might annoy your friends … yet it just might get us thinking!
“Impelled by the weightiest of reasons, we are fully determined to restore Latin to its position of honor.” — Blessed John XXIII (22 February 1962)
On 17 April 1980, Blessed John Paul II approved and confirmed a document saying, “Females are not permitted to act as altar servers.”
Is it really true that any style of music can be lawfully used at Mass?
A Catholic bishop once said to me: “One of the greatest proofs of the truth of Christianity is the fact that the Church is still here in spite of the incompetence and villainy of her frail priests and all-too-human bishops.”
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