PDF Download • “Mass Propers For Sundays And Holydays Set To Simple Melodies” (429 pages)
In 1947, this book was given a double “Imprimatur” by Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York.
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“Homily for the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM
Why have I been so blessed, and spared such hardships?
Lies, Lies, Lies
“Narrative lies” cannot exist without a storyteller.
Catholic Choirmasters • Never Fall For This!
Statements so appalling, egregious, and atrocious they must be corrected…
6 January 2021 • Anglicans on Plainsong
A book published by Anglicans in 1965 has this to say about Abbat Pothier’s Editio Vaticana, the musical edition reproduced by books such as the LIBER USUALIS (Solesmes Abbey): “No performing edition of the music of the Eucharistic Psalmody can afford to ignore the evidence of the current official edition of the Latin Graduale, which […]
PDF Download • “Essential Liturgical Chart”
I’ve never spent as much time creating a Liturgical Chart as I did for this one.
PDF Download • “Blessing of Epiphany Water”
An 18-page PDF for the Solemn Blessing of Water on the Eve of the Epiphany.
PDF Download • “Puer Natus In Bethlehem” — Simple Christmas Hymn (2 Pages)
This is one of my favorite Gregorian hymns; very catchy!
2 January 2021 • Temptation
When I see idiotic statements made on the internet, I go nuts. When I see heretics promoted by people who should know better, I get angry. Learning to ignore such items is difficult—very difficult. I try to remember the words of Fr. Valentine Young: “Do what God places in front of you each day.” When […]
PDF Download • “No woman shall kiss her child on the Sabbath or fasting day.”
The “Blue Laws” were a series of fanatical laws enacted by the Puritans of the colony of Connecticut…
“Homily — Feast of Mary, the Mother of God, Years ABC” • Father Valentine Young, OFM
We seem to be sitting around waiting for “that day” when everything in the world, in our country, and in the Church is going to be perfect…
31 December 2020 • “COMITES CHRISTI”
The feasts for Saint Stephen Proto-Martyr (26 December), Saint John the Evangelist The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved (27 December), and the Feast of the Holy Innocents (28 December) seem untouched by any liturgical reforms. These are very powerful feasts—I believe they once possessed octaves—and I believe they could sometimes “overpower” a Sunday feast. The rules […]
“Homily — Feast of the Holy Family, Year B” • Father Valentine Young, OFM
I can speak mainly from my experience with Indians, more specifically the Navajos; their native culture has a great respect and love for marriage and family life.
PDF Download • “Midnight Mass Musical Plan” (2020)
To show our singers how special our music is, I’ve included ancient MSS for each piece—as well as rehearsal videos.
23 December 2020 • A 5th? or 4th?
I have noticed that where the Editio Vaticana has a descending perfect fourth for the Gradual of Christmas Midnight Mass, many ancient manuscripts have a descending perfect fifth, which is pretty cool: Example A — Example B. The Vatican Edition is a CENTO, and never made any claim to be anything other than a CENTO. […]
PDF Download • “Creator Alme Siderum” with Organ Accompaniment
The Brébeuf Hymnal provides ancient (Roman Catholic) English translations of this hymn, but Eleanor Parker found versions in Anglo-Saxon!
“Improving As Musicians” • Eight Suggestions
Did you know I communicate with dead Catholic composers? I’m not joking.
The First Time We’ve Ever Done This Correctly!
Abbot Pothier included a section called “De Ritibus Servandis In Cantu Missae.”
“Blessing the Bell” • Most Rev’d Alejandro D. Aclan
When a monk hears the bell, he stops whatever he’s doing and immediately goes to prayer. It is the voice of God calling us to pray, to avoid sin, and to forget the things of this world and think of Him.
“Rorate Mass” (FSSP) • 12 December 2020
Attendance was standing room only. Afterwards, the children presented roses to Mary—as the entire parish prayed the Rosary—and then we consecrated California to Jesus Christ.
“Homily — 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B” • Father Valentine Young, OFM
As the Gloria during Mass suggests, we should “thank Him simply because of His great glory.” When is the last time you did that?
10 December 2020 • “Martinelli’s Letter”
My recent post on the repercussion has induced some to ask: “Can we just sing whatever rhythm we want for the Vatican Edition? What about mensuralism? What about Bonvin and Vollaerts?” For those of us who work in the Extraordinary Form, we must follow the rhythm of the Editio Vaticana, and this was addressed in […]
Offertory Compared • “Ave Maria” (4th Sunday of Advent) vs. “Ave Maria” (Immaculate Conception)
Consider the melody found in “Le Graduel Romain,” published in 1800—nine years before Napoleon Bonaparte kidnapped Pope Pius VII
9 December 2020 • A Cool Tradition
Before the reforms of the “Code of Rubrics” (1961), antiphons at Vespers were abbreviated in a cool way. For example, look at this antiphon, Ecce Veniet (from Vespers on the 4th Sunday of Advent). But that tradition—as far as I know—ended in 1961, with §191 which said: “The whole antiphon is always said before and […]
Gregorian Chant • “How To Sing The Repercussion” (such as: Bistropha, Tristropha, etc.)
Each monastery had its own particular way of singing plainsong.