Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”
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 […]
The “Blue Laws” were a series of fanatical laws enacted by the Puritans of the colony of Connecticut…
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…
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 […]
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.
To show our singers how special our music is, I’ve included ancient MSS for each piece—as well as rehearsal videos.
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. […]
The Brébeuf Hymnal provides ancient (Roman Catholic) English translations of this hymn, but Eleanor Parker found versions in Anglo-Saxon!
Did you know I communicate with dead Catholic composers? I’m not joking.
Abbot Pothier included a section called “De Ritibus Servandis In Cantu Missae.”
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.
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.
As the Gloria during Mass suggests, we should “thank Him simply because of His great glory.” When is the last time you did that?
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 […]
Consider the melody found in “Le Graduel Romain,” published in 1800—nine years before Napoleon Bonaparte kidnapped Pope Pius VII
