* Live Rec. • “Absolution of the Body” (Gregorian Chant)
When a catafalque is used—instead of a dead body—the priest does not say the “Non Intres” prayer.
PDF Download • Beautiful Requiem Mass Image
“Every diocese, almost every church, had its own customs. Our present rule dates from the revived missal of 1570.”
“New” Cracked Altar Defaces Baroque Church
This travesty has been called “extensive restoration.”
ICEL added “Died” to the Nicene Creed • (I am not kidding!)
I bet you never noticed this, but here’s the proof! • Believe it or not, the Nicene Creed never says Our Lord “died,” and this article provides full documentation; also included are beautiful manuscript images from the greatest Dutch illuminated manuscript in the world: Catherine of Cleves Hours (15th century MS.)+
“Homily for the Feast of Christ the King” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM
In many of His parables and teachings, Christ let us know that His Kingdom on earth was always what I am going to call “an unfinished product.”
PDF Download • Extremely Simple (Yet Gorgeous) Polyphonic Funeral Mass
These rehearsal videos were recorded by one person, and he apologizes for the poor singing quality…
20 October 2020 • “What we can’t share”
Almighty God has given to us the example of the Jesuit Martyrs of North America, whose feast day we celebrated yesterday. Of course, along with those eight martyrs we honor their associates, e.g Father François Bressani. I can’t share with you the torments Father Bressani underwent at the hands of Iroquois: it is too brutal. […]
19 October 2020 • Feast of Father Brébeuf
When the young priest saw the burnt and bleeding body of his superior, aghast and trembling he spoke the words of St. Paul: “We are made a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men.”
Dom Pothier • “To The Eyes And To The Ears”
For years, I couldn’t understand this business about “the eyes and the ears.” What did Pothier mean? Then it hit me. • Topics include Dom Joseph Pothier, the mora vocis, Abbot Pothier’s brother (Dom Alphonse Pothier), Dom Lucien David, Dom Paul Jausions, and a truly magnificent story about Pope Pius X and Abbot Pothier, which is essential reading+
The “Mora Vocis” • What is that?
The “Pre-NOH” editions have quite an idiosyncratic way of lengthening the neumes. • Fulsome illustrations are included examining and explaining the mora vocis of the Vatican edition; also mentioned is Dom André Mocquereau, Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val, and Pothier’s Liber Gradualis (1883)+
13 October 2020 • Chopin talks Bach
My “pianist pedigree” goes from my teacher through Wiktor Łabuński through Felix Blumenfeld, who studied with Anton Rubinstein. I always considered myself part of the “Bach-Mozart-Chopin school” as opposed to the “Handel-Beethoven-Liszt school.” (Needless to say, there’s great overlap between these schools.) Before giving a concert, Frédéric Chopin would always shut himself up in a […]
PDF Download • “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord” (Responsorial Psalm)
Including a written tutorial on how to perform Chabanel Psalms correctly.
12 October 2020 • True Story
Before a Low Mass, the priest ascends the Altar to place the Chalice, check the altar Missal, and do other “preparing” tasks. The organist must be prepared to play here, and—depending upon the priest—this can be of surprising length! For certain priests, I can easily play all six verses of a hymn while he’s doing […]
“Homily for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM
I think we can learn something from this pagan official.
Catholic Architecture • “Modern vs. Ancient”
A picture is worth 1,000 words…