Posted on 03/07/2005 5:42:13 AM PST by NYer
What an ironic twist .... the Episcopal Church discovers Gregorian Chant while the Catholic Church embraces 'Amazing Grace'.
Where have these people been? I've been a cantor in the Episcopal Church for 15 years.
I could use a change from "Christian top 40".
"What an ironic twist .... the Episcopal Church discovers Gregorian Chant while the Catholic Church embraces 'Amazing Grace'."
This is nothing that replacing 250 or so "Catholic" bishops in the U.S. couldn't cure. Most of our bishops appear to be as Catholic as my dog.
New GIRM rules, we must stand immediately following the song.
my Catholic parish has been incorporating some Latin and English chants for Lent. I honestly don't know if they would qualify as plainsong or Gregorian chant, though I'm guessing the former since the whole congregation sings it. Sometimes our choir sings in Gregorian chant after communion, and it is just beautiful. I adore Gregorian chant and other Latin church music, and hope more parishes around the country are able to use it.
I cannot understand why any bishop would be against singing in Latin. At a former, far less traditional parish, we often sang contemporary songs in Spanish, even though the congregation had almost no Hispanic members. I always thought, if we can sing in Spanish, a language almost no one here speaks, why the heck can't we sing in Latin? Sadly, not a word of Latin was heard in the parish, and the only times we sang songs older than 1970 were Christmas and the Marian feast days (hymns like "Immaculate Mary" and "Hail HOly Queen Enthroned Above")
Our Very Catholic Choirmaster is a big fan of chant. We sing a LOT of chant - at almost every service.
His S.O.P. (which I think is very good) is if we sing a polyphonic anthem with a traditional text, first we sing the chant then lead into the anthem. There are tons of pairs that work extremely well this way - Ubi Caritas, the Magnificat (with any number of anthem settings), etc. etc.
I actually had to learn to read the Solesmes notation. . . . we're reading it off the original texts from the Liber Usualis (or the short version, Chants of the Church). . . and I found a copy of the short version for sale on line cheap cheap cheap.
And yes this is a VERY orthodox parish. Praise the Lord!
Sometime back, I read an article which noted that this hymn does not express Catholic faith and is inappropriate in a Catholic Church. Of course, I can't find it right now.
I notice we can sing many songs which were forbidden years ago. I wonder if there is a list somewhere?
I could almost stand the Novus Ordo if they'd just get rid of the chick "music minister" that always gets up at the lectern. You know, she also is the one that sings the "Responsorial Psalm" at the new Mass. I just can't get past the hand. Folks who attend Mass must know what I mean. She's up there, doing her little solo-part, then she does that little flick with the hand, that palm up sweeping motion. You know, the sign that says, "You peons may now join in the singing."
There is /nothing/ that drives me more nuts than "the hand". I can't hack it. I wind up walking out muttering, "The hand. The hand. Will you stop with the hand. In the name of God, quit it with the hand."
Thanks so much for posting...Hub and I love chant, we hear it at a nearby Trappist Abbey.
At one time, our then 2 yo granddaughter used to shush us when we played a tape of it for her; she still likes to play the tape at bedtime, after her prayers.
A humble yet sincere suggestion. You attend Church to praise and worship God. Remember what our Lord said:
"If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna."
Matthew 5:29.
If the hand motion bothers you, sit somewhere in the church where you won't see the psalm leader - or - look down at the missalette during that time. If necessary, close your eyes. I did that so many times in my previous parish, to avoid these 'near occasions of sin'. Consider moving to a different parish but whatever you do, for the sake of your sanity and soul, try to avoid this distraction.
An "Amazing Grace" is not even Catholic in content!!!!!
No they don't!
The children sing this version at the Children's Mass. Thank goodness that is not too often.
Wish I could find the link to the article which provided the justification for this. Any ideas?
Rasing her hand is much more respectful that our music minister who yells out: (at some Masses)
"Now all join in!"
A cantor raising their hand is much more respectful and reverent! Think about it and count your blessings!
It has to do with the idea that "grace" bought our saving.
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