..... Or you can attend an Eastern Catholic Divine Liturgy where you will find all of the above, especially a reverent Sign of Peace that brings smiles to all the congregation.
Our announcements go on and on. I could see announcing if there’s donuts and coffee afterwards...but other than that we ought just say “READ THE BULLETIN.”
Chanting psalms could be a wonderful thing, but then our organist wouldn’t be able to perform.
This is a good article. I see some points that can be applied to our Spanish liturgy, and some things we’re already doing.
For example, I like the idea of “chant,” or a simple Spanish song ;-), before the Mass “officially” begins. The Spanish-speaking congregation is not used to chant, so this would be a place to have it performed by the choir, without worrying about the congregation’s being flummoxed.
We also have the resources to sing more of the Psalms, which our parish does in the English services, while it hasn’t been the custom in the Spanish Mass. We could start with major feasts and see how it goes over.
I so agree with this guy’s 14 ways to improve. I have attended Masses where the Sign of Peace lasts for so long that you have time to offer your hand to everyone there. Also, I REALLY agree with this statement: “Cantors use microphones as if they’re music-video performers.” Please. I am worshipping here, save it for a stage. Singing the Kyrie is pleasing idea, as well.
Our music director has already implemented 90% of this.
I hear through the ecclesiastical grapevine that people are coming from all over to hear the music. It's a shame that reverent, authentic Catholic music is so darn rare!
Good suggestions all.
Great post. If only all our churches would adopt these guidelines. I find myself very distracted at Mass and this would help tremendously.
Prayer &/or reflection or a moment to say your own "favorite" prayer...But this is my favorite "improvement." Give us a minute to be alone with our thoughts.
Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist should be used in extraordinary circumstances. Not every Mass every Sunday. How about waiting to "receive" Holy Communion rather than running up to "take" Holy Communion. This is creating the appearance of a privileged class of the laity.
My prediction is that, if the liturgy were to be restored to its pre-Vatican II form, Mass attendance would increase exponentially.
What a great article. I agree with all her suggestions!
Many pastors (as ours does) have to pick their battles. Our pastor is improving our Mass each year since he came five years ago. I believe we will now see some leaps with the New Liturgy!
BTW, sending this to my priest. Thanks for the post.
LOL! We don’t have to worry about this in the Byzantine Rite. We stand for the entire service (except during the Epistle), the whole congregation chants in response to Father’s acclamations, back and forth,in the Divine Liturgy composed by St. John Chrysostom himself. There is no instrumentation, no handshaking, and all communicants receive on the tongue in both species, from a golden spoon. What’s to improve??
Why is this in the Evangelical Christian sidebar? You do this frequently.
Great article. We do most of this, which comes as a bit of a shock to the tourists.
I will say, though, that depending on the room, amplification can be a necessary evil. In a smaller church built before about 1960, you can get away with no mikes if you have a choir that can project and has decent diction. Part of the problem is to really make the music thing work, you have to have musicians who are trained to know what they are doing.
I do think that the peace and silence needs to be stressed. Mass is for worship, not a social hour. That's for coffee and donuts afterward.
For example, instead of a "gathering song" (gag) have the choir chant the Introit. For this coming Sunday (unfortunate minimalist translation): Listen, Lord, and answer me. Save your servant who trusts in you. I call to you all day long, have mercy on me, O Lord.
The Anglican Use Gradual (which we use in our Novus Ordo Masses): Bow down, O Lord, thine ear to me and hear me: O my God, save Thy servant that trusteth in Thee; have mercy upon me. O Lord, for I have called daily upon Thee.
How many parishes' music directors ever consider the Propers? They're mostly ignored and yet they should be primary in the music of the Mass. They're integral to the structure of each Sunday's Mass. Yet hardly any parish uses this most proper option.
Instead we have the four-hymn sandwich. A hymn, however dignified and stately and beautiful is no match for the actual Proper that belongs to those parts we've been accustomed to hearing and singing a liturgical song.
The structure of the Mass is compromised when all we rely on are the hymns. To recover what is truly Catholic, recover the Propers. Plain and simple. Then you get away from this debate on stylistic choices.
Fr. Columba Kelly has been writing them for years in a hermeneutic of continuity with tradition. They're simply breathtaking and in the vernacular. The Arbogast Complete English Propers has them. And Richard Rice has just complete the Simple Choral Gradual for the whole church year that is accessible for choirs and parishes that are not yet able to do Gregorian chant.
These are free! No longer does your parish have to be slaves to the OCP/GIA monopoly on church music. These people are offering this to the church for free. And the music is gorgeous.
And no, I do not work for the CMAA. Just an ordinary and obscure musician working in the hermeneutic of continuity and for the reform of the reform.
Sancta Cecilia, ora pro nobis.