Orthodoxy - the Obvious Choice

The two videos below are from two valid Masses in the United States. However, the one is markedly different from the other. The first one is from a "Teen Mass." I guess a regular "Mass" isn't good enough for some people. When I watched this video, I was struck by how trite the whole thing is. There's more effort going into throwing the slides on the screen than there is in trying to read the Word of God worthily. The second video is from the 2007 Sacred Music Colloquium in Washington. Now when you compare the two, and you measure the reverence, the piety, the tastefulness, the beauty, and the eye appeal, the obvious "winner" is the second video.

Why?

The Mass is a reenactment of Calvary - it is not a talent show, a powerpoint presentation, a chance to socialize, or an opportunity to meet new friends. It is Heaven on Earth, and those who are loyal to the Church, and whose views are orthodox and unfaltering, realize this.

So watch these two videos, and feel free to comment on what you feel is more sacred, and why you feel that way. Bear in mind that these are both Novus Ordo Masses, that is, "Ordinary Form." They are using the same missal, the same rubrics, the same norms. However, one of them is celebrating Mass according to the genuine spirit of Vatican II, and the other is possessed by the impostor spirits of Vatican II, which were not of divine origin.

The Key is Dignity

I had a chat today with a musician at  the Church of the Assumption, whose musical abilities are undeniable and clearly God-given. She was asking about my liturgical tastes, and I explained to her that the liturgy of the Church must be "mutually enriching," to borrow a term from our dear Pope. We must learn from the old when conceiving the new. Continuity is integral to liturgical music, as is seen by many new hymns being published which are in English, but set to the old Gregorian melodies. When I gave her this reasoning, she was very pleasant, but she looked at me, put her guitar down, and said, "well, if you want to go a step backwards, that's okay."

Backwards? This is going a step forward, in the true spirit of Vatican II, which declared that Gregorian Chant have "principum locum," principal, primary place in the liturgy. The Council never intended for guitars and plucky psalm-tones, but alas, that's what we have. And so, I decided to tell her about my upcoming trip to the Sacred Music Colloquium with Choir, Sr. Emily, and two other friends of the blog. I particularly pointed out that we will be singing Latin motets written, not 500 years ago, but 25 years ago, and which are wholly reverent and suited for the liturgy. They are undeniably sacred. Of course, we will be singing the old pieces as well, Tallis, and Byrd, and Victoria among them. Again - this is what the Council had in mind: a refreshing of the old in light of the new.

The debate then turned, most subtlety to the question of dignified music. However, what I said can be summarized in this video just released by the Lalemant Polyphonic channel. Be sure to check out their psalm settings for the Ordinary Form. They are quite beautiful.

Colloquium XX Registration is Full

The registration for the twentieth Sacred Music Colloquium is now closed. You can still register, but you will be added to a wait list which, in my opinion, isn't very promising.

However, before the deadline closed, Cleansing Fire received two new members to the delegation! That means that five of us are going to be doing liturgically backward, antiquated, things in clear defiance of the Spirit of Vatican II.

But wait - what's that? Gregorian chant is the spirit of Vatican II? Are you sure?? Wow. So I guess we're not dangerous reactionaries after all. I kind of feel drained of importance.

"I told you Latin sounded witchy."

I'll Rub Shoulders For Y'all

I'm sure many of you know that when I'm down around the Mason Dixon Line this week and weekend, I'll be in attendance for the Pontifical High Mass at the National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

What I'm sure many of you didn't know is that I will be there with some of our Catholic blogging elite: Fr. Z will be there, along with Kat from the Crescat, along with many others.

Envious yet? So, when you're bracing yourself for another weekend of exile and dissent, I'll be at table with Fr. Z and the Crescat, along with throngs of others. I feel like a total blog-snob, and I'm loving every minute of it.

Did I mention that Choir, Sr. Emily, and I will be carousing with the New Liturgical Movement people during the Colloquium? Oh, that's right - I did.

Si Iniquitates

The following is from the MusicaSacra YouTube channel.

Update on Sacred Music Colloquium XX

When I posted last week about the Sacred Music Colloquium, I was planning on doing a lot of smiling and nodding, not really knowing anyone there, but knowing that we're all basking in the radiance of the true spirit of Vatican II. Remember, "principum locum."

From Sacrosanctum Concilium:

36. 1. Particular law remaining in force, the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites.
2. But since the use of the mother tongue, whether in the Mass, the administration of the sacraments, or other parts of the liturgy, frequently may be of great advantage to the people, the limits of its employment may be extended. This will apply in the first place to the readings and directives, and to some of the prayers and chants, according to the regulations on this matter to be laid down separately in subsequent chapters.
3. These norms being observed, it is for the competent territorial ecclesiastical authority mentioned in Art. 22, 2, to decide whether, and to what extent, the vernacular language is to be used; their decrees are to be approved, that is, confirmed, by the Apostolic See. And, whenever it seems to be called for, this authority is to consult with bishops of neighboring regions which have the same language.
4. Translations from the Latin text into the mother tongue intended for use in the liturgy must be approved by the competent territorial ecclesiastical authority mentioned above.

 Note that this document of Vatican II, dealing with the liturgy, verified by myriads of bishops and cardinals, let alone the pope, uses the phrases, "some of the prayers and chants" and "whether, an to what extent." This is not the Vatican saying, "We need people music." No, it is saying that we must open up the gift of sacred music in the mother tongue, Latin, to everyone. We weren't supposed to dive into folk songs and guitars, but rather, educate ourselves and others about what the chant really means.

And this is why I was so excited to go to the Colloquium - it's a group of 250 musicians who have the right idea.

However, I'm even more excited now because two of our dearest contributors to this blog are joining me in this quest to rediscover the Novus Ordo, done right. Aside from a handful of priests whom we all know and love, I think we can all agree that the Mass we have no in many churches is not what was envisioned by the Council. Choir Loft and Sr. Emily will be joining me for the trip, from June 21 through June 27. Oh, we're a rowdy bunch. Watch out Pittsburgh - here comes trouble.

Sacred Music Colloquium XX - Pittsburgh, PA

I have the privilege to attend the twentieth Sacred Music Colloquium, hosted by the people of the CMAA. This year, it will be in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, more specifically, the Church of the Epiphany and the University of Duquesne. I'm still debating how I'm actually getting down there, but that's another matter.

This year's Colloquium promises to be absolutely stellar, what with the repertoire including Schubert's Mass in G, Byrd's Gradualia, and tons and tons of pieces by Palestrina, Tallis, Brahms, Bach, Mozart, and more. More information can be found  by clicking the link above.

I strongly encourage you to join me. The teachers will be world-class chant experts, who combine a love for the Magisterium with a love for Sacred Music, following the will of the Second Vatican Council which clearly stated that Latin, more precisely Gregorian Chant, has "principum locum" in the liturgy. This has been translated by several "scholars" to mean, "pride of place," sort of like how Uncle Olaf has a pride of place sitting at the end of the table, head resting in a puddle of drool. No, "principum locum" means "the first place," "the primary place."

If we can infuse our parishes, bit by bit, with a love for the sacred, a love for chant and sacred polyphony, you can be certain that we will see people returning to Mass. The music of the liturgy, the true music of the liturgy, is absolutely transcendent - it is something other worldly. Why go to Mass regularly or at all when you get the same folky and hippie tripe Sunday after Sunday? With chant and sacred polyphony, there is an inexhaustible store of musical treasures just waiting to be unearthed from the rubble of the past few decades.

Please, I know it's an investment, but do consider attending. The Colloquium will last for about seven days - seven days of reverent Masses, perfect music, people of like mind and like action, and a genuine love for all things Catholic.