GOOD MONDAY NEWS 2

Change in Reign to come within the BCL!

This from the November 2007 Adoremus Bulletin:

...Following the November meeting, Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli will succeed Erie Bishop Donald Trautman as BCL chairman. Bishop Serratelli is a member of the Doctrine Committee and chairman of its Ad Hoc Committee on Review of Scripture Translations.

Knowing of the excellent liturgy articles Bp. Serratelli has written for his Paterson diocese, this is a very welcome change. Truthfully, almost any prelate would be an improvement from the outgoing chairman (there are at least a couple that may be worse), but this is definitely a welcome change!

Peace,
BMP

GOOD MONDAY NEWS 1

Red Sox win World Series!


2007 WORLD SERIES EDITION

Introducing the 2007 World Series Champion:

Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston, whose Red Sox swept Archbishop Chaput's Rockies in the 2007 World Series, 4 games to zip. The Sox won their first two games in Fenway 13-1 and 2-1, then won at Coors Field 10-5 and 4-3.

If I'm not mistaken, Cardinal O'Malley is the first Franciscan prelate to have a team within his See win a World Series.

WOOHOO! GO SOX!

Oh, and while we're in Cdl. O'Malley's jurisdiction, what about them Patriots, eh? They not only smoked Archbishop Wuerl's Redskins FIFTY-TWO TO SEVEN, but they set an NFL record for having the most consecutive games where they've scored 30 points or more!

WOOHOO! GO PATS!

Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, RI
All Saints (7 PM) - November 1, 2007

For all the saints..."Sine Nomine"
Lord, this is the people...Carroll/Gelineau
God, we praise you..."Nettleton"
Remember, Lord, thy servants...Page
Ye watchers and ye holy ones..."Lasst uns Erfreuen"

Sunday XXXI in Ordinary Time - November 4, 2007

There's a wideness in God's mercy..."In Babilone"
I will praise your name for ever...Page
I heard the voice of Jesus say..."Kingsfold"
Eat this Bread...Batastini/Berthier
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven..."Lauda Anima"

Music common to both feasts

Gloria VIII...Mode V
Alleluia...Murray
Community Mass...Proulx
Lord's Prayer (in English)...Chant

Peace,
BMP

THE NEW POSTER CHILD

for the "Alleluia Chee-Chee"



Click here (then click on products, then the "sound" icon) to hear how it goes. You won't know whether to laugh or puke.

Peace,
BMP

EXCELLENT FUNERAL POLICY

Bob Grant does excellent with this - with regards to the request line, outside musicians, you name it! I do get a bench fee when an outsider is asked by the family to replace me at the console. That's a good thing, as that's work being taken away from me. The request for an outside organist is also very rare, as the pastor's "only our organist plays" policy is only bent in the most extreme circumstances (it's only happened three times in three years). Now if I was only lucky enough to have a "request-line" policy like Bob's supported by the typical clergy here in Little Rhody. I do get ample support to enforce this, however:

Secular songs, ballads, and show tunes are more appropriate for the interment or the wake, therefore, are not permitted at the Requiem Mass. The use of CDs and accompaniment tracks is strictly prohibited.

Music in liturgy is to expressed naturally, not canned.

Kudos for another great article, Bob!
Peace,
BMP

THE ALCS IS FINALLY OVER

World Series starts Wednesday!

WORLD SERIES 2007
While the Chaput Rockies have been waiting around for almost a week trying to figure out who they will be facing in the World Series this year (they swept the Olmstead Diamondbacks 4 games to zip), the O'Malley Red Sox and Lennon Indians were still duking it out. And now an American League Champion has FINALLY emerged:

THE O'MALLEY RED SOX - WOOHOO!

Yup - the Sox smoked the Indians in the late innings to score an 11-2 game 7 victory, and a 4-games-to-3 ALCS victory. The Sox and the Rockies begin the World Series in Fenway at 8:23 PM EDT (another precise timing - LOL) on Wednesday. This is Cdl. O'Malley's second World Series this decade (remember, they swept the Burke Cardinals in 2004), and Abp. Chaput's first World Series ever. Should be interesting.

All I can say is:
GO SOX!

Peace,
BMP

VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL INFESTS PROVIDENCE

along with Dickie McB

This story from the website of WPRI-TV Channel 12:
(snarky remarks mine)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- The Catholic lay group Voice of the Faithful wraps up its two-day national conference in Providence.

And it's signaling it may be preparing to tackle controversial issues such as whether priests should be allowed to marry. (They can tackle all they want. There ain't gonna be no married priests, period!)

The group was formed in 2002 amid anger over the clergy sex abuse scandal. But it's recently struggled with fundraising and focus as anger over the scandal has subsided.

The keynote speaker, Notre Dame theologian Reverend Richard McBrien (theologian??? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!), says Voice of the Faithful has had success demanding increased accountability from church leadership. But he says it wasn't time to declare victory.

He says the group would not be straying from its original mission by calling on the Vatican to reconsider mandatory celibacy for priests.

Their big claim is that if priests would be allowed to marry, the pedophilia problem would be solved. BULL$=!+! Perverts can be married too! Now, my wish to "El Dickie" and pals - GET THE HELL OUT OF PROVIDENCE, TAKE YOUR AGENDA AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR ARSE!

In the fullness of peace,
BMP

I'VE JUST BECOME A REGULAR

No, I am not leaving Holy Ghost. I have, however, as of the end of this afternoon's Extraordinary Form of the Mass at St. Leo the Great Church, been asked to become the regular organist for the Extraordinary Form, and I graciously said "yes", since I'm almost always available on Sunday nights (I'd only be unavailable if I had a Sunday night obligation at Holy Ghost, but such is the case maybe 1% of the time - tops).

I'm very happy with the turnout of today's Mass, as well as reuniting (albeit Third Sunday Nights) with my former pastor and good friend, Fr. Kevin Fisette. I'm looking forward to November 18!

Peace,
BMP

A RARE GEM

Pictured at top: St. Anne's Church in Fall River, MA.
Pictured at left: Normand Gingras, who turned 80 this summer, but more importantly, has been St. Anne's music director and organist for the past 50 years! The 81-rank pipe case you see as Mr. Gingras' backdrop is the Casavant organ that he oversaw the installation of - in 1964!

Congrats Normand! (BTW, don't expect him to retire anytime soon. Not to mention, he STILL plays like a pro!)

Guys like Normand are rare gems. I knew over my years of only one other organist in my region like him and with his ability, a gentleman named Rene Viau who, at 80, could still play Bach inside-out at the former Notre Dame du Sacre Coeur Church in Central Falls, RI. Mr. Viau lived to be 99.

Full Story on Normand Gingras in SouthCoast Today, RSCT to Domini Sumus.

Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Sunday XXX in Ordinary Time - October 28, 2007
Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, RI

Our 10:00 Mass this coming Sunday will be interpreted in sign language. The music will be the same for all three Masses. Celebrant for the sign language Mass will be Fr. Joseph Bruce, SJ. So this will be two firsts for me - my first sign language Mass, and the first Mass (that I recall anyways) that I'll have done with a Jesuit.

Anyhoo - my list for this week:

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven..."Lauda Anima"
Gloria VIII...Mode V
The Lord hears the cry of the poor...Ostrowski
Alleluia...Mode VI
O breathe on me, O breath of God..."St. Columba"
Jubliate Deo...chants
Lord's Prayer (in English)...chant
This is the feast of victory for our God..."Festival Canticle"
Faith of our fathers, living still..."St. Catherine"

As for the Latin chants, the person who will be doing the sign language has been informed and will sign according to the English translations. This should be interesting - not necessarily in a bad way.
Peace,
BMP

OFF TOPIC: SAFE TRAFFIC ARREST

The latest OnStar (General Motors) technology now enables a potential high-speed pursuit to be prevented before it starts. Check this out!
Peace,
BMP

OCP MEETS MTV...SORT OF

One commenter on Gerald's blog says the composer is a very good holy priest. OK - so why is he writing such garbage like this? And why does its publisher allow this kind of stuff in its worship aids?



Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Saint Leo the Great Church, Pawtucket, RI
Dominica XXI post Pentecostem, October 21, 2007

Due to the regular organist's being hospitalized (let's pray for her), yours truly will be covering at the console for the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (Low Mass) celebrated at St. Leo the Great Church in Pawtucket, RI this Sunday at 5 PM.

I will be accompanying a soloist this Sunday who has been at St. Leo's for a while, but she's never done the Extraordinary Form. So, over the phone, we did manage to agree on music anyways for this Sunday. The program will go like this:

O God, almighty Father..."Gott Vater, sei Gepriesen"
Ave Verum...Mozart
Pange Lingua Gloriosi...Mode III
O God, our help in ages past..."St. Anne"

Only drawbacks: an Allen organ with the infamous "Diapasons become strings" and "flutes become stopped" gadgets, and Gather Comprehensive, Second Edition (yeah, the one that GIA just spit out just a couple of years ago). Those who know me know that I work around books like that quite nicely (hey, we use the OCP Missal and Music Issue at Holy Ghost - you wouldn't think so with most of my selections there).

Peace,
BMP

GET YOUR SNARK LICENSE PLATES HERE!

Brian


Jason

Show us YOUR snark!
Peace,
BMP

MORE EXTRAORDINARY POSSIBILITIES IN RHODE ISLAND

One of the parishes is another former parish of mine.

This article found in the Providence Journal. Don't ask me how I missed this, but RSCT to Catholic Church Conservation.

PROVIDENCE — The Rev. Alfred P. Almonte hadn’t celebrated the Mass in Latin in about four decades, so when one of his parishioners at St. Bartholomew (modern church, one of the few Italian-American parishes left in RI that are still staffed by the Scalabrini Fathers, seating in semi-circle, but nice Moller pipe organ) parish in Silver Lake suggested that he bring back the Latin Mass as part of the church’s 100-year jubilee, he knew that he would have some brushing up to do.

But the priest, who said Mass in Latin for the first four or five years after his ordination, in 1961, saw it as an opportunity to connect St. Bart’s parishioners to their past.

Not that it was going to be easy. While the edict issued by Pope Benedict XVI three months ago gave priests blanket permission to publicly celebrate the old Tridentine rite without having to get the approval of their bishop, there was still the problem of finding a cadre of altar servers who could recite the Latin responses and do the detailed choreography associated with a Solemn High Latin Mass.

Yesterday, as more than 400 people filtered into what some people still call the “new” St. Bart’s (having replaced the original building in 1969), 10 altar servers, all grown men, two deacons and two priests gathered in a room to don cassocks and robes, hoping that they would not forget what they had learned in three weeks of rehearsals.

Angelo DeFeo, 44, acknowledged that he had never been to a Latin Mass. “Don’t worry,” declared fellow altar server Ray Funaro, 64. “We’ll make a lot of mistakes, but nobody will know but us.”

At one time St. Bartholomew’s was an almost exclusively a parish of Italian immigrants, but has evolved over time into a parish with a large contingent of young Hispanic families who attend a Spanish-speaking Mass at 9:30 a.m. and an older, English-speaking congregation that worships at 11:30.

Yesterday the two congregations were joined. Though some critics have expressed disdain for what they see as a liturgy that does not encourage participation by the people, the Rev. Philip (correction: Robert) E. Lacombe of St. Timothy Church in Warwick (I shudder to admit I once worked there), the visiting preacher, argued yesterday that there is participation in the Tridentine rite but of a different sort.

“Through this Mass people experience a profound sense that they are participating in a mystery,” Father Lacombe said.

“The priest’s back is not against the people, but rather the priest and people are facing in the same direction toward God,” he said. (I forgot to mention, Fr. Lacombe, St. Timothy's curate, is NOT the cause of my bitterness there.)

Though there has been a weekly celebration of the old rite at Holy Name Church in Providence for the last 13 years, Pope Benedict’s edict allowing the rite’s wider use seems to be taking hold: the Rev. Kevin R. Fisette, pastor of St. Leo the Great parish in Pawtucket, announced that he will have a 5 p.m. “low” Latin Mass on the third Sunday of every month beginning Oct. 21. and the Rev. Douglas J. Spina polled his parishioners at St. Martha Church in East Providence and found 180 parishioners who would “commit” to attending a Latin Mass weekly (Good, but they need an organ. One friend of mine interviewed there last year and found there was no organ, only a piano or keyboard, with no apparent intentions of acquiring one. I can't picture the Extraordinary form with piano, though I can picture a good High Mass a cappella. Still, get an organ!). He plans to introduce the Mass in January.

Father Lacombe says St. Timothy’s is planning to celebrate the old rite on an “occasional basis.” (I find that hard to believe, but if this is true, good! But they too need a real organ. Current instrument: a Hammond E300 series - blech!) Father Almonte said so many people were moved by yesterday’s Mass that he would consider doing the same.

Codified by Pope Pius V in 1570, the Tridentine rite was the dominant form of worship in the Catholic Church until the Second Vatican Council permitted Masses in the vernacular and Pope Paul VI promulgated a simpler “new order” Mass in the late 1960s.

As was customary under the old rite, parishioners yesterday knelt at a communion rail and received the hosts on the tongue.

Esther Yacavone said choir members had been practicing the Latin prayers for two months and was pleased with the result.

“Would I like to do it every week? No. But I would like it for my funeral. It was beautiful.” (For mine, I want the Ordinary Form, but with chants, traditional hymnody - none of Glory and Praise's or Gather's "greatest hits", and celebrated ad orientem. Don't get me wrong, I still like the Extraordinary Form, but I want to shake things up a bit, you see - give the family and friends a taste of how the Ordinary Form is SUPPOSED to be done.)

Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, Rhode Island
Sunday XXIX in Ordinary Time - October 21, 2007

O God, our help in ages past..."St. Anne"
Gloria VIII...Mode V
Our help is from the Lord...Guimont
Alleluia...Murray
For the beauty of the earth..."Dix"
Community Mass...Proulx
Lord's Prayer/in English...chant
You satisfy the hungry heart..."Bicentennial"
Alleluia! sing to Jesus..."Hyfrydol"

I may get to post the music for the Traditional Latin Mass at St. Leo's (Sunday XXI after Pentecost) before it happens. Yours truly *might* be at the console. Currently their parish organist is in the hospital. Whether or not she recovers soon enough will determine whether or not I'll be playing.

Peace,
BMP

"KEEP SILENT", MY ARSE!

Damian Thompson asks the musical question:
Would you rather listen to (a) a trendy modern hymn or (b) nails being scraped down a blackboard?

In the case of at least 95% of the "trendy modern hymns", if one would even dare call them "hymns" ("jingles that got rejected by sponsors" would be more accurate), I would pick (b) in a heartbeat.

In the Roman Catholic Church, we have the added horror of "folk Masses". They ruined my childhood — well, Sunday mornings, anyway — and now the same music is driving a new generation of young people away from church.

And, until recently, it probably kept a number of really good men from answering that call from God. Either that, or when they did go to answer that call, they were turned away from some diocesan or seminary official with a liberal agenda (I know someone who actually fell victim from the latter; he once sang in one of my former choirs). Of course, the liturgeists think this stuff is great for the kiddies. This stuff is "geared for them". That's the stuff they're expected to sing in front of everyone so that mommy and daddy can look and say, "oh, isn't that cute!" not realizing that the song itself is most likely bad all around (His banner over me is love... is a perfect example) - not only in the music, but in the words (just as much shifting focus the wrong way as badly as having the kiddies up front).

Go to a church like Holy Name (Providence) - to their 11:00 Mass (Extraordinary). You'll be surprised how many younger families go to this Mass because of its reverent atmosphere that provokes prayer, and not because "it's an art form".

These people are sick of bad music - period. They're sick of pounding pianos and twanging guitars sabotaging Holy Mass. But yet, tell that to the majority of liturgeists, musicians, and even priests, even in the most civilized of manners, and they get all pissy, like "who are you to question our judgement?" Suddenly those people wanting to restore Mass to its decently are the ones being called "arrogant". Mr. Thompson recently had the same experience with the St. Gregory Society (SSG). This society had been established in 1928, but after Vatican II it had become the UK's version of what most of NaPalM is to the US. Cry foul on bad music and they're on your arse like a ton of doo-doo. Oh, we're supposed to just grin and bear it like it was meant to be "our cross to take up." I don't think that is what Christ had in mind when he said "take up your cross".

How could I be so nasty about fellow Catholics? Well, I'm sorry to have hurt their feelings — but, frankly, many "worship leaders" don't show much concern for the feelings of parishioners who complain about being forced to sing Paul Inwood's Gathering Mass for the 32nd week running.

Or, in the US, substitute Marty Haugen's Mass of Creation for Gathering Mass. (OH GOD! First "gathering song", then "gathering rite", neither of which there is any such thing of in the Latin Rite, now a "gathering Mass"??? WTF???) Tack on All Are Welcome, Gather Us In, and other such sponsor-rejected jingles, and you get the idea.

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord," says the Psalmist. So here's my suggestion to the clergy. At the beginning of tomorrow's service, announce a complete ban on guitars in church – and listen to a great cheer go up from the pews.

How about a ban on music that was geared for guitars as well. God only knows there are many parishes out there where the organist is also expected to eat those exact same bullets.

Suffering in silence has always been a weak point for me. Truthfully, I'll be damned if I'm going to sit in silence and let such hideous music prevail at Mass. I liken it to stuff like abortion, and banning Christmas for the sake of keeping the minority happy, where so many are against these things but prefer to keep silent about them. Go ahead! Pay me a mint to shut up. Just realize that you're wasting your money.

Jeffrey Tucker (NLM) ends a post defending Mr. Thompson with this sentence:
We have reason to work to put a stop to it and put it its place the glorious music that is our true heritage.

If you REALLY want to put the "Holy" back into "Holy Mass", stick up for what is right. Don't just "shut up" because some arrogant liturgeist/musician/composer/priest tells or pays you to.

Claim your parish (and your faith) back from agenda-driven liberals!
Peace,
BMP

SORRY DISSENTING BISHOPS, BUT...

...The Vatican Hath Spoken!

Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, Secretary of the Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments spells it out for all those bishops who decided to take it upon themselves to make up their own norms, thus making it extremely difficult for the Extraordinary Form to take place in their dioceses, or taking steps to sabotage it completely (like allowing female servers or morphing elements exclusive to the Ordinary Form with it).

“The motu proprio Summorum Pontificum on the Latin Liturgy of July 7th 2007 is the fruit of a deep reflection by our Pope on the mission of the Church. It is not up to us, who wear ecclesiastical purple and red, to draw this into question, to be disobedient and make the motu proprio void by our own little, tittle rules. Even not if they were made by a bishops conference. Even bishops do not have this right. What the Holy Fathers says, has to be obeyed in the Church. If we do not follow this principle, we will allow ourselves to be used as instruments of the devil, and nobody else. This will lead to discord in the Church, and slows down her mission. We do not have the time to waste on this. Else we behave like emperor Nero, fiddling on his violin while Rome was burning. The churches are emptying, there are no vocations, the seminaries are empty. Priests become older and older, and young priests are scarce.”

Straight from the horses's mouth. RSCT to Patrick at Summorum Pontificum.
Peace,
BMP

HERE'S AN OFF-TOPIC OXYMORON

Got this from the Catholic Caveman, who got it from the Paramedic Girl.



Yeah, but she's not worried about the effect on same unborn child with what she's holding in her right hand. In the words of Carlos Mencia: DE-DA-DEEEEEEE!

Peace,
BMP

THE FISH BIT...

...and CV has thrown him back into the lake!

Yup - Bp. Trautman decided to make up his own norms for the Extraordinary Form, despite norms already long established by the Church.

I won't post his blurb here because it's just way too long. Father Z did the work for us! :-)
Enjoy!
Peace,
BMP

A NEW REVIEW

Today's Missal Advent 2007--Lent 2008

A couple of months ago, I did a nine-part review of the OCP Music Issue 2008. Here's a brand new review - I have, on my desk, a copy of Today's Missal, dated 12/2/07 to 3/15/08.

I won't even go there with Celtic Mass (the new default Mass in the missalette). Heritage Mass was far better. And most of the Psalms - well, many may argue that these Psalms are singable. The problem is, most of them very weak. And that "Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ" that is in the readings section of the missalette sounds like really good counterpoint to "Mary Had a Little Lamb". It's downright horrible.

That said, here's the music section of the missalette.

STUFF WE SING AT HOLY GHOST, AND WILL CONTINUE TO SING (45):
19 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
20 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (kudos for keeping this text intact!)
21 On Jordan's Bank / 32 O Come, Divine Messiah
35 Christ, Circle 'Round Us (The "O" Antiphons, set by Schutte to a metrical adaptation of Salve Regina - not bad at all)
41 Creator of the Stars of Night / 56 Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
60 O Come, All Ye Faithful (need more Latin verses, however)
61 Joy to the World / 62 God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
63 Angels We Have Heard on High / 64 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
67 Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming / 70 Silent Night (but lose the Spanish)
75 It Came upon the Midnight Clear / 79 O Little Town of Bethlehem
85 Once in Royal David's City / 86 The First Nowell
87 We Three Kings of Orient Are / 89 What Child Is This
91 As with Gladness Men of Old / 92 Songs of Thankfulness and Praise
98 Attende, Domine (in Latin) / 105 Again We Keep this Solemn Fast
106 Remember Your Love (Kreutz) / 110 Parce, Domine
115 At the Cross Her Station Keeping / 117 'Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here
118 The Glory of these Forty Days / 119 Lord, Who Throughout these Forty Days
123 O Sacred Head, Surrounded (first set of verses) / 129 Were You There
131 Tantum Ergo Sacramentum / 133 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
134 Holy God, We Praise Thy Name / 135 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
136 Now Thank We All Our God / 137 Blessed by Your Sacrifice
138 Beautiful Savior / 139 We Gather Together / 140 Immaculate Mary
141 Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above / 143 God, We Praise You
148 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come / 149 Holy, Holy, Holy

STUFF WE HAVEN'T DONE AT HOLY GHOST BUT I WOULDN'T MIND INTRODUCING IN THE FUTURE (36):
29 Patience, People (a rare Foley gem) / 30 People, Look East
31 The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns (I like the tune St. Stephen better, but Morning Song is fine, too)
34 Wake, O Wake, and Sleep No Longer / 37 Comfort, Comfort, O My People
39 The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came / 42 The Advent of Our King
52 The Coming of Our God
57 Advent/Christmas Gospel Acclamation (refrain only / use the Missal or Gradual verses with it instead, however)
65 Away in a Manger (but with Kirkpatrick's tune - see Worship II, #34)
68 A Child Is Born in Bethlehem / 69 Wake from Your Sleep
72 Of the Father's Love Begotten / 74 O Christ, the Sun of Light and Grace
77 O Come, Little Children / 78 Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
80 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice / 81 The Snow Lay on the Ground
82 Go, Tell It on the Mountain
83 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night (Not a bad tune, though Winchester Old is better, IMO)
90 Angels, from the Realms of Glory / 93 What Star Is This, with Beams So Bright
94 When John Baptized by Jordan's River / 103 Led by the Spirit of Our God
104 Lenten Gospel Acclamation (Prendergast/Sullivan) (first refrain only)
107 Behold, before Our Wondering Eyes (I'm normally not a big fan of Berberick, though she's a fellow RI'er, but this is by far her best piece - actually really good!)
108 From the Depths We Cry to Thee / 110 Holy Patron, Thee Saluting
120 Forty Days and Forty Nights / 122 The Kingdom Calls Us to Repent
132 Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord / 142 Humbly, Lord, We Worship You
144 Soul of My Savior / 145 Bright as the Sun, Fair As the Moon
150 Dona Nobis Pacem / 151 In His Temple Now Behold Him

STUFF I WON'T TOUCH WITH A 39-1/2 FOOT POLE (52):
22 Maranatha (Schoenbachler) / 23 Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus (Whitaker)
24 Waiting in Silence / 25 Litany of the Word (huh? there's such a thing?)
26 A Voice Cries Out (the premier of Advent drinking songs)
27 The Whole World Is Waiting for Love
28 Beyond the Moon and Stars (this takes the same tune as another old Schutte ditty: Before the Sun Burned Bright, from Volume 2 of the old 3-volume Gory and Puke)
33 Alleluia! Hurry, the Lord is Near / 36 Emmanuel (Angrisano)
38 Lord, Make Us Turn to You (Roberts)
40 Stay Awake (clap clap, be ready - a possible inspiration by Walker for Inwood's Alleluia Chee-Chee)
43 Let the King of Glory Come / 44 Ready the Way (Hurd)
45 Let the Valleys Be Raised / 46 Advent Gospel Acclamation
47 Advent Lamb of God (Keil) (way too many text alterations)
48 See How the Virgin Waits / 49 Lord Emmanuel, Come
50 Ready the Way (Stephan) / 51 Maranatha (Westphal) (This tune is SO '60's!)
53 Every Valley / 54 Maranatha (Chiusano)
(Of all the Maranatha's I've seen over the years, the only one I've found any decent is one by Lucien Deiss, which used to be in WLP's worship aids. What the hell happened to it?)
55 Come, Lord Jesus (talk about a first grader's melody)
58 Bread of Life (Farrell) / 59 Today Is Born Our Savior (Inwood)
66 Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow (I like a good Spiritual, but this isn't one of them)
71 A Light Has Shone / 73 A Christmas Gloria / 76 See, amid the Winter's Snow (Keil)
84 Children, Run Joyfully (aka, "Chunks Shall Run Joyfully")
88 Child of the Poor / 95 Signed by Ashes / 96 Ashes / 97 Leave the Past in Ashes
99 Out into the Wilderness (one of the latest of "kiddie ditties")
100 Save Your People / 101 Lenten Gospel Acclamation (Anstey)
102 Beyond the Days / 111 In these Days of Lenten Journey
112 Lenten Gospel Acclamation (Wright) / 113 Transfigure Us, O Lord
114 Now Is the Acceptable Time / 116 Somebody's Knockin' at Your Door
121 Transfiguration (They should have stuck with Mosley for this text instead of letting Manalo kill it)
124 Turn to Me / 125 Seek the Lord (even worse with the bastardized text)
126 Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling / 127 Change Our Hearts
128 Roll Away the Stone / 130 Turn Our Hearts / 146 God with Us
147 Saints of God in Glory

Peace,
BMP

GOTTA LOVE OUR DMV

Two DMV workers busted for issuing false licenses!

Rhode Island's roads may be a lot safer soon, now that two women working for the DMV in Pawtucket (RI's main DMV office) have been arrested for issuing false licenses to those who were either a) wanted by the law, or b) deported and came back illegally. Considering I was once hit broadside 18 years ago by an illegal immigrant who spoke no English, had no license, no insurance, no nothing, this bust is a Godsend!

At least one of these women is quite popular in Providence. Man, if they only knew!

Maybe for once, my personal slogan "Welcome to Rhode Island. We'll license anyone!" will come to an end. In the meantime, here's the story from the front page of the Providence Journal. Enjoy!

Peace,
BMP

EXTRAORDINARY FORM IN TIVERTON, RHODE ISLAND

Albeit a one-time thing for now

On December 8, 2007, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, I will be playing for Holy Mass in its Extraordinary Form at noon at Holy Ghost. This special noon Mass, which is in part for the Little Flower Home (right across the street from the rectory), is being celebrated by Archbishop George Pearce, Archbishop Emeritus of Suva (Fiji Islands). Some may recognize the name of the good Archbishop from his work with the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

This will be Low Mass with hymns (I was hoping for High Mass; hey, I tried). I will have a final program up in due time. Very likely the opening and closing will be in English. Most definitely the offertory and Communion hymns will be in Latin. I do recall that those middle hymns can be sung in English in a Low Mass, but I normally program Latin just to be in the good habit of things (after all - in High Mass, said music during offertory and Communion must be in Latin, and can only be done in addition to, not in place of, the chanted proper).

This will be my first Traditional Latin Mass at the console in over four years.
Peace,
BMP

ANOTHER FAVORITE AMONGST NEW ENGLAND PRELATES

Providence native (and once an auxiliary bishop there) and currently Worcester's bishop, Bishop Robert J. McManus had this to say to the folk at Holy Cross College after renting space for a program held by the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy, with workshops by Planned (barf) Parenthood and NARAL (RSCT to Amy Welborn):

A controversy has arisen at the College of the Holy Cross that has resulted from the College’s renting space for a conference sponsored by the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy. The conference involves workshops presented by members of Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts. Both organizations promote positions on artificial contraception and abortion that are contrary to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church.

I have received numerous complaints from people who are shocked and outraged that a Catholic institution like Holy Cross would have anything to do with such groups. They have appealed to me to ask Father Michael McFarland, president of the College of the Holy Cross, to revoke the College’s agreement to rent space to the Massachusetts Teen Alliance. I have done so.

As Bishop of Worcester, it is my pastoral and canonical responsibility to determine what institutions can properly call themselves “Catholic.” This is a duty that I do not take lightly since to be a Catholic institution means that such an institution conducts its mission and ministry in accord with Catholic Church teaching, especially in cases of faith and morals.

The moral teaching of the Catholic Church on respect for life at all stages of its development is manifestly clear. Life is a fundamental good that must be protected and respected from the moment of fertilization to natural death. This teaching is so basic and important that it provides the foundation upon which much of the Church’s moral and social doctrine rests. It is beyond modification and compromise.

Both Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice are notorious for their policies and practices that directly reject the Church’s teaching on artificial contraception and abortion. The College of the Holy Cross should recognize that any association with these groups can create the situation of offering scandal understood in its proper theological sense, i.e., an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil. Certainly it is understandable how people of good will could interpret the college’s allowing presentations to be made by such groups as truly scandalous.

I strongly contend that the confusion and upset to the Catholic faithful and others that flow from the perception that the administration of the College of the Holy Cross supports positions contrary to the fundamental moral teaching of the Church must be avoided. To deny Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice a forum in which to present their morally unacceptable positions is not an infringement of the exercise of academic freedom but a defensible attempt to make unambiguously clear the Catholic identity and mission of the College of the Holy Cross.

It is my fervent wish that the administration of the College of the Holy Cross will unequivocally disassociate itself from the upcoming conference sponsored by the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy so that the college can continue to be recognized as a Catholic institution committed to promoting the moral teaching of the Roman Catholic church.

Good for you, Bishop!
PS: He likes the extraordinary form, too. I haven't seen anything from him since Summorum Pontificum, but when he was Providence's Auxiliary Bishop, he celebrated that form twice at Holy Name when I was organist there. :)

Peace,
BMP

LUCIEN DEISS, 1921-2007

Lucien Deiss, C.S.Sp., well-known composer of many of the better modern Psalm-based and Scripture-based responsories, such as "All the Earth Proclaim the Lord", "Keep in Mind", and "Grant to Us, O Lord", died yesterday.

This obituary was posted on one message board by an official from World Library Publications, the copyright holder of most of Fr. Deiss' work, and was forwarded to another message board that I frequent:

On Tuesday, October 9, 2007, Reverend Lucien Deiss, C.S.Sp., celebrated what he often referred to as "the most joyful day of my life' in returning home to be with his Lord. His funeral will be celebrated on Saturday, October 13at Seminaire des Missiones in Larue, France.

Best known to Roman Catholics in the U.S. through his scriptural songs such as "All the Earth", "Keep in Mind", and "Grant to Us, O Lord", Fr. Deiss was also widely known in Europe and the United States as a scholar in the fields of Sacred Scripture and Patristics. He was selected by Pope Paul VI to coordinate the Lectionary psalter following the Second Vatican Council. His "Biblical Hymns and Psalms" was the first significant way that millions of Catholics in the U.S. came to sing the Word of God and treasure it in their hearts. For this he was given an honorary Doctorate in Sacred Music from Duquesne University. A tireless advocate of the reforms of Vatican II, Fr. Deiss continually encouraged those who worked in liturgical reform in this country to remain fervent in prayer to the Holy Spirit, and he dedicated much of his life to liturgical catechesis through workshops and the well-known "Deiss days" sponsored by WLP (then World Library of Sacred Music). He was, above all, a man of prayer, dedicated to the celebration of the Eucharist, and was always filled with a gentle and loving humor.

We at WLP mourn the passing of Fr. Deiss, and share in his joy as he lives and sings for all ages in the eternal light of his Risen Savior.

"Keep in mind that Jesus Christ has died for us and is risen from the dead.
He is our saving Lord. He is joy for all ages!

Peace,
BMP

BE VERY AFRAID

Got this USCCB blurb from Gerald: (snarky remarks mine)

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will vote at their annual Fall General Assembly on the approval of the document Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship, a revision of the guidelines for music at Mass.

The document “represents a significant rethinking of the structure and substance of what needs to be said about this important aspect of the liturgical renewal,” said Bishop Donald Trautman, outgoing (thank God!) chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, in the documentation sent to the Bishops for their review.

The document retains and refines some of the more important elements of the original document, including the “three judgments” (liturgical, pastoral and musical appropriateness) (watch out for that word "pastoral" - it's not what you think it is) applied in consideration of the use of music in the Liturgy. “The revised text is of significantly greater length than the original and benefits from the various new Church documents, as well as from the experience of thirty-five years since its original publication,” said Bishop Trautman.

The draft articulates more clearly a theology of the liturgical celebration and includes a reflection on Redemptionis Sacramentum, no. 116, the latest Vatican document related to the issue. It incorporates the concept of “progressive solemnity” (another fearsome pair of words subject to blatant misinterpretation by some left-wingers out there) to outline the process of choosing what to sing from among the various parts of the Mass. The text also explores the role of the composer, music in the celebration of sacraments, instrumentation, language and cultural issues, technology, copyrights and participation aids. (I'm curious, but fearful of what will come from their collective pen in this matter)

The original document was published in 1967, and then revised and reissued in 1972 (If I remember correctly, it was "Musicam Sacram" in 1967, "Music in Catholic Worship" in 1972, but then the latter document bastardized and reissued again around 1980). In line with the liturgical reforms called forth by the Second Vatican Council, it sought to provide basic principles for understanding the role of music in the Liturgy while highlighting its ministerial function. The new text is twice the length of the original and came about after extensive consultation with musicians, composers and others involved in liturgy and music from throughout the United States. (Twice the length? Twice the BS?)

I, for one, hope to see a decent revision, but I fear it will be the same old crap reworded, given what we're often stuck with in the English-speaking Church, despite what the Vatican really calls for.

Our hope would be for the better bishops like Slattery, Serratelli, and Abp. Burke to take the reins of the BCL.
Peace,
BMP

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

DIVISION SERIES FINAL EDITION
Final results of the Division Series: Three sweeps and a three-of-four!

O'Malley Red Sox swept the Brown Angels 3 games to zip. (4-0, 6-3, 9-1)
Lennon Indians over the Egan Yankees 3 games to 1. (12-3, 2-1 [11 inn.], 4-8, 6-4)
Olmstead Diamondbacks swept the George Cubs 3 games to zip. (3-1, 8-4, 5-1)
Chaput Rockies swept the Rigali Phillies 3 games to zip. (4-2, 10-5, 2-1)

The American League Championship Series starts Friday at 7:07 in Fenway Park, where the Red Sox take on the Indians - two of the American League's original teams. This entire series will take place in the Eastern Time Zone.

The National League Championship Series starts Thursday at 8:37 in Chase Field, where the Diamondbacks take on the Rockies - two expansion teams from the 1990's. This entire series will take place in the Mountain Time Zone (though there is no Daylight Savings Time in Phoenix; there is DST in Denver).

Peace,
Your Christus Vincit Sports Team

A LITTLE STORY FROM A VISITING PRIEST

I heard this a couple of weeks ago from Fr. George Almeida, who came and filled in while my pastor was away. Really cool story.

A young boy went to the ice cream store. The waitress asked what he wanted, and he asked, "how much is the ice cream sundae?" She answered, "fifty cents" (obviously this had to be a good 30-35 years ago - at least). The boy started sloooooooowly counting his change. The waitress snarled to the boy, "Well, come on, let's go. I have 'bigger' customers to wait on, ya know!" He then asked, "how much is the plain ice cream?" The waitress, showing extreme signs of impatience on her face, snarled, "thirty-five cents". The boy once again slooooooooowly counted his change, then said, "I'll have the plain ice cream please." The waitress then got his ice cream and the boy paid her the exact amount.

After the boy left, the waitress went to clean his table. Underneath his dish was two nickels and five pennies. The waitress, growing quite the lump in her throat, realized that it was the fifteen cents difference between the plain ice cream and the sundae. He had enough to get the sundae, but wouldn't have had any money left to tip the waitress.

Peace,
BMP

NAME MEME

Stolen from Fr. Erik, who stole it from "various". I decided to get my family involved.

YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) - Me: Jinks Dodge / Wife: Snoopy Dodge / son Brian: Fluffy Bike / daughter Brittany: Tiger Skateboard

YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) - Me: Fudge Brownie Oreo / Wife: Orange Sherbet Homemade Chocolate Chip / son Brian: Cookie Dough Oreo / daughter Brittany: Vanilla Snickerdoodle

YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) - Me, son Brian, and daughter Brittany: B Pag / Wife: A Pag

YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) - Me: Black Dog / Wife: Rainbow Polar Bear / son Brian: Black Iguana / daughter Brittany: Black Great White Shark

YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) - Me, son Brian, and daughter Brittany: Pag Br / Wife: Pag An (not to be confused with "pagan" - she's a cradle Catholic, like me; using her maiden name, it's Lan An)

SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink) - Me: The Brown Coca Cola / Wife: The Sky Blue Orange Soda / son Brian: The Red Sprite / daughter Brittany: The Hot Pink Monster (yes, "Monster" is a drink. Check out your local convenience store.)

NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) - Me: Irving Stanley / Wife: Leo Edmund / son Brian and daughter Brittany: Robert Robert

TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter) - Me: Spelman Seattle (yes, only one "l" in "Spelman", unlike Cardinal Spellman with two "l"'s) / Wife: Brady Boston / son Brian: Pettengill Providence / daugher Brittany: McAssey Montreal

SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, favorite flower) - Me: All Saints Red Rose / Wife: Summer Dandelion / son Brian: Halloween Dead Flower / daughter Brittany: Halloween Bloody Flower

CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) - Me: Banana Sweatsy / Wife: Orange Stretch Pantsy / son Brian: Orange Jeansy / daughter Brittany: Tomato T-Shirtie

HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree) - Me: Pop Tart Pine / Wife: Pop Tart Oak (we were en route to an autumnfest parade this morning, so pop tarts were the quick breakfast for the road as we had to leave early) / son Brian: Pop Tart Normal Looking Tree / daughter Brittany: Pop Tart Ficus named Fern

YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”) - Me: The Music Heat Tour / Wife: The Camping 70's Cool Breeze Tour / son Brian: The Guitar Hail Tour / daughter Brittany: The Picking on Brian Hurricane Tour

YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) - Me: Michael Woonsocket / Wife: Marie Pawtucket / son Brian: Robert Pawtucket / daughter Brittany: Theresa Providence

WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) - Me: Anne Frederick / Wife: Frances None / son Brian and daughter Brittany: Marie Michael

TAG, YOU'RE IT! anyone who reads this and wants to play.
Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Sunday XXVIII - October 14, 2007
Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, RI

All creatures of our God and King..."Lasst uns Erfreuen"
Gloria VIII...Mode V
The Lord has revealed to the nations...Tone 8G
Alleluia...Murray (Verse: tone 8G)
There's a wideness in God's mercy..."In Babilone"
Community Mass...Proulx
Lord's Prayer (English)...chant
My Shepherd is the Lord...Gelineau
Ave Maria/As I kneel before you...Parkinson
Holy God, we praise thy name...Grosser Gott

The choir landed up singing two Masses this weekend. Yesterday's 4:30 Mass ended with a Marian procession. In today's 10:00 Mass, four women were received as lay Dominicans (two of them are choir members). Before Mass yesterday, I had the honor of meeting podcasters extraordinaire Greg Willits of Rosary Army and That Catholic Show fame (he came to Holy Ghost to present a rosary making workshop) and George Leite of Going Fourth and Catholic Rockers fame.

I did promise Greg that I'd put a prayer request in for him and his wife (and co-host) Jennifer, as she recently lost a baby in her second month of pregnancy. The Willits family is in my prayers.

Peace,
BMP

LITURGICAL ROPE DANCING???

What next? Liturgical lap dancing?

This in from the California Catholic Daily. RSCT to the Catholic Caveman.

A bishop who said he has been “addicted to the desert” is leaving it. Francis A. Quinn, retired bishop of Sacramento, is returning to Sacramento, according to an Oct. 1 diocesan news release. Quinn, 86, has spent the last 13 years working with the Yaqui and Tohono O’odham Indian nations in the deserts of southern Arizona.

The Yaquis, said Quinn, “are Roman Catholic to the core.” Their liturgies have been inculturated, including rope dancing at the offertory (WTF???), he said, and “doing smoke blessings in the four directions instead of the penitential rite.” (OK - nothing against the Indians here, but the IGMR gives only two options at that point - Penitential or Sprinkling.)

Quinn said his spiritual life developed in working with the Indians. He used to find the Liturgy of the Hours “more of a burden,” but “now I get something out of reading it” -- even at night, when he normally would be reading Robert Ludlum or John Grisham. (Why is it that when it comes to things liturgical that one has to "get something out of it", besides what is already offered?)

Quinn said he thought lay involvement in the Church “a beautiful development.” “I think God has allowed this shortage of clergy and religious for a reason,” he said. “We can learn so much from laypeople.” (Again, WTF??? I suppose he supports the lay liturgy movement going on in the Netherlands too.)

Finally, this blurb on giving Communion to those who blatantly support abortion:

As for giving communion to politicians who are pro-abortion, “in most cases,” he said, “you should not deny Communion publicly to anyone who comes to the Communion rail, because you do not know the present state of their conscience…” When, in 1989, San Diego’s Bishop Leo Maher refused communion to pro-abortion Assemblywoman Lucy Killea, Quinn welcomed her to communion. "No priest in this diocese will ever refuse to give you communion," he said at the time. (Wow! Talk about the devil coming to the rescue when God said "no"! I like Abp. Burke's stance on this issue far better.)

Gotta love a good nutcase, eh?
Peace,
BMP

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

MLB PLAYOFFS 2007 WEEKEND UPDATE
Already there are four teams on the brink of elimination. Here's what it looks like:

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

O'MALLEY RED SOX VS. BROWN ANGELS
Red Sox lead series 2-0.
Wednesday 10/3: Red Sox 4, Angels 0
Friday 10/5: Red Sox 6, Angels 3
Both games were played in Fenway. Next game: Sunday 10/7 3:07 PM in Anaheim.
(3:07, eh? Are they really THAT precise?)

EGAN YANKEES VS. LENNON INDIANS
Indians lead series 2-0.
Thursday 10/4: Indians 12, Yankees 3
Friday 10/5: Indians 2, Yankees 1 (11 innings)
Both games were played in Cleveland. Next game: Sunday 10/7 6:37 PM in the Bronx.

NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

RIGALI PHILLIES VS. CHAPUT ROCKIES
Rockies lead series 2-0.
Wednesday 10/3: Rockies 4, Phillies 2
Thursday 10/4: Rockies 10, Phillies 5
Both games were played in Philly. Next game: Today 9:37 PM in Denver.

GEORGE CUBS VS. OLMSTEAD DIAMONDBACKS
Diamondbacks lead series 2-0.
Wednesday 10/3: Diamondbacks 3, Cubs 1
Thursday 10/4: Diamondbacks 8, Cubs 4
Both games were played in Arizona. Next game: Tonight 6:07 PM at Wrigley.

All times listed are Eastern Daylight Time.

Who will get knocked out first? Stay tuned to find out!
Peace,
Your Christus Vincit Sports Team

A LETTER FROM A TEEN

The Traditional Mass did more to change my life!

Here's a perfect letter of testimony from a 16-year-old to the editor of the Georgia Bulletin (Atlanta's archdiocesan newspaper). RSCT to Scelata.

Now - relevant so-called "teen Masses" attract who now? Teens? Or nutcase liturgeists who think they know better?

Peace,
BMP

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To the Editor:

I am 16 years old, and for the past 11 months I have attended the traditional Latin Mass weekly, while still attending the Novus Ordo Mass during the week. Because of this, I decided to address certain points made by Carroll Sterne in the Sept. 6 edition of The Georgia Bulletin. Mr. Sterne speaks about the type of Mass that someone of a younger generation is drawn to, and I thought that a teenager’s point of view might be helpful.

Mr. Sterne in his letter gives voice to the opinion of many of today’s liturgists when he says that no one from a younger generation would be drawn to the Latin Mass (many take this even further and assume that we would not like a reverent Novus Ordo Mass either). This opinion causes many of those who plan modern liturgies to do veritable back flips in an attempt to draw teenagers and young adults in. Sometimes this works, but it has a side effect: by doing these things, liturgists show that they have absolutely no faith in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to change the lives of those in my generation. My generation knows about this lack of faith, we are able to see it every time we go to a “teen Mass” and experience priests ad-libbing prayers in an attempt to make them more relevant to us.

This lack of faith backfires; it sends us the message that we also should distrust the power of the liturgy, and it also can turn the Mass into something of a joke.

After experiencing this for months, I attended a Traditional Latin Mass and experienced something that I’d never seen before: Here was a priest who expected my life to be changed without adding anything to the Mass in an attempt to bring this change about. This priest had perfect faith in the power of the liturgy, and it showed. It was beautiful. The traditional Mass did more to change my life then any “relevant” teen Mass ever did.

Ethan Milukas, Peachtree City

AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS

Last night my wife and I watched America's Funniest Home Videos - well, probably a rerun anyways. But this morning, checking out Holy Smoke (now that I've added it to the CV Definitive Blogroll), I ran into the exact same video. Warning, Reverend Fathers: do NOT do this at church!
Peace,
BMP

WE'RE NOT ALONE

Bad music infests many UK parishes too.

After all, you've heard about Paul Inwood, right? Our good friend Damian Thompson has revealed the British equivalent of NaPalM, the Society of St. Gregory (not to be confused with New Haven CT's St. Gregory Society, which promotes the Extraordinary Form; sounds like the "People's Front of Judea" and the "Judean People's Front" from Life of Brian, eh?) Here is their latest CD, Baptised with Fire, a compilation of some really bad music. Yes, you can click on the titles to listen to excerpts. Definitely the equivalent of, let's say, the first volume of Gory and Puke.

Needless to say, Damian's post made someone cry. Boo hoo! The truth hurts once again! Damian needs not feel guilty. Why?

First, the Mass settings produced by the “composers” of the SSG really are bad: they range from nails-scraping-down-a-blackboard painful to stuff that sounds like a wicked parody. Someone needs to say – in a loving way, of course – that it’s drivel.
Second, I’m getting a bit sick of the liberal response to any criticism, which is to bang on about how “hurtful” it is. The message is: emotions come first. So a congregation has to sit through a decade of wailed “folk Masses”, because if you complain you’ll hurt someone’s feelings.

Sounds just like my experience on NaPalM's message boards more than once. Promote the good, we're "arrogant". Decry the bad, we're "hurtful".

Strangely, no one seems to have worried about the feelings of old ladies who loved singing “Soul of My Saviour” and other traditional Catholic hymns and suddenly found them replaced, overnight, by “Bind Us Together, Lord”.

If that isn't true, what is? Though over here the replacement "hymns" are Gather Us In and All Are Welcome, with a dash of Beagle's Things and Here I Is, Lard.

Kudos to Damian Thompson, and a big RSCT to Gerald Augustinus.

Peace,
BMP

WHERE IS THE LAW TO SEE THIS?

Planned Parenthood: Just change your birth date and everything should be alright.

WTF??? Check this out! RSCT to Robert Kumpel at St. John's Valdosta.



Things like this need SOOOOOOOOO much more exposure.
Peace,
BMP

CATHOLIC CARNIVAL 139

...is up and runnin' at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering. Our contribution this week is about the Extraordinary Form being celebrated by my former pastor. Enjoy!
Peace,
BMP

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

FINAL MLB STANDINGS 2007
Here are the final standings for Bishops in Sports Major League Baseball 2007. This may look a little bit cramped, but you'll get a feel of what it looks like in my hometown newspaper. We'll also have the final picture of what the Division Series will look like. BTW, in last night's tiebreaker playoff, Chaput beat Brom in 13 innings 9-8. Sorry Gerald and Lyn.

Click on the standings below to get a better look.

Finally, here's the final Division Series Picture
(these are best of 5 series; snark teams in bold):

O'Malley Red Sox vs. Brown Angels
Egan Yankees vs. Lennon Indians
George Cubs vs. Olmstead Diamondbacks
Rigali Phillies vs. Chaput Rockies

Peace,
Your Christus Vincit Sports Team

CHRISTUS VINCIT SPORTS

We have MORE good news!

Nick's team, the Philadelphia Phillies are the National League East champs!



It took a while before we could post it. It wasn't decided until the very last game. The Phillies and Mets were tied for the NL East lead going into yesterday. Phils won 6-1 over the Nationals. Mets got beat by the Marlins 8-1. Phillies win by one game!

So --- da da da!

MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYOFFS EDITION

Here's how the playoffs are pretty much lined up:

American League Division Series
The O'Malley Red Sox will take on the Brown Angels.
The Egan Yankees will take on the Lennon Indians.

National League Division Series
Well, before the NLDS becomes final, we have to determine the wild card. The wild card race is tied at the end of the season. So, the Brom Padres and Chaput Rockies will be playing a tiebreaker game TONIGHT. Until then, here's what we DO know:
The George Cubs will take on the Olmstead Diamondbacks.
The winner of the Padres/Rockies tiebreaker will take on the Rigali Phillies.

We will keep you updated as need arises.
Peace,
Your Christus Vincit Sports Team

LIVING PROOF THAT THE OUR FATHERHOLDING HAND WORKS

And the proof: this article from Adoremus made it into our parish bulletin this weekend! It talks not only about holding hands (which, allow me to remind you, got its debut at AA meetings), but the "orans" posture that is reserved for the priest.

Now, cut it out! Quit turning churches into meetingplaces for AA support groups.

Peace,
BMP

CHANTED READINGS IN THE ORDINARY FORM

Anyone ever do this?

Jeffrey Tucker states in the NLM blog: The readings at Mass are rarely sung. It's a pity because singing the readings lends and incredible dignity to the text (and the English in the OF needs that!).

It would be extremely easy to assume that Jeff is referring to the Ordinary Form of the Mass. After all, in the Extraordinary Form, the Epistle and Gospel ARE chanted in High Mass as a rule.

Rare as it is, chanting the Gospel at the Ordinary Form was actually something we did on major feasts at Holy Name when I was there. Since I left in August 2003, the pastor was reassigned (and, just like at Holy Name, he's doing great things at his current parish, St. Leo the Great), as was the permanent deacon who did the chanting. And yes, the Gospel was chanted in English.

For anyone who wants to try a hand at chanting the readings, Jeff leaves us this guide as help.

Peace,
BMP