MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

30th Sunday of Ordinary Time
St. John the Baptist Church, Pawtucket, RI

EIN' FESTE BERG...A mighty fortress is our God
- They used the text written by the wife of Robert Schuller (of Hour of Power fame)
Alstott...I love you, Lord, my strength and Alleluia
PICARDY...Christians, let us love one another
Proulx...Sanctus, Christ has died, and Amen from A Community Mass
Isele...Agnus Dei from Holy Cross Mass
Peloquin...Faith, hope, and love from Lyric Liturgy
- My eyes lit up like a pinball machine when I heard this! I was in my glory!
AZMON...The Spirit sends us forth to serve

Peace,
BMP

ON ELECTION DAY

Never mind "may the best man win". It's "may the lesser of the two evils win". That's as far as I'll go, because I can piss off a lot of people on BOTH sides if I'm not careful.

Peace,
BMP

LITURGY COMMITTEES

The biggest mistake in almost any parish

In my experiences, the only parish with a liturgy committee that I've worked with that didn't butt into musical affairs was Holy Name. There was one representative from each department - myself for traditional music, a rep for the Extraordinary Form Mass (outside of music), a rep for the gospel choir (we never clashed, by the way - the gospel choir had their one Mass and I basically let them do their thing and they left me alone), a rep for decor, one for servers, lectors, you get the picture, and of course, the pastor. We more or less "reported" what we did and/or what we're doing in each department every other month. I had absolutely no problem with getting Worship - Third Edition into the pews there in 2000 (and the Music Issue out of the pews). Those hymnals are still in the pews at Holy Name today.

Unfortunately, this kind of liturgy committee was the exception.

Jeffrey Tucker has a whole skinny on your typical liturgy committee, the kind of committee a true organist/music director would find as the biggest mistake in parish liturgical life. The biggest nightmare committees are the ones that want to pick your hymns (I use that term very loosely in many of the pieces they choose), beg you to try some Haugen d'Hass (and I don't mean ice cream), or even want to pick your hymnals (someone just happened to get their hands on a Gather book and wanted to show it off to the committee - "Oh, look, MaryJo, ain't this cute? All Are Welcome! Doesn't that sound just like our mission statement?").

One could easily flash a copy of the Gregorian Missal. Now, THERE's a book with much more permanance than any hardbound hymnal from Adoremus to Worship to Gather Apprehensive. Why's that? It's the official chants of the Church, the music that the Church WANTS us to sing. It's singing the Mass, as opposed to just singing at Mass.

Better still, the hell with the liturgy committee! Go right to the pastor (hopefully he's supportive of good liturgy and not just "well, let's go ask the liturgy committee" - they typically won't make the right decision, even if they did know rubrics). After all, a really good priest will be your liturgy committee.

Peace,
BMP

LIKE I SAID NOT LONG AGO...

...the youngsters get it!

Earlier I had mentioned the "Youth Day" debacle that the UK bishops are passing for Mass as posted by our good friend Damian Thompson.

Also, consider this earlier mentioning of mine that youngsters get it when it comes to liturgy.

Now put the two together, and you got this nice revolt that young Catholics have started against the "Youth Day" Mass. (another RSCT to Damian!) Here are some comments already posted:

Down the phone, Martina, 25, makes gagging noises and wails: "They call that a liturgy? It's the chocolate that gets me. What is that about? Can't we just pray after Communion?"

"This has got to be a joke," reads an email from 24-year-old Charlotte, who is a member of a charismatic group. "I've never seen anything as stupid as this liturgy. It makes a mockery of God and mockery of the Mass."

Another email comes from Thomas, 22, who attends a normal Sunday Mass once a week at his university chaplaincy: "I just can't believe how tasteless, insipid and vile that Mass is."

Damian closes with a remark of his own:

They'll be even sadder when they realise that genuine young people are sick of having their brains washed by Tabletistas, and will simply refuse to take part. Indeed, I gather that some Catholics in their teens and 20s will make a special effort to attend Mass in the Extraordinary Form on that particular Sunday. (There's no room for comedy skits in the rubrics of Fortescue, as I recall.)

I wouldn't be surprised either.
Peace,
BMP

MY HALLOWEEN COSTUME THIS YEAR

Since I'm working on Halloween, I told the customers' kids yesterday on my Day 5 run (every other Friday, which means I'll be running that route next on Halloween) that I'll be dressed as a Schwan's man that day.

Peace,
BMP

ON SALE AT DOLLAR TREE

Womynpryst Apparel



Found these at the local Dollar Tree store, where everything is a buck! I couldn't resist taking the picture, since my new cell phone has a camera.

Peace,
BMP

AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD'S PERCEPTIONON PRESIDENTIAL LINEAGE

My ONE political post for the week!

The eleven-year-old in question: my daughter Brittany. She explained the White House hierarchy this way:

If the President of the United States dies, then the Vice President takes over.
If the Vice President dies, then the Oval Office goes to the Speaker of the House (as long as that speaker isn't Pelosi, I'm good with that)
If the Speaker of the House dies, then you go to Radio Shack and buy a new one.

Peace,
BMP

JUST WHEN YOU THINK MAHONYFEST IS BAD...

...you should see the "Youth Day" festivities going on next month, planned by the bishops of England and Wales (RSCT to Damian Thompson).

Here are some highlights:

A "litany of penance" that asks God's forgiveness "For over-filling our kettles" (WTF???) and "For wasting paper" (The Music Issue comes to mind - making a new yearly issue to drop two or three good hymns like Christ is made the sure foundation and add new trash from Spirit and Song)

A prayer "that the tyranny of profit be quelled"

The distribution at Mass of Fairtrade chocolates wrapped in paper carrying an exhortation to switch to energy-saving lightbulbs (Please don't tell me this is in lieu of Holy Communion!)

Persuading the priest to wear a chasuble stitched together from recycled material (Double WTF???)

Damian adds:

This is during the Mass for the Solemnity of Christ the King. And its performance is not just permitted by the Bishops of England and Wales: it is suggested by them. These are the same bishops who would not dream of suggesting a Mass using the ancient Latin liturgy of the Catholic Church - indeed, who do everything in their power to block its celebration.

One final touch. At the offertory, bread and wine are brought to the altar to be consecrated by the priest. But Youth Sunday doesn't want to stop there. The organisers have some further suggestions for "gifts" to be presented at the altar. You can probably guess what they might be, but let me confirm your suspicions: "Energy saving lightbulbs, recycling containers, fairly traded goods..."

Pardon me while I call my friend.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALPH!

Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Low Mass in the Extraordinary Form - 5 PM
23rd Sunday after Pentecost - October 19, 2008
St. Leo the Great Church, Pawtucket, RI

"In Babilone"...There's a wideness in God's mercy
Dubois...Adoramus Te, Christe
Franck...Panis Angelicus
"Crucifer"...Lift high the Cross

Peace,
BMP

WHO SAYS YOUNGSTERS DON'T APPRECIATEA GOOD REVERENT MASS???

This 21-year-old gets it!



I get the biggest charge out of the priest who says, "Everyone of us is a minister of the Eucharist." WTF??? Last I understood, the priest is the minister of the Eucharist.

It's great to know that yes, a 21-year-old knows a liturgical abuse when he sees one.
Peace,
BMP

WE WENT TO PURGATORY

Purgatory Chasm, that is. Today I took the family to Purgatory Chasm State Reservation in Sutton, Massachusetts. Enjoyed it big time. Walked a cool rocky chasm there. Great place for hiking and picnicking, and it didn't cost anything!

Peace,
BMP

WANNA KNOW WHAT GRINDS MY GEARS?

(Title stolen from a Peter Griffin news segment)

Anytime I call certain phone numbers and I hear "For service in English, press '1', para servicio in Español, marque '2'". These are the only two options I'm usually given. What if I wanted service in Polish, or Swahili, or Latin? Those options aren't available! Dang!

Peace,
BMP

150TH EPISODE CONTEST

In honor of our forthcoming 150th episode of

we'll be holding a hymn parody contest!

The requirement:
Write a parody about Krakowska Kielbasa, the official deli meat of Christus Vincit ANYWHERE! You can talk it up or down, whatever you like, as long as it's funny. The catch: you must set it to a standard hymn tune (yes, a REAL hymn tune), and the words must fit (no irregularities). Send your entries to bpage69 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

The deadline:
November 1, 2008 (All Saints Day) at 11:59 PM. (one minute later is 11/2/08 - All Souls)

The prize:
Two pounds of Krakowska Kielbasa from my local Polish deli (I'll even send a Schwan's ice pack to keep it cold in transit to the winner's address), plus proper credit, as well as mention of the winner's blog and/or podcast.

If you're hungry for a good Polish deli meat, start writing!
Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

St. John the Baptist, Pawtucket, RI
27th Sunday of Ordinary Time

BUNESSAN...This day God gives me
- (I actually have no problem with this tune. Many may frown on it because Cat Stevens - now "Yusuf Islam" - made it popular with Morning has broken, but I like it best with David Evans' accompaniment as found in the 1975 Worship II and the 1958 Pilgrim Hymnal.)
Alstott...The vineyard of the Lord and Alleluia
WERDE MUNTER...Jesu, joy of our (should be man's) desiring
Proulx...Sanctus, Christ has died, and Amen from Community Mass
Isele...Agnus Dei from Holy Cross Mass
- (I stopped singing after the Agnus.)
Norbet...Bread that was sown
Haas...We are called
- (The credit should read "David Haas, first line ripped off from Come Sail Away by Dennis DeYoung and Styx". The melody is just awful. Even the best of organists couldn't do justice to this one - and Paul is very good at the console. Sorry, Paul. I have to say it.)

Peace,
BMP

HOW THIS WORLD HAS CHANGED FOR THE WORSE

(RSCT and a big wet kiss to my wife Ann)

SCHOOL -- 1957 vs. 2007

Scenario:
Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1957
Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2007
School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to Jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for Traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario
Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1957
Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007
Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario:
Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1957
Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007
Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957
Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007
Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.

Scenario:
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957
Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2007
Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario:
Pedro fails high school English.
1957
Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2007
Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario:
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1957
Ants die.
2007
BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957
In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007
Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.

Awful isn't it? Sad but true.
Peace,
BMP

BYE BYE EPC'S

In recent (and happy) news, the Vatican is eliminating the Eucharistic Prayers for Children from the Roman Missal - you know, the ones that invoke responses from the kiddies in spots other than the Mysterium Fidei?

Story from CWN / RSCT NLM:

Vatican will drop Eucharistic Prayers for Children

Washington, Oct. 3, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The Vatican plans to remove the Eucharistic Prayers for Children from the authorized prayers of the Roman Missal.

Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, New Jersey, the chairman of the US bishops' liturgy committee, has disclosed the Vatican plans in a letter to the American bishops. He reported that the Congregation for Divine Worship plans "to publish a separate text at a later time."

The Eucharistic Prayers for Children, like many other liturgical texts, have been criticized for failing to convey an adequate sense of the sacred in the liturgy. In recent years the Vatican has made special efforts to recover that sense of the sacred, and to curtail the proliferation of liturgical texts in order to encourage consistency in the liturgy.

"This does not change our present practice," Bishop Serratelli wrote in his September 29 letter. The change will take effect at an unspecified future date.

However, the US bishops' committee has decided to suspend work on a new translation of the existing Eucharistic Prayers for Children. In light of the coming change, Bishop Serratelli said that he was removing that item from the agenda for the November meeting of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Peace,
BMP

NEW FROM MATTEL

...er, make that the Catholic Caveman.



Personally, I would have rather seen her run for president (both presidential candidates suck - my opinion - I wrote in Stephen Colbert in the primary and I'll do it again in November if I have to) instead of vice president. This girl GETS IT!

As for the Barbie thing - every Advent (and even a couple of weeks before) when I'm hearing all those tacky hideous pieces that pass for Christmas music, I start imagining what the market would be like with "Trailer Trash Barbie", or "Street Corner Barbie", or "Homewrecker Ken".

Peace,
BMP

POLITICAL HUMOR FOR THE DAY

As you know, I very rarely get into politics in this here blog, but the Catholic Caveman posted something that I just couldn't resist...

If you get an e-mail with "Nude Photos of Sarah Palin" in the subject line, do not open it. It might contain a virus.

If you get an e-mail with "Nude Photos of Hillary Clinton", do not open it. It might contain nude photos of Hillary Clinton.

LMAO!
Peace,
BMP

CATHOLIC CARNIVAL 192

...is up and running at Our God is an Awesome God (not the hideous praise song, thank God). My post on the St. Cecilia organ is featured this week.

Enjoy.
Peace,
BMP