Our parish uses Jerusalem, My Density; Our God is an Awesome God; and We Sing Of Oursel.... I mean, We Come to Your Feast.
Fortunately it also occurs in lent, so we are spared the bishop's favorite song, Halle-Halle-Halle.

(Not suggesting any of this, just airing dirty linen in public.)

If I'm ever asked to do "Awesome God" ever, under any circumstances, I'll simply stand and stare, unblinking and blank-faced, at whoever made the suggestion until they realize how insulting that song is, on every level . . . theologically, gramatically, liturgically, musically, and decide perhaps it's not the wisest song selection.

For me, it could quite possibly be the tipping point when it comes to pulling out the 2-week notice from the top desk drawer and the banker's boxes from the closet.

G, you have my deepest sympathy.

Yurodivi,

Take a view: if, by making the kind of compromise you describe, you're able to help your parish move an inch closer to the glories of our liturgical heritage, stay in there.

Otherwise, move on.

There's a multi-lingual come holy spirit by Ricky Manalo from OCP, yea I know, but I didnt think it was that bad...mess with acc a little, I think its ok.

Would the boomers seriously have a cow if you did Come Holy Ghost by Lambillotte?? If they would, jeezzzz....


The only spanish song I've done is Pan De Vida..sorry

Those pesky Franciscans . . . you can have anything, you just can't own it.

Look. I would luuuuurrrrvve to tell the pastor and the congregation that it has to be all chant, all the time (with the occasional indulgence in Renaissance polyphony, but that isn't going to fly. I feel lucky, considering the musical-political climate in this Diocese, that the pastor hasn't stood in my way.

The fact is (and Michael O'Connor's comment is an excellent example) that aside from a few oases of truth and beauty, music in the church isn't going to be perfect. I am dealing with the fact that the folk-choir director died suddenly in the middle of Lent a couple of years ago. He was a hero to a lot of people because he was disabled, but continued to do his duty in the parish. People who are accustomed to that style of music regard any retrogression (as they see it) toward chant as a slap in the face to the dear man's memory.

The last pastor stood up to say the post-communion prayer once after I had just sung Panis Angelicus and demagogued thus: That was beautiful, Yurodivi and Grigorii.

(he holds for applause while Yurodivi cringes)

Now, who in here can tell me what that song means?

The only hand raised was mine. And of course I don't count!

His point: it doesn't matter if it edifies your soul, if you don't understand Latin, it doesn't mean anything. At least I think that was the point of embarrassing me and shaming the people in that way. And it was before we started printing music bulletins. But ever since then, i have never sung anything in a foreign language (even though Latin is the official language of the Church) without either printing a translation of the text in the bulletin (preferred) or reading the text over the microphone first (awkward, but necessary when the words won't fit in the program).

We're going to have chant at Confirmation, and maybe some polyphony as well. But I have to throw in some of the c**p to get half a loaf. I think of it as bribing the kids with a nice, fat beetle grub to get them to eat their steak.

"Now, who in here can tell me what that song means? "

I wonder if this is some kind of slogan they pick up at conferences - a friend who is a music director had exactly the same thing happen to him: Panis Angelicus at Communion, and the jerk (I'm sorry, the priest) stood up and said, "That last song...did you understand it? Do you know what it means? No, of course not. That's why we had Vatican II. It should be done in English. I used to teach Latin years ago, and I didn't understand it. Terrible."

The bad news is that it (along with other similar actions) caused him to give up his position.

The good news is that he moved to another parish where the priest welcomed him.

The best news is demographic: the first priest is in his 60's; the second one in his 40's. ;-)

"if I remain calm and avoid speaking in a manner that conveys "you are a moron" at the end of every sentence. "

Aye, there's the rub.

That comment of who where understood that is truly disgusting and dispicable, especially during the context of a Mass. Mass is no time to embarrass someone. Sounds like he really doesn't understand what being pastoral meant. There are some sacro-pop songs in English I still don't understand (I myself am the Bread of Life for example). O and I'm sure had you picked a song in Spanish, Vietnameese, Arabic, etc. such comment would have never been given.


Getting to G's comment's, DOWN APNEY is a wonderful hymn. Fire Of God is a wonderful hymn, set to NUM....o dear you know Savior of the Nations come....in Worship III.

Forgot to mention, there is a song that I sang at a funeral recently, not sure the author of the text, but it might have been a WLP piece, God of Mercy and Compassion.
It is sung to BEACH SPRING, and as I said, it is a funeral text, but the 3rd verse would be superb for use at Confirmations.

(save the Liturgy, Save the World)

The Manalo piece in question is "By The Waking of Our Hearts." The text is a pretty faithful paraphrase of "Veni Sancte Spiritus." And you DID say "compromise," right? For my confirmation I use "O Breathe on Me, O Breath of God" to ST COLUMBA and play it on the piano. No one has any idea that they're singing a hymn tune, which, who knows... if the confirmandi ever come back to church again as adults they may get another chance to sing with a different text. You could also do the "Ubi caritas" chant with verses in English. If Bob Hurd and and a couple Taize songs can get away with the refrain in Latin, why not this short major-sounding chant?

G, I am a young whippersnapper indeed, who already has pulled out his back and has high cholesterol.

The main contribution I want to make to this forum discussion is regarding the program/booklet/worship-aid:
(1) include texts and music notation if you want people to sing
(2) include Ordinary texts if there is one word modified or repeated
(3) include copyright info
(4) include posture (stand, sit, kneel) directions
(5) include titles and composers for pieces that are instrumental/solo
(6) include USCCB reception of communion text ( http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/intercom.shtml )
(7) include a devotional personal Communion prayer text
(8) proofread, proofread, proofread!

I recently was invited by relatives to attend a Confirmation.
Program was three sheets 8.5x14.0, center stapled, folded (i.e., 12 pages).
All Mass headings and titles were present (INTRO, Gathering, Greeting, Sprinkling, Gloria, Opening, ...)
but here I indicate only pages and music info [and personal comments]:
p1 cover graphics, date, location, parish names, VIP#1
p2 welcomes and requests from VIP#1 and VIP#2
p3 Gathering Song: "Just Like You" Matt Maher [no tune] Revive my heart [... Cuz' You're my God ... I wanna ...]
p4 Sprinkling Rite: "Come To The Water" [no composer, no tune] Oh let all who [...]
Gloria: [sung, no composer, no text, no tune]
p5 Liturgy of the Word [most detailed, with scripture citations]
Responsorial: "Psalm 104" [no composer, no tune, no verses so cue with touchdown-and-pirouette]
Gospel Acclamation ... Gospel ... Gospel Acclamation repeated [confusion until VIP#1 "please sit"]
Confirmation: [solo/instrumental, no attribution]
p6 Presentation: "As It Is In Heaven" Matt Maher [no tune] Our Father [... Every eye proclaim ...]
p7 Acclamations: "Mass of St Timothy" [no composer, no text, no tune]
Communion: "Breathe" [no composer, no tune] This is the air [...]
p8 Sending Forth: "You Are Holy/Prince Of Peace" [no composer, no tune] You are holy [echo everything]
p9-10-11 confirmandi names
p12 graphic

I offer the above (1)-(8) suggestions because of the following. This event was held in a (mimicking a niece) really-really-big-big building to accommodate two parishes together (i.e., 150+ teens to be confirmed, seated in first pews with sponsors, all others behind somewhere). More than 15 minutes before scheduled start time, I entered a packed and noisy building. I do not recall whether or not there was music. I received a program at the door and found the relatives. Shortly before starting, VIP#2 repeated the content of page two (welcome ... cellphones ... flash ... wandering ...). More talking. Exchange from pew behind: (parent) Did you turn off your cellphone? (child) No, I set it to vibrate, so that when someone calls I can text them back! The music was led by one chanteuse (yes mic), accompanied by one grand piano (no mic), one drumset (yes mic), one guitar (yes mic), maybe one electric bass guitar. I do not recall whether or not we were asked to sing at any point, and not much congregational singing occurred. I could pick out locations of brave soloists; the rest mumbled along or almost hummed. Not knowing any of the music, and lacking notation, I did not sing. The drums entered each piece at measure 8 or measure 16 and persisted through the final measure, and seemed loud. Communion was long and chaotic, a short duration of singing followed by a long duration of guitar plucking unidentifiable chord progressions, all processed toward sanctuary using center aisle and returned to pews, then most stood and very few sat or knelt, and the talking resumed.

It sounds like a parish picnic.

Man, I am glad I don't have to do that anymore...

Yes, Kathy.

That's what happened to me when I was confirmed in 1959.