Other good possibilities would be a public singing of Veni Sancte Spiritus before/during the election and a public Te Deum afterwards (and ringing of church bells!)
I'm curious about how all of this lines up liturgically with Lent. If a new Pope is elected before Easter, then how much bell-ringing and Te Deum-singing would be appropriate?
THE Lord said unto Peter: “When you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch forth your hands, and another will gird you and lead you where you do not wish to go.” This he said to signify by what death he was to glorify God.
The music list is pathetic. You are so right, Daniel Bennett Page. It's unworthy. I suspect my congregation will have its next normal Sunday mass, just like it did for the last papal election.
If I had a reason to make a list, it would go something like this:
Faith of our fathers Loving shepherd of thy sheep, or any good version of Psalm 23. (Not, well, you know.) O God, our help in ages past, or any other good version of Psalm 90, such as Restless is the heart (Farrell) Veni Creator Spiritus Ubi Caritas (I wish you could sing just that one verse from Songs of Thankfulness and Praise that starts "Manifest in making whole...) Stand By Me (kidding) Holy, Holy, Holy
It's time to demand that this egregious act be corrected and a replacement letter sent out by them. Or are the trinity of catholic music paying somebody in Hilgartner's office off? Remember, even the paranoid have enemies.
C'mon, guys, give them a break. The USCCB is just being pastoral in this time of confusion.
If we kick up a stink about this, nobody will take us seriously. It will come off as sour grapes, or like we think we know better or are superior. Sometimes we just have to go along to get along.
I'm sorry. It's a disgrace. Your kind understanding does you credit David Andrew, but I fear what the world needs now is not the Supremes. We're in for the metaphysical equivalent of The Alamo and we need to gird our loins. This is a time for some powerful chanting and Palestrina. I know it's terribly old fashioned and politically incorrect of me, but I believe Satan does exist. We need to flex our liturgical muscle now, not cry in our beer.
We're not bashing the USCCB, we are just hoping (and reminding them) that everyone needs to see some balance in the music that is promoted. Nothing more than that.
I think there should be a separate page representing the CMAA at the end of the USCCB document with our suggestions, AND mention that the scores are free and available from our site as a PDF file!
The Church Music Association of America is interested to submit this list of recommendations for liturgical music in your Pope Resignation Resource PDF file which you are distributing from your website. Note that the music is all public domain, and is available for free download from musicasacra.com.
We appreciate all that you do for the office of worship in the Catholic Church and we look forward to working with you again in the future.
M-of course I don't. You're dearest. I have to keep the two of you straight when I'm begging you both for advice. (as in Darling advised this course of action and Dearest advised that course of action.)
@DA - FYI - I was not being sarcastic. I thought your forbearance admirable. Sorry if it sounded that way, but I read a lot of period literature and it does leak into my phrasing...
Daniel, meaning I instead of we? and only if they came by and broke your door down? doubtless, you'd not be calling anyone in the ODW "darling....", eh?
@ Kathy....I just had time to glance at "Three Hymns for the Transition" before running off to pack up my choir loft - so forgive me if this is part of the post somewhere ...but I was immediately struck by how well those verses would fit to the chant "O God of Light"....could hear it in my heard whilst reading......thank you! lovely
This is a digest of the longer bulletin from USCCB. It is also significant to local parishes, since it constitutes the permission from the Ordinary to celebrate the suggested liturgies on weekdays of Lent.
My fellow controversialists will be relieved (or disappointed?) that it left the subject of music severely alone.
How in the world is a parish DM supposed to convince their parishioners of organ music and chant when our own USCCB come out with a list of OCP and GIA? Is it because most parishes already have those books and they don't want to make a fuss? Is it because it's the "easy" way out for everythiing? Argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's not just complain; instead, keep working on our list of resources; I'd be happy to send it to the relevant office in Boston, though there's not a lot of time left.
To participate in the discussions on Catholic church music, sign in or register as a forum member, The forum is a project of the Church Music Association of America.