From a forthcoming article in another publication

One of the things that one notices when one visits parishes is the hospitality of the liturgy. Notice that I said "of the liturgy." I differentiate between the general hospitality or that people in general ( greeters, ushers and other non-descript folks) and that in participating in the liturgy. Can I find the readings (a source of never ending frustration for those of us who "hear" by seeing), Can I participate in the singing of the Ordinary? Can I know what the choir sings if they sing something by themselves? Can I sing the responsorial psalm antiphon? Is it possible to know if the choir will sing the propers or not? Translations if anything is in Latin ?

These things seem absolutely essential to those of us who work in the world of sacred music. But I am rather confounded by the attitudes of clergy and lay people alike regarding these questions. I remember leaving one parish and thinking to myself, " I think I just attended a secret meeting and I was not really welcome to be there." At another place I asked if I could have a a copy of the readings and was directed to some small rack where I might find a copy of a missalette that was for
"seeing-challenged' people. I said that I was "hearing challenged" and that only seemed to beleaguer the greeter even more.

Lest one thinks that I am not aware of the difficulty, my own parish where I work engages in all these behaviours. If one wants to know the Ordinary, one might find a card in the rack. But that rack has many other things in it and one would really have to know what one is looking for. Ushers are at a complete loss to know what it is and of course "why" would one want such a card. And of course, when the choir sings something in Latin (or English for that matter) nothing is given. And then the operative question is why not?

Many attitudes come into play. In my case the leadership is concerned with cleanliness than communication. They do not want papers lying all over the pews and book racks. And they are not entirely wrong. But that warrants other questions regarding the use of such materials, their presence and their maintenance. When I query clergy, they have no idea of such an issue. And of course, they would not have an idea. Their book that they pray from has everything they "need" to do what they need to do. They see no issue. And many musicians share the same indifference. They have the same problem.

Part of the indifference also lies in the general nature of Catholic liturgical tradition. If you really wanted to participate, you would have a missal to follow along. But that attitude flows from the Tridentine liturgical experience, which endows one to follow in a book to know the words of the day. The Novus Ordo is certainly a different animal to speak of in this context. Its uniformity is not guaranteed from place to place or for that matter, from liturgy to liturgy in one place.

But even more interesting is the notion of hospitality in this context. When I visit, I want to know what will I sing or not. Can I sing the parts of the liturgy I am able to sing as part of my role as "community." Will I be able to read what is read if I cannot hear well (a perennial problem in parishes all over) or simply because I understand the readings from a visual perspective? What was the text of that beautiful motet the choir sang in Latin and I am not able to translate quickly? And what if the choir sings the propers? Should I like to know that?

Catholics play the liturgical ritual in a somewhat secretive way. Because we are local in our attitudes and practices, we do not see the value of any of the questions I have raised. And I have had people say to me, " it's none of your business what we do here. You are Catholic and you can figure it out." Or the even greater response which is "why would you need that to participate?"

In the quest for hospitality, many places have engendered to place greeters and ushers to assist those who are new. But it stops at the door so to speak. I have given up in many instances when I could not find materials to assist me in praying with others. When I ask for such assistance, rarely do I receive it. And when on occasion I do receive such materials, I notice a different level of participation. Is it greater? Perhaps... but I certainly know that as a newcomer I can be given the opportunity to be part of that group of people at prayer in that moment at that place.

Can this attitude change? Of course. And it has in many places. Large parishes and places of notoriety make it easier to pray. One such place, Notre Dame de Paris publishes a multi-lingual bulletin to help the many pilgrims that assemble there for a variety of reasons. But those places are not the norm. As I said, my own parish makes no effort to assist guests in knowing what is to be prayed and sung that day. And even regular parishioners are often at a loss, which is even sadder as they "belong" there.

Do we want people to pray with us, or even pray at all? Do we want to make the effort to assist them, which involves planning on the many roles and people that are involved in executing the liturgy. It is not a simple affair in a tradition which involves a uniformity that is readily apparent and yet different in place to place. Of the deep indifference to hospitality of prayer.

I remember a visit to a Benedictine monastery some years ago when my wife and I arrived and were escorted to the choir to sing Vespers. We were clueless as to their system of books for the singing of the office. But as quickly as we sat down, a monk came over to us and opened the books to the needed pages. He would assist us with gestures and point to things when we were supposed to sing, He helped us to be a part of of that office. It so impressed both of us that even to this day we gently recall the moment with appreciation and acceptance. We were able to pray. And even more, we felt connected to them and inexorably would always feel that way to that place.

Hospitality is more than a greeter of an usher. It is like welcoming the stranger to one's house. Never an easy task, but in the context of prayer, the power to assist is in our own hands if we so choose. We can make it easy or we can simply carry on the staus quo of the almost "secret" meeting.