So I've Got That Goin' For Me...

... which is nice.
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Listen... Do You Want To Know A Secret?

I've had several conversations with folks lately about music in the liturgy.  It is amazing how this topic see can rouse the passions of normally intelligent & level-headed people like no other.  I want to make a few observations about my gleanings.

First, I have to make clear that almost everyone I've ever talked to about this was utterly sincere in their conviction.  They really believe that their vision was the one that would bring people to a deeper relation with God.  Just as universal, however, was their ignorance about the Roman Church's practice going back to time immemorial, how that tradition developed & why, & what the Magisterium currently teaches about music in the liturgy.  To bring any of that up, however, immediately makes one a meanie-pants & the conversation quickly shuts down.

Most people begin with the reference point that a) what their current parish practice is is correct & normative, & b) that there really are no norms anyway; you can do whatever you want.  You can hardly blame them - it's been an utter free-for-all for 3 generations now.  So, within this background are a couple of thought streams that frequently cross; but remember, you're not supposed to cross streams!  That's bad.

There is a group whose viewpoints on liturgical music combine preference ("I love electric rodeo techno-funk!") & emotion ("That song makes me feel all gwishy inside!").  Both of these are largely superficial & inadequate to the worship of God & unconnected in any meaningful way to the liturgy itself.  They are imports from pop culture, & largely seek the manipulation of emotional states & rarely dive deeper than the surface.  The "quality" of a person's subjective emotional response is not any sort of measure of what is appropriate or required. Many think we will bring the people in, especially the youth, if we just make the music at Mass, indeed the Church itself, more like the world.  The Church, however, exists to convert the world to Jesus Christ.  She needs to speak to the world in ways it can grasp to preach the Gospel, but her worship can never be of the world, because she is inherently other-worldly.

Music appropriate for worship should not at all have its origins in "what's hot now," or "what people like" or "it has a great beat & it's easy to dance to," but rather who is it we worship, who are we, & what demand does this relationship make on us.  It should raise our whole being up to prayerful contemplation of the divine Mystery unfolding before us.  It must prepare us for a direct encounter with God.  Confusing this issue is that some of the new music is just fine outside of Mass, say at a parish dinner or at a youth concert.  It should be not only obvious that secular music styles should not be admitted to the liturgy, but quite offensive to our religious sensibilities. However, you can't really have a meaningful discussion with people who want to argue at the level of preferences or subjective emotional response.  As for the Church, she has stated her part as to what music is appropriate to the Holy Sacrifice (Sancrosanctum Concilium 116).

Another group are the "Do-ers," who present the real reason for this post.  The maxim for these people is, "Everybody must sing everything all the time."  If you're not doing something or singing something, you must not be worshiping   I've talked about this before, but the short of it is, our actions at Mass are only a feeble echo of the one who truly acts in the liturgy: Jesus Christ.  He is the one who is both priest & victim.  He is the one who offers us union with himself & presents us to the Father.  You got anything to top that?  Didn't think so.  Our main job is to focus on this incredible mystery long enough to receive the gift God has for us.  Silence & contemplation is required.  A mere multiplication of words, words, words, words, words are not helpful here.  The Word is enough; what is required is music that proclaims, upholds, & sustains that Word in solemnity, beauty, & prayerful contemplation.

Our culture abhors silence.  People today seem uneasy to be with their own thoughts in solitude.  Perhaps that's because a quiet soul is fertile ground for God to work.  Something might be asked of us in the silence of contemplation, and change is so very hard.   What this means for liturgical music is that people feel hurt or cheated if the choir or cantor sings something & they are obliged to merely listen.  This is often the argument against some forms of sacred music like polyphony or the more melismatic chants: that regular folks in the pews can't "participate."  And since external participation has been thrust forward as the standard of liturgy, this just won't do.

However, genuine liturgical music is not just any song expressing religious sentiments that anyone can sing.  It is most properly the actual texts of the liturgy that the Church gives us proclaimed in a way that ennobles it.  The people's job is to be attentive to this word proclaimed, because, in reality, it is Christ himself proclaiming his Word to his people.  You can say that about Incline Domine.  Lord of the Dance, not so much.  This goes for the readings at the Mass, too.  Do people feel cheated because the don't get to recite the readings together with the reader?  Our job is prayerful, expectant attentiveness.  That goes for the prayers that the priest prays, and even the periods of silence in the liturgy.  These are not mere pauses in the action - they are moments of contact with the divine. If we're not listening, we're not worshiping.

So the "Do-ers" have it backwards.  It is the interior attunement to the divine that is true "actuosa participatio." It is receptive listening that is the most fruitful action of the faithful at Mass.  Of course there is a place for singing (notably, the Ordinary of Mass, as well as appropriate hymns & chants at their respective times), but if one isn't listening - both in the the word proclaimed & in the silence, then one can't hear Christ.  We wonder why we go to Mass week after week & nothing ever seems to change. 

How to break through?  Uh, not sure.  I've had precious little success in my own efforts.  It seems that much of the resistance comes from fear of the unknown, fear of rejecting the status quo, as if doing something wrong for 40 years makes it right.  So, perhaps the genuine beauty of the Church's liturgical song simply has to be heard more.  Maybe before Mass.  Maybe at extra-Mass liturgical events.  Maybe at weddings.  Maybe at funerals.  I do know that prayerful chant & beautiful polyphony are their own evangelists.  No one has to sell you on transcendental beauty; it sells itself.  But if it's never heard, then no one will know and the status quo will never change.  Once known & loved, it will be ready to serve.  And, I suspect, all the arguments about musical preferences, emotional highs, "what about the youth!?!," and always being busy at Mass will just melt away.  The people will be busy praying & worshiping.

Trolling the Worldwide Internet

The other day, I was watching (& lamenting, but joyfully) the last video from SheIsCatholic (YouTube channel HERE), who has now run away & joined a nunnery.  In this case, the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.  We at H.E. prays that she fulfills her vocation & grows in holiness & joy.  Her witness online will be missed.

But not forgotten - she seems to have started a movement of young, enthusiastic, Catholic Vloggers.  I came across one of those - SheSpeaksWithWisdom - who posed a question about someone who during Communion time at Mass took it upon themselves to dip their Sacred Host into the Chalice she was offering as an EMHC, a forbidden action we can call self-intinction.  The priest can do this, then offer the Host to a communicant, but the communicant absolutely cannot do it on their own.  You can find the Youtube page HERE.

I made a comment encouraging digilence in these matters, but shortly afterward, someone popped up with snide remarks about religion in general - a troll.  The general rule is, "Please don't feed the trolls," but I sensed from the screen name, thought chain, & language used that this was a young person who had drunk the secular, materialistic, relativistic, if-it-feels-good-do-it Kool Aid of the world, so I thought I might try to engage.  One never knows what could result from a positive exchange.  Plus, I thought others listening in might learn something useful.

I've listed the full exchange below, at least as it stands for now.  Things have been quiet for a few days.  Maybe their mommy made them go clean up their room or something : )  The "wurlwidinnernet" is an amazing thing (thanks, Al Gore!), but it can often be a cruel beast that allows us to treat each other impersonally & with disdain.  Let's pray that all people, but Catholics especially, use the web for good & as a tool of spreading Christ's peace.
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Mark G> Self intinction? Verbotten!

I know it's hard to know what to do on the spot, but as an EMHC, be prepared. People must consume the Host immediately when given. If someone walks up to you with Jesus in their hand, cover the chalice with your hand & politely ask them to consume the Host first.

If you ever see someone walking away with a Host, they need to be intercepted, charitably, of course. This is not something to treat blithely.

Why can't people just do what the Church says? Sigh...
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FatalFistFury> But doesn't religion tell you not to think because its too hard?
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MG> Sorry, Fury - the intellectual, philosophic, scientific, & theological traditions of the Catholic Church is unsurpassed. At least that's what my communique from Rome this morning said.

The liturgical rules exist to ensure we can worship together in harmony. They provide a way for us to enter the mystery we celebrate & protect against abuses. If everyone is doing their own thing, that's not really worshiping as the Body of Christ, is it?

P.S. Save the snark. Charity & good will wins every time.
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FFF> I agree, but can't we have charity and good will without religion? Am I still considered as cretin l if I help people out just because I want to and not because someone I go to church/mosque/temple? I'm not trying to flame anybody and I respect your choices albeit, my previous comment did come out of cynicism(which would also prove my lack of repect thereof) and I'm glad you caught that.
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MG> Of course people of various beliefs of no beliefs can love & act charitably towards others. Catholics hold that the Creator has inscribed the Natural Law in the soul of every person: Do good; Avoid evil. If they cooperate, God may look kindly on them in the end.

It is much harder for an atheist or even a non-Christian to give a reason for their charity or the existence of any moral absolute, esp. the reality of love. If you are genuinely open to seeking the truth, I am sure you will find it.
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FFF> So you're saying that only as a Catholic will I understand what love actually means? And I'm pretty sure that it is not man's instinct to impulsively kill their fellow kind, just as it is man's instinct to procreate. If that were the case then we would not have survived, but since you shun evolution thats another discussion.

Do you really need a reason for good will? Are you only doing it because the Bible told you to? Doesn't that contradict what good will is then?
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MG> I'm honored to have all these words put in my mouth! God has given man both natural law & divine revelation of himself. Many reject divine revelation, but do understand man's natural desire to love & do good. However, man's intellect & inclinations are darkened by his rebellion against God, the source of love & goodness itself.

In a world without God - a pure Darwinian world - the only laws are survival of the fittest & might makes right. The history of the 20th century is instructive.
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FFF> Furthermore, it is impossible for me and most reasonable people to have the Bible considered as intellectual when no one can question it nor scientific when you can't prove anything said in the Bible.
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MG> You falsely assume Catholics are biblical fundamentalists w/o bothering to find out if it's true - very sloppy reasoning. Catholics do question the Bible & seek to understand its message better. The Church knows that all truth is from God, so we can embrace a nuanced version of evolution. Did you know that it was a Catholic priest & scientist Georges Lemaître who 1st proposed the Big Bang theory? Or that the Vatican operates astronomical observatories both in Rome & w/ the Univ. of Arizona?
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MG> The historical claims of the Bible have been proven themselves over & over; new evidence is continuously being discovered. But God can also be known apart from the Bible: thru the order, beauty, & goodness of the cosmos, & thru the immensity & glory of man's own soul. Look inward & find God's handiwork.

While the Church appeals to man's head, it is his heart that most needs God's love & healing. I leave you w/ words from Augustine - Our hearts are restless, O God, until they rest in you. Salve.
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Sacred Music Workshop - Non Nobis Domine

Most folks I know have already seen/heard this recording from the July 2012 Sacred Music Workshop for the Youth of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Lenoir City sponsored by the Knoxville Latin Mass Schola.

But if not, this motet was sung during Saturday Vespers after the Reading.  You can view other recordings from the workshop on the St. Thomas Youth FB Page. 

Don't tell me kids don't get it.  The kids I asked all said this was their favorite music piece from the workshop.

Also, this was just my first attempt to post a video to my blog.  I hope you like it.

I Am A Person

At break time at work, we usually tune into what has come to be known as The Daily Disaster on CNN.  Always seem to be some horrible thing going on.  The talking heads were going on about the War on Women or some such drivel, & the conversation steered around to the question of whether or not is was permissible to abort a child conceived in a rape.

Many engineers pride themselves on a hard-headed, pragmatic approach to things, so often they take a harsh view of things with little room for mercy.  I often just keep my mouth shut & pray.  This time, after the case was made, I spoke up & said something like, "Well, it's not the kid's fault is it?  I mean, do you think the woman wants to live with the guilt of killing her child on top of the horrible memory of being raped?"  They were a little taken back to hear me speak out like that.

I told them that I know someone who this actually happened to - she got pregnant as a result of a rape, & instead of "getting rid" of the child, she carried it to term & gave the baby up for adoption.  Talk about heroic virtue.  I am amazed by this young woman's courage & expression of love.  They didn't know what to say.  I think everyone assumes that the automatic choice for everyone in every case is abortion.

Well, things got weird then.  Someone said, "Well, don't you think there's something wrong with someone who would do something like that?  I mean, how could a normal person do something like that," meaning, I supposed, that the child should be killed because they had a deranged & sub-human male parent that made the child's worthiness to live suspect.  I said, "I don't really think that's the case.  Any person is capable of virtually any crime.  While there are people with mental problems who might be rapist, I believe it's more about the cumulative choices people make that lead them to take certain actions."  

Well, they didn't by this, but stuck by their "rotten DNA" defense.  I said, "Be careful with that, because then they'll be scrutinizing everyone to see whether or not they meet the criteria to live."  Finally, some nodding heads.  Still, I was creeped out by this exchange.  I realized walking back from break that what was being advocated was eugenics.  It was Nazism at its ideological finest - the desire to create a superior race by eliminating the unfit.

I'm honestly not very good at apologetics on the fly, so I realized after some reflection that this is where I should have gone: the argument that a raped woman (any woman?) should not keep her child is based simply on whether the child is wanted or not.  It takes an unimaginable amount of love to bear a child that you didn't ask for; one that came from a horrible, violent act.  Without trivializing this for women - I mean, obviously, how could I possibly know - if we accept as a society that some human life is disposable because it is inconvenient or unwanted, then we open a Pandora's box of horror that we normally only find in Sci Fi novels.  

Implied in my ramblings was the fact that the unborn child is a human person.  I mean, it either is or it isn't.  If it is, then it must be protected by all laws, rights, & privileges that you & I enjoy.  If not, well, then there's little to separate a born child from unborn child other than location & desirability.  Either could be killed for any reason. The burden of proof of not-personhood certainly rests on the opposition.  It is clearly human life at an early stage - it's not going to become a phone booth or an ostrich - it is clearly human life.  From there, an unassailable case has to be made this nascent human life is not a person; & I simply don't think that can be done.

It also suggests the question, How much can you love? & it's couplet, How much are you willing to sacrifice?  Only in God can the answer that leads to true joy & fullness of life be found.  The current pro-abort mindset is the opposite: How will you fulfill what you want to do if you have this parasite in you?  How will you live a life of selfishness, inversion, & detachment from relationship & obligation?  How will be able to chase the dream we've laid out for you on nearly every womans' magazine cover you've seen your entire life?

I sense the tide is turning.  Science has revealed to the world how amazing developing human life is.  I think young people see the damage a culture of abortion has caused.  Many have taken the brunt of the blast in broken families, abuse, missing siblings, & a seeming lack of purpose.  They want more.  They are far more open to the Pro-Life message, despite the other challenges of their generation.  I have great hope that life will win.  See you at the March for Life.

Let 'em in, Father, let 'em in!

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I read a lot online; probably too much.  I am very interested in people & want to know what they have to say.  Every now & then, you read something that really stops you in your tracks. Something that commands your attention & points you toward ultimate realities in an unexpected way.

The writings of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal - who celebrate their 25th anniversary this year - are a source of great wisdom, hope, & joy to me.  I encourage you to read all of the gems there, but THIS particular story really got me.  I'm curious what you think.

You can also listen to Fr. Andrew Apostoli's homily for the order's anniversary Mass HERE.  As you can hear & read, they are growing fast.  This is the fruit of all those prayers for vocations for priests & religious you've offered up.  Support them as you are able.  God bless.
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William Byrd

Obviously, I have been totally out of blogging mode for some time.  Just.  Simply.  No.  Time.

So, what's been keeping me so busy?  Well, it may sound mundane, but mostly family, home, work, church, & school.  In other words, nothing different from anyone else.  Though, I guess putting obscure Italian motorcycles back together & organizing Gregorian chant workshops isn't on everyone's to-do list.

Here's an embellished piece of a draft of an old post...

Musically, the Knoxville Latin Mass Schola (informally known as the Blessed Hermann Contractus of Reichenau Schola) has been working very hard to learn William Byrd's Mass for Three Voices, which we will sing tomorrow for the Ascension Thursday/Sunday/Saturday Mass at my home parish of St. Thomas the Apostle, & again at Holy Ghost for the various upcoming feasts & solemnities.  I think it's beautiful, & has some very complex chordal arrangements that sound like they could have been written last week.  Such is the power of true sacred music.

[ed: we actually did learn & sing that Mass several times, both with EF Masses at Holy Ghost & also  OF Masses at St. Thomas, where - in combination with Adam Barlett's Simple English Propers - it seemed very welcome.  We sang it at the wedding of the sister of a several members of our choir - the most beautiful & enjoyable wedding I've ever had the privilege to attend.  Byrd's genius as a composer carried the day(s), even when our talent or execution wasn't perfect.]

William Byrd lived in "interesting times."  Read his bio on Wikipedia.  He was a Catholic who loved his Faith, but found it increasingly precarious to practice it during Elizabethan times.  I've often thought about his exquisite Agnus Dei arrangements, & how he must have felt penning "dona nobis pacem," even as his beloved priests & other faithful Catholics were arrested & publicly tortured & executed for refusing to burn incense to Ceasar.  Perhaps he understood the power of suffering & dying for the Faith.

It was a privilege to spend time with Byrd, learning his personality through his work.  Our choir is now learning his Ave Verum Corpus, which we are also loving.
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