Posted on 01/18/2005 11:11:11 AM PST by corpus
"You doing this in your parish? If not, then you are NOT doing what the Council Fathers envisioned."
If your parish is like the one described above, then have we got a deal for you!
Presenting Pope Paul VI's Jubilate Deo in various PDF and MS-Word formats! The minimum repertoire of plainchant asked of congregations by the Holy Father in his 1974 Voluntati Obsequens - which just so happens to be bundled in the PDF!
And wait, there's more: MP3 Files of the ordinary chants found in that very booklet! So you can learn by ear instead of fussing with that archaic square notation! Bonus - Lord's Prayer also included! Chants are almost completely compatible with the TLM!
All this requires is your vocal talent (however great or little it may be) and time (listening and learning). "But how much treasure will it cost me?" you ask. Well, here's the kicker - you've already paid for it! We assume you've already paid for the computer and the printer***. Given that you're reading this, we're pretty sure our assumptions are correct.
So, what are you waiting for? Another papal order that falls on deaf ears or something? Download them now! We can't give enough of this stuff away!
*Remember, it's ninefold for the TLM.
**Remember, the congregation onle sings "Sed libera nos a malo" in the TLM
***Portable MP3 player is optional.
Ironically this priest's propaganda is a good sign, IMO. The Traditional movement is gaining steam and the revolutionaries are compelled to defend their failing ideology.
More propaganda here: Essentially Connected: The Old Mass and the New.
Hey maybe you're on to something! Let's hope so.
"sat silently or prayed the Rosary or did the stations".
And how is this a bad thing? Anyway, I read the missal and I have the memory to remember the latin in the ordinaries.
I agree completely with your sentiments concerning the TLM. Prior to attending my first one in the late spring of 2003, God prepared me by giving me a tradition-oriented mother (she often "throws around" Latin phrases, and taught me to bow my head at the Holy Name of Jesus), Catholic schooling at a parish that was tradition-oriented at the time (Mass every day during Lent, Stations of the Cross/Benediction on Fridays of Lent), a love for the Eucharist, and a love for Latin (I was supposed to take it my freshman year of high school, but the priest who taught it died. I ended up taking it my senior year and taking a refresher semester in college).
Soon after attending the TLM regularly, I decided to join the schola. I still can't really read the notation, but I learn quickly and have a good ear from my musical background. My Indult parish is the "silent" type that you mentioned, though I notice that people do follow along in their missals and sing the common responses. I learned about Mater Ecclesiae, and though I grew up an hour south of there, I haven't been there yet. Another religious institute that fosters Gregorian chant (and my favorite TLM apostolate) is the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.
The TLM has no room for error as to an understanding of its purpose. At the same time - as you hinted at - it is more "democratic" in how people assist at it.
It is clearly understood in the TLM that the actions of hte priest alone - acting alter Christe - result in the miracle of transubstantiation by his unbloody representation of hte sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. That the mass itself IS sacrifice.
So a congregation need not be present for the mass to have all of its spiritual effects - to do what the church belives and intends for it to do. For a lay person to assist at mass is to gain the graces inherent in the saying of that mass - which are innumerable.
But HOW to participate? Many ways. Following the words of the priest in your missal is one way. Saying the Rosary or other formalized prayers, uniting your intention with that of the priest is another. And so too is meditative silence - letting God speak to you through the words of the mass........one of the highest forms of prayer.....brething deeply of all the spirituality and grace wich the mass is.
The important thing to remember about the TLM is that it and its effects (graces) are dependant upon the performance of the priest, and the people present thereby benefit from prayerful observation and witness of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Not the other way around........and certainly not upon the presence and verbal responses and gestures of the people.
Thanks for sharing that with me, Pyro. I got married a little over a year ago. Before we met, my wife also had not been to a TLM. She loves it now. I love that the TLM is this "in thing" with our generation. Look at the demographics...young and LARGE families. Most people are under 40!
And, anyday now, our first child is due. Then, you probably won't hear from me for a while.
Really,you should try to attend Mater Ecclesiae, even if it's not any special day. I only wish I didn't have 2 hours to drive. We try to get up there about once every three months, and I have been going to Holy Week there now for three years. Absolutely beautiful. The schola there, while small, sings everything in full Gregorian (like the long responsories on Good Friday). They don't rush anything. The pastor said these ceremonies will take as long as needed to honor Our Lord. Since you are newer to the TLM, Mater Ecclesiae is a great parish to learn more about the TLM. The church itself is small, so you don't feel lost and from anywhere you sit, you can see the actions at the altar very clearly. We plan to move up there next year so we can raise our children in that environment and so my wife and I can eat the good fruit of Catholic tradition.
P.S. I have been singing chant for almost 12 years. Wonderful experience. By two years, you should be fairly comfortable with reading the notation on sight.
I'm all in favor of a full Tridentine Rite that would allow the TLM to blossom and not have to fear the interference of a Latin Rite bishop. Those who attend the TLM shouldn't be relegated to every other Sunday afternoon in a church in a rotten part of town.
My two cents with both jrny and sinkspur on this. I go to Mater Ecclesiae now exclusively (although St. Anthony of Padua is also an option now).
WORLD of difference between Mater Ecclesiae--a parish community in the true sense--and the Philadelphia (Tacony) indult, where people come in for the low Mass and go home. The once-a-week indult, IMHO, does not work well at all. The Mater Ecclesiae model is the best solution for the Latin Mass contingent, especially run by people like Father who love the old rite and are renowned for keeping great relationships with the Camden diocese and the local NO pastors.
You're in Maryland, jrny? So I guess Fr. Perricone up in Orange NJ will be way too far for you, but we were just up there last weekend and he has big plans for that place. LOL..New Jersey is rapidly becoming the nucleus of exclusive Latin Mass parishes. Check your freepmail.
I agree with you 100%. I attend the Indult in DC, and once a week, with a Solemn high Mass once a month doesn't work well at all. The problem is many bishops don't want an exclusively-Latin Mass parish, since they are closing parishes left and right. Little do they realize is the principle of supply and demand.
Seriously. Latin Mass parishes draw people like magnets. We travel 45 minutes to get to M.E. twice a week and on the way pass our local parish A BLOCK AWAY from our house.
I think once there is some turnover in the episcopacy we will start seeing more openness to the idea. Younger priests today have fewer axes to grind against the old rite, even if they have little interest in it themselves.
Absolutely correct! I love how Father at Mater Ecclesiae has so many local priest friends who come in to visit now and then and participate in the TLM.
New Jersey is going to see a huge TLM renaissance (both in South and North Jersey). Instead of asking what exit, people will ask what TLM. LOL.
Also, parts of New Jersey are still "rural" enough to suit the traditionalists' need for a community, while being close enough to evangelize in the corrupt cities.
Some of the argument for the NO was to establish a sense of "community". Well, the TLM parishes are thriving with community. The old, ethnic neighborhood churches were thriving with community. In the NO, only a handful of inner city churches still have this sense of community. The TLM continues that honorable tradition (in the suburbs). Places like Mater Ecclesiae have revitalized this ethic with daily TLM, full liturgies for all the major feast, socializing, home-schooling networks, clubs and societies, etc. Once a week Indult places do not accomplish this as Claud indicated.
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