2012 Gateway Liturgical Conference - Scripture

[johnquinn39]

"I cannot help but think that singing more scripturally based texts at Mass would certainly be an improvement from some of the music which currently fills many collections of liturgical songs which are distinguished only by their notable lack of a true liturgical voice." - Mgr. Andrew Wadsworth.

I think that all at the SSG would agree with this.

However, I can think of few liturgical song collections that are not full of scripture and liturgy.

What could be more scriptural than the songs of Hurd, Farrell, Haugen, Joncas ,Walker, Inwood et al?

Is there a danger that singing in latin and / or archaic language, that people could be diverted from scripture & liturgy?

Could Mgr. Andrew name the songs / song collections that he wishes us to avoid?


http://archstl.org/worship/page/2012-ga ... conference



Discuss ...

[alan29]

I think he's referring to the texts in the Gradualia, which are pretty much all from scripture ..... though mostly single verses.
Certainly traditional catholic hymns are more devotional than scriptural, though there are plenty of non-Catholic traditional hymns that draw heavily on scripture.
I find many of his pronouncements to be somewhat ironic, to be quite honest. His criticism of the modern liturgy as being too prone to performance needs to be taken in the context of a choir-dominated celebration of the EF, with all its minute instructions about performance, sorry, I meant rubrics.
And of course it must be remembered that one of the objects of Vat II was to open up the scriptures to people in the pews.

[musicus]

I think alan29 is correct, John. I suspect that Monsignor W isn't very familiar with the music you have cited.

[Southern Comfort]

I suspect that Monsignor W isn't very familiar with the music you have cited.

Since he apparently never celebrates in the Ordinary Form himself, but only in the preconciliar rite, that's hardly surprising.

[johnquinn39]

"The revision of the lectionary to facilitate the reading of a far greater part of the Scriptures has been widely recognized as one of the great fruits of the liturgical reform and our lectionary has been adopted or adapted for use by many Christian communities beyond the full communion of the Catholic Church."

Okay, if Mgr. Andrew does not celebrate on the normative form, how have his flock gained form the above? -- The EF form reduces scripture by, for example, NT readings from 70% to 17%.

Also, surely the new lectionary was introduced to RC's by non RC's.

Can anyone name any words in, for example, the Psallite collection, that are not scriptural, inspired by chant, and based on the Graduale?

Sr. Delores' 'Amen to the body of Christ' collection (communion antiphons) contains one non - scriptural line, which is Augustine.
Is this non-liturgical?

I see nothing non-liturgical about Prof. Paul Ford's 'By flowing waters', except the hymns to Our Lady and the Blessed Sacrament, which surely are part of our faith and, in my view, should be included in liturgical collections.

The same goes for 'Laudate', CFE, & Hymns Old & New.

[mcb]

Since he apparently never celebrates in the Ordinary Form himself, but only in the preconciliar rite, that's hardly surprising.

I don't believe that's true. I've been present at an OF Mass in which Mgr Wadsworth was principal celebrant.

His criticism of the modern liturgy as being too prone to performance needs to be taken in the context of a choir-dominated celebration of the EF, with all its minute instructions about performance, sorry, I meant rubrics.

I believe his criticism isn't intended to apply solely to music in contemporary idioms. The celebration I was present at had music provided by a distinguished cathedral choir, and there was discussion immediately following his talk (delivered at the same event) as to whether the same criticism might apply in this environment. (We were given to understand that it might.)

I wonder whether any of those posting above were present at last month's Crichton lecture? I'm afraid I wasn't, but I have heard Mgr Wadsworth speak before, and I have read the text of his talk to the SSG.

I think I'm saying don't knock him till you've listened to him.

[Southern Comfort]

Since he apparently never celebrates in the Ordinary Form himself, but only in the preconciliar rite, that's hardly surprising.

I don't believe that's true. I've been present at an OF Mass in which Mgr Wadsworth was principal celebrant.

I'm delighted to hear it. One of the questions raised when he was first appointed was precisely how someone who never celebrated in the Ordinary Form could be responsible for the English texts worldwide used in that Form. Evidently he has moved on since that time.