UK Papal liturgies show "what is possible" in our parishes

[Nick Baty]

Bishop Alan Hopes makes some interesting points in today’s Tablet. The large-scale papal liturgies, he says, offer us “a picture of what is possible to achieve on a smaller scale in our parishes”. And he cites three specific aspects of those liturgies:

• The silence, specifically at Hyde Park. We are often afraid of silence in our liturgy and “don’t like gaps where nothing is happening or that are not filled by music or singing or speaking”. And Bishop Hopes said we should promote “some” silence “even in those energetic family Masses”.

• The wide range of Music, said Bishop Hopes, “reminded us that the Catholic Church has something of quality to offer” and that “we do not have to look for what is easiest for our parish communities”. And he stressed that “the people must be given encouragement to join in the singing, and not leave it all to the music group”.

• The ceremonial was “never fussy and never an end in itself , but there to draw us into the mystery of the holy sacrifice”.

Bishops Hopes finished by suggesting this year, with the implementation of the new translation of the Mass, could be "a time of opportunity and renewal as we seek to celebrate what is the source and summit of the Church's life and mission".

[JW]

Useful and interesting comments from Bishop Hope.

However, I was reminded of my suggestion on page 7 of the 'Papal Visit' thread that it would be an opportunity to observe current best practice: it attracted some strongly dissenting voices! Perhaps expectations of the visit were exceeded in several ways.

Back to Bishop Hope: if, as he says, the implementation of the new translation is a time for opportunity and renewal, I don't see enough being done, even now, to improve things. In my view, every single priest, deacon, nun, teacher, reader, eucharistic minister, MC, server and musician should have compulsory liturgical formation over the next 12 months. I can't see this happening, as training seems to be voluntary for the laity - so who's to stop, for example, these horrible 1st Communion liturgies.

We've all been CRB'd so if there's a will there's a way.

[Nick Baty]

Sadly the UK Papal liturgies, included many examples of things that were far from best practice. That's off-topic but, if anyone wishes to reread, the page JW is referring to is here.

So please I know how to embed a URL!

[musicus]

Sadly the UK Papal liturgies, included many examples of things that were far from best practice. That's off-topic but, if anyone wishes to reread, the page JW is referring to is here.

How to embed a link:

1. Type [url=
2. Follow that with the full URL
3. then a closing ]
4. Next, type the word(s) you want to become the blue clickable hyperlink (it's here. in the quote above)
5. Finally, close with [/url]

Note that there are no speech marks in this expression.

[Nick Baty]

How to embed a link:.

Oh, Mr Bear! We all know how to do that!

[musicus]

He knows how to edit his posts too!

[HallamPhil]

Perhaps this Bishop, who, I recall from a conversation with him, appeared to know precious little about the LiveSimply movement when it was at its zenith and from whose liturgical Office I urged support, has forgotten that not all the Papal liturgies were Catholic. I was invited to represent the Iona Community at Westminster Abbey where there was typically much of excellence from the choir but little opportunity for the rest of us. This was an Anglican celebration. It was a great occasion particularly because of (via video screens) our sense of involvement earlier with the significant words being spoken across the road to politicians and the world. Westminster Cathedral went on to present a repeat of the model of excellence of the choir but did not seem to be distinct in terms of the Catholic Church's understanding of post Vatican 2 liturgy and participation by the Assembly. The Cofton Park celebration improved on this but made no obvious attempt to invite the assembly into the song, which is rightfully theirs, even though the unfamiliar (and for some commentators inaccessible) music was by the respected composer James MacMillan.

Is everyone off message? Silence from some may indeed be a model and a blessed one at that!

i have just returned from leading a Big Sing in Sheffield in aid of asylum seekers. The untrained voices of the great many attending (for the ecumenical reasons of social justice) were a model to behold.

[JW]

No, I hadn't figured out how to embed a link properly so thanks for the lesson Musicus. Next time I'll be able to search for 'How to embed a link' and find these instructions!

[docmattc]

Bishop Hopes' article urges us to look specifically at three aspects of the papal liturgies and apply these to our parishes. Nick has summarised the points in the original post and I don't think there's anything to disagree with. Let's not dwell on other aspects of the liturgies which we might disagree with, but take these points to heart.

Bishop Hopes specifically mentions that the congregation should be encouraged to sing, (as should the clergy!) and his comment about the 'wide range of music' might have something to say to both those parishes which never venture beyond the covers of HO&N and those which never venture beyond the covers of the Graduale.

This year is certainly, as Bishop Hopes says "a time of opportunity". How many will seize it? What are he, and his fellow bishops, doing to ensure as many as possible do seize it? The liturgy office have many resources, SSG is putting on events, our diocese is putting on events, but in my parish, I've heard no mention of any forth coming change whatsoever.

[Nick Baty]

Bishop Hopes specifically mentions that the congregation should be encouraged to sing...

Yet at least one of the Catholic papal liturgies was a long way from best practice so perhaps shouldn't be seen as an example of "what's possible" in our parishes.

...in my parish, I've heard no mention of any forth coming change whatsoever.

Although, one is tempted to ask, what have you, as one who knows about it, done to spread the word? (Not meant, unkindly btw.)

[musicus]

The liturgy office have many resources, SSG is putting on events, our diocese is putting on events, but in my parish, I've heard no mention of any forth coming change whatsoever.

This is where it is all going to fall down, isn't it? Either the parish priest hears nothing, or he fails - for whatever reason - to pass it on, so the people hear nothing. OK, there is the Catholic press, but what proportion of the laity actually read it - and how well-informed is much of it anyway?

But Nick is right: we know, so what are we doing about it?

[Nick Baty]

...but what proportion of the laity actually read it - and how well-informed is much of it anyway?

You only have to look at the "liturgical calendar" published annually in one particular newspaper to be able to answer, "not very". And these days the circulation is low. Catholic newspapers have taken a much bigger hit in the drop in newspaper sales than has the secular end of the market.

But coming back to Musicus's more important point, my PP had no idea the Order of Mass was likely to be around in September until I told him a couple of weeks ago. And why should he? He doesn't have time to sit around reading blogs like this (lovely though it is) or poring through every document on the bishops' website.

For musicians the timetable is tight. Publishers will be allowed to sell new settings from March, according to the Draft Guide for Composers, and, given that some parish musicians do not rehearse in August (some don't even turn up to sing on Sunday that month , but I've ranted about that before), that's five months to order and sift through material, make decisions and rehearse ready to hit the ground running with a an accesible setting in September and at least one other in the pipeline. Quite a tall order, although doable with a little planning. My PP already has his first two Per Ipsums on CD and promises me he's playing them in the car.