Ratzinger, Liturgy and England

[TimSharrock]

Could there be a market for bilingual versions, eg an echo Our Father with one group singing in latin with the "echo" in english/welsh/etc (or vice versa).

I fear that it would be hard to do well

(hello everyone...)

Tim

[gwyn]

Funny you should mention that, Tim, I've been working on just such an arrangement of the Hail Mary; English words sung by a cantor/schola while the choir/assembly sing the Latin words. It's always the middle bit that brings you to a grinding halt, isn't it?

I've shelved it for the time being and shall await the Holy Spirit's intervention, she generally sorts me out - and chooses exceedingly good popes too !

Welcome Tim.

[musicus]

Hello Tim, and welcome to the forum.

Musicus - moderator

[Hare]

Strange, too, that SC should suggest the Creed and the Pater Noster rather than those texts (like the Sanctus) which everyone should be singing.

Couldn't agree more, but I am interested in the spirit rather than the letter.

I was born in God's Own City, and my world did indeed end at 4 compass points (Prescot, Speke, Warrington and..........West Kirby - mum's family were from the Wirral!) but now I know I am part of a world-wide church. Insularity and catholicism (note small c) do not go hand in hand.

[contrabordun]

the 'united' approach - we'll say it together, each in our own tongue.

I hate this - the resulting cacophany confuses me and makes it difficult to say the prayer in English. I always end up trying to shut out the rest of the congregation in order to be able to say the prayer silently in my head.

[Merseysider]

I am interested in the spirit rather than the letter.

And the "spirit" is what?

Is SC suggesting that we should all pray in a strange language every X weeks for the benefit of those who might find themelves in a strange country one or twice in their lifetimes?

Isn't that rather like taxing us all to pay for the foreign jaunts of the few?

[sidvicius]

More of an observation, but a recent article in M&L (entitled "The Last Word") - sorry, can't remember who wrote it - puts a very persuasive case for us to be veering away from Latin. Not, perhaps, removing it all together, but being aware that it has a time and a place. Perhaps the mass is no longer either of these, and certainly not in 'bit-part' form?

[Merseysider]

Worth reading Mgr Anthony Boylan on this one.
Music and Liturgy Issue 317, Spring 2005, Vol 31 No1