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Home , Deus caritas est, Lection

Masters Corner Authentic Liturgy, Authentic Chant

by Paul F. Ford

Asked to reflect on the “missal of Benedict XVI” in light of the “musical reform of the musical reform” move- 111. Among all who are involved with regard to ment, I begin by questioning if there is such a thing as the the rites, pastoral aspects, and music there should be missal of Benedict XVI. harmony and diligence in the effective preparation of Nothing in the Holy Father’s official teaching1 ought to each liturgical celebration in accord with the Mis- be construed as anything other than (1) affirmations of the sal and other liturgical books. This should take place essential truth and goodness of the postconciliar liturgical under the direction of the rector of the church and reforms and (2) reminders about some dimensions of this after the consultation with the faithful about things reform that need more attention (particularly, sacrality and that directly pertain to them. The priest who presides beauty). at the celebration, however, always retains the right As Father Anthony Ruff, OSB, reminded us in a previ- of arranging those things that are his own responsi- ous Masters Corner essay [vol. 22, no. 1]: bility.2

Pope Benedict’s goal is to put the reformed liturgy And why should there be harmony and diligence in the in a different light—not as something completely preparation of any liturgy? The answer is found in para- different from the old liturgy, but as something that graph 352 of the General Instruction. stands within the entire preceding history of the liturgy. In his mind, he is not simply “going back” to The pastoral effectiveness of a celebration will be pre-Vatican II practices; rather, he is applying to the greatly increased if the texts of the readings, the reformed liturgy a hermeneutic of continuity. , and the liturgical songs correspond as closely as possible to the needs, spiritual preparation, and Even when Pope Benedict, on his own initiative (the culture of those taking part. This is achieved by ap- meaning of the term motu proprio), “grant[ed] any priest the propriate use of the wide options described below. right to use the pre-Vatican II form of the Mass or other ,” Father Ruff says: The priest, therefore, in planning the celebration of Mass, should have in mind the common spiritual good of the In his letter [Pope Benedict] states that “the two people of , rather than his own inclinations. He Forms of the usage of the can be mutu- should, moreover, remember that the selection of ally enriching.” He claims that “the celebration of different parts is to be made in agreement with those the Mass according to the Missal of Paul VI will be who have some role in the celebration, including able to demonstrate, more powerfully than has been the faithful, in regard to the parts that more directly the case hitherto, the sacrality which attracts many pertain to each. (emphasis added)3 people to the former usage.” There is a liturgical and ministerial spirituality here, and The ordinary missal of the Roman rite is the missal of not just for the ordained: Having in mind the common Pope Paul VI. The General Instruction (GIRM) of this mis- spiritual good of the , rather than one’s own sal has been in force since 1970. The personal preferences of inclinations, so that the use of the wide options might cor- the present Holy Father are just that: personal preferences. respond as closely as possible to the needs, spiritual prepa- He knows well that these preferences are circumscribed by ration, and culture of those taking part, all of us musicians his duty to keep in mind the common spiritual good of the must abstain from tyrannizing the assembly with our likes people of God, rather than his own inclinations, so that the and dislikes. use of the wide options might correspond as closely as pos- (Revisiting the wide options described in the General sible to the needs, spiritual preparation, and culture of those Instruction can be very instructive.4 Those calling for a “mu- taking part. sical reform of the musical reform” would find there every

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GIAQ 22.3.indd 16 6/21/11 9:53:29 AM reasonable use of the traditional music theme of fruitful-participation-by-en- Church faithfully adheres to of the Roman rite. Many of us are livened-dispositions—are echoed over the way Christ himself read and still singing only modifications of the 120 times in the General Instruction!6 explained the Sacred Scriptures, four-hymn sandwich of the late 1950s, Remove them and we are in the world beginning with the “today” of singing at Mass rather than singing of the Extraordinary Form, the missal his coming forward in the syna- the Mass.) of Pope Pius V, the “Rubricae gogue and urging all to search Emphasizing the common spiritual Generales Missalis Romani,” and the the Scriptures. good of the people of God represents “Ritus Servandus in Celebratione the seismic shifts in sacramental Missae” (“the general rubrics of the 4. In the celebration of the that began in 1903 along ” and “the rites to be Liturgy the word of God is three (happy-)fault lines: the active observed in the celebration of Mass”). not announced in only one participation of all the priestly people The entire Extraordinary Form way nor does it always stir the of God, the primacy of the word of missal mentions the assembly/con- hearts of the hearers with the God, and liturgy as the work of the gregation/faithful/people some thirty same efficacy. Always, however, Holy Spirit. times (only thrice in the Order of Christ is present in his word, Mass) but only to orient the gestures as he carries out the mystery of The Active Participation of All the and postures of the celebrant, to men- , he sanctifies human- Priestly People of God tion that a may be preached to ity and offers the Father perfect Gordon Truitt underscored the first them, that a special Lenten be worship. of these in his Masters Corner essay, prayed over them, or that they should Moreover, the word of God “The Rolling Revolution” [vol. 21, no. receive ashes, palms, candles, and be unceasingly calls to mind and 4]. It bears repeating that Pope Saint allowed to venerate the cross on Good extends the economy of salva- Pius X balanced the church’s previous Friday. tion, which achieves its fullest stress on the fact of sacraments with By contrast, the General Instruction expression in the Liturgy. The a new awareness of the fruitfulness to the Ordinary Form—all by itself— liturgical celebration becomes of sacraments—while the fact of the mentions the assembly/congregation/ therefore the continuing, com- depends on the proper mat- faithful/people over 500 times! The plete, and effective presentation ter, form, and intention, the fruitful- Order of Mass mentions them almost of God’s word. ness of the sacrament depends on the eighty times! And these are differences The word of God constantly enlivened dispositions of the recipi- not just in degree but in kind. proclaimed in the Liturgy is ent.5 Pius X reintroduces the factor of How the Ordinary Form can be always, then, a living and effec- dispositions into our calculus, a theme enriched by the Extraordinary Form in tive word through the power of taken up by Pius XI, Pius XII, Paul the matter of ecclesiology escapes me. the Holy Spirit. It expresses the VI and the , Father’s that never fails in John Paul II, and Benedict XVI. This The Primacy of the Word its effectiveness toward us. emphasis on enlivened dispositions Arguably even more important is found in the very first words of the is the recovery of the primacy of the Nothing like this document exists in General Instruction: word of God in all sacraments and the Extraordinary Form!7 How many sacramentals. Key to understanding Catholics still behave as if all they When he was about to celebrate this theme is the for Mass: have to be present for at Mass is the with his disciples the Passover Introduction (1981), especially articles offertory, the consecration, and the meal in which he instituted the 3 and 4. priest’s communion (Baltimore Cat- sacrifice of his Body and Blood, echism No. 3, question 932)? Christ the Lord gave instruc- 3. The many riches contained Possible musical consequence of tions that a large, furnished in the one word of God are this theology of the word may be that upper room should be prepared admirably brought out in the users of the Graduale Romanum may (Lk 22:12). The Church has different kinds of liturgical keep the introit in as a call to always regarded this command celebration and in the differ- worship. But they ought to consider as applying also to herself when ent gatherings of the faithful surrendering all the , alleluias, she gives directions about the who take part in those celebra- tracts, offertories (except when the preparation of people’s hearts and tions. . . . For then the liturgical assembly is well prepared to appreci- minds and of the places, rites, celebration, founded primar- ate them), and the communions of and texts for the celebration ily on the word of God and Ordinary Time that evidence no of the Most Holy Eucharist. sustained by it, becomes a new connection to the or any of the [emphasis added] event and enriches the word readings proclaimed. They might sing itself with new meaning and the litanies in Greek and Latin now The words in italics—St. Pius X’s power. Thus in the Liturgy the and again: the Kyries and the Agnus

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GIAQ 22.3.indd 17 6/21/11 9:53:29 AM Deis—few Catholics need to be taught the gift given the presider in ordina- “good for the needs, spiritual prepara- their meaning. Yes, let the choir sing tion in order that what was about to tion, and culture of those taking part,” a Latin Gloria now and again (but the be done could be done and could be then yes. Creed must be in the vernacular). And fruitful. After all, liturgy works because There is no further space here what of the Sanctus? If it were the only “The Father always hears the prayer to take issue with Dcn. Edward eucharistic acclamation, it could have of his Son’s Church which, in the Schaefer’s six “Lessons the Novus been sung in Latin by all now and epiclesis of each sacrament, expresses Ordo Can Learn from the Tridentine again; but now that it has been joined her faith in the power of the Spirit” Mass,” or Fr. Christopher Smith’s by three memorial acclamations that (Catechism, 1127 [emphasis added]).10 “Plan for Mutual Enrichment.” The ought to be sung in the vernacular, I How the Ordinary Form can be enrichment they suggest is almost all can think of few pastoral reasons why enriched by the Extraordinary Form one way. the Sanctus should not regularly be in the matter of pneumatology escapes sung in the vernacular. me. Is anyone seriously proposing Authentically Authentic Liturgy Why such sacrifices? Because exchanging a Missal that has fourteen William Mahrt’s premise is any texts sung must be grounded in eucharistic prayers, thirteen of which characteristic of the proponents of the the word. The word comes first. And with explicit epicleses for consecration musical reform of the musical reform: since today’s lectionary is a vernacular and communion, for a Missal that has “Music must be the vehicle of main- lectionary, today’s music between the only one eucharistic prayer with only taining the sacredness of the liturgy, at readings must be almost always in the an implicit epiclesis? least when it is music that is unambig- vernacular. Indeed, the very meaning uously sacred.” My premise is that the of the Incarnation is the vernacular: In Light of the Musical Reform of essence of the musical reform of the He pitched his tent among us ( John the Musical Reform Second Vatican Council is contained 1:14). Leaders in the Church Music As- in the following passage from the How the Ordinary Form can be sociation of America have published Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy: enriched by the Extraordinary Form their vision of how “the two Forms in the matter of a theology of the of the usage of the Roman Rite can 112. . . . Sacred music is to be word escapes me. Is anyone seriously be mutually enriching” in the Winter considered the more holy in proposing exchanging a lectionary 2010 issue of Sacred Music, generously proportion as it is more closely that contains 57.8% of the , available at http://www.scribd.com/ connected with the liturgical 25.4% of the rest of the New Testa- doc/50962638/Sacred-Music-Win- action, whether it adds delight ment, and 3.7% of the Old Testament ter-2010. to prayer, fosters unity of minds, for a lectionary that contains 22.4% There, in “Practical Sacrality,” an or confers greater of the gospels, 11% of the rest of the editorial by William Mahrt, “The Re- upon the sacred rites.11 , and 0.39% of the Old lationship between the Ordinary and Testament?8 Extraordinary Forms of the Liturgy,” Many have remarked that this is a an article by Dcn. Edward Schaefer, more functional definition; but it can The Work of the Holy Spirit and “A Plan for Mutual Enrichment,” be better thought of as a ministerial “The Lord be with you”—“And a commentary by Fr. Christopher definition. The holiness of liturgical also with you” is more than a nice Smith, you can read thoughtful pro- music is heard in the way that it abets greeting. Cardinal Yves Congar, OP, posals for the musical reform of the the liturgical action. If that action is tells us that this greeting is actually a musical reform. praying, sung praying delights/stirs/ prayer that means “The Lord who is William Mahrt and I agree about sobers us; if that action is unifying, the Spirit be with you, the baptized singing the dialogues, chant ordinaries, “sung unifying” unifies us better than and confirmed, as you pray”—“And and propers (mutatis mutandis). “Even any other effort to unify; if the action may the Spirit be also with you as you better would be to sing a good adapta- is solemnifying, sung solemnifying lead us in prayer.”9 This prayer was tion of the full Gregorian melody to solemnizes better than any other kind considered so sacred that it was used English,” says Mahrt. Not quite so, say of solemnizing. only once during the Mass, at the be- I: The music is not primary, the words “Abets the liturgical action” of ginning of the eucharistic prayer, when are; if English words, then English whom? Not of God, precisely, nor of the presider asked the assembly to pray stresses and English syntax. English the angels. Of the , perhaps. Of that he be inspired to improvise well is not a Romance language; it can be the church, yes, indeed: hierarchically the eucharistic prayer. married well to syllabic and neumatic arranged from the person in the pew Why it is so sacred is because it is melodies but hold the melismas. down to the bishop, who an early third a prayer to the Holy Spirit poised, so Mahrt says, “Gregorian propers century text says must give up his chair to speak, between the presider and the in Latin are more beautiful, a greater if there is no other place for a poor assembly for the rekindling of the gift good.” A qualified yes to the first as- person to sit.12 That’s ministerial! given all in /confirmation and sertion, a qualified no to the second. If Back to paragraph 352 of the Gen-

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GIAQ 22.3.indd 18 6/21/11 9:53:29 AM eral Instruction: the very least the sung dialogues ac- preparation, and culture of those tak- ◆ cording to the new ICEL melodies. ing part! The pastoral effectiveness of Cantillating these dialogues gives their a celebration will be greatly texts new prominence and signals to increased if the texts of the the assembly that a new response is readings, the prayers, and the being asked for. The assembly’s singing liturgical songs correspond as them at more or less the same pitch Paul F. Ford, PhD, has been professor of closely as possible to the needs, and the same rate fosters unity. theology and liturgy at St. John Seminary, spiritual preparation, and cul- But depending on the needs, spiri- Camarillo, California, since February of 1988. ture of those taking part. tual preparation, and culture of those He is the author of By Flowing Waters: Chant taking part, this coming liturgical year for the Liturgy (The Liturgical Press, 1999) and Depending on the needs, spiritual may be the worst year to make any but the convener of the five-member Collegeville preparation, and culture of those tak- the necessary changes, hewing to the Composers Group, authors of Psallite: Sacred ing part, this coming liturgical year familiar melodies wherever possible. Song for Liturgy and Life (The Liturgical Press, may be the very year to introduce at All depends on the needs, spiritual 2005–2011).

Notes 1 His first , Deus Caritas Est (25 6 See Where Two or Three Are Gathered. December 2005), his apostolic exhortation As the Directory for Masses with Children says: 7 The theology of the second edition of the (22 February 2007), Lectionary for Mass: Introduction is western and his motu proprio, 44. In the choice of readings the and eastern. In the West, Saint Augustine (7 July 2007). criterion to be followed is the qual- teaches that sacraments are visible words 2 GIRM, 2002. The last sentence is new to ity rather than the quantity of the (On John 15:1–3 [In Evangelium Ioannis this edition. Sing to the Lord cites GIRM texts from the Scriptures. A shorter Tractatus 80:3]). As a consequence, the 111 three times between paragraph 119 and reading is not as such always more Eucharist is a visible, hearable, tasteable, paragraph 122. suited to children than a lengthy touchable, smellable, sensible word. In the 3 This passage is echoed in the last paragraph reading. Everything depends on the East, I teach a synthesis of the of of the GIRM that pertains to parishes: spiritual advantage that the read- Saints Basil and Ephraem, namely, that the ing can bring to the children.” [my Liturgy of the Word, especially the gospel, 385. In the arranging and choosing emphasis] is the oven in which the Holy Spirit bakes of the variable parts of the Mass the eucharistic Bread and that the Liturgy for the Dead, especially the Fu- For more of the wisdom contained on these of the Word, especially the gospel, is the neral Mass (e.g., orations, readings, matters in the Directory for Masses with cask in which the Holy Spirit ferments the Prayer of the Faithful), pastoral Children, see paragraphs 22 and 23, and 38 eucharistic Wine. See Ephraem, de Fide, X, considerations bearing upon the through 55 of that document. 8, in Yves Congar, I Believe in the Holy Spirit deceased, the family, and those at- 4 See my Where Two or Three Are Gathered: The (New York: Crossroads, 1983), Volume III: tending should rightly be taken into Participation of the People and the Role of Mu- The River of Life Flows East and West—Part account. Pastors should, moreover, sic in the New General Instruction of the Ro- Two, “The Holy Spirit and the Sacraments,” take into special account those who are man Missal / Donde Dos o Tres Se Reúnen: La 262). Together East and West teach the present at a liturgical celebration or Participación del Pueblo y el Papel de la Música following: who hear the Gospel on the occasion en la Nueva Instrucción General del Misal of the funeral and who may be non- Romano (self-published, January 2011). Thus the eucharist is inseparably Catholics or Catholics who never or 5 Sacra Tridentina 8:4: sacrament and word since in it the rarely participate in the Eucharist or incarnate word sanctifies in the who seem even to have lost the faith. Since, however, the Sacraments of the Spirit. That is why the entire liturgy For priests are ministers of Christ’s New Law, though they produce their and not only the reading of holy Gospel for all. [my emphasis] effect ex opere operato, nevertheless, scriptures constitutes a proclama- produce a great effect in proportion tion of the word under the form These last two sentences are an instance of as the dispositions of the recipient are of doxology and prayer. On the the greatest principle in Canon Law: Salus better, therefore, one should take care other hand, the word proclaimed is animarum suprema lex, found in the last that Holy Communion be preceded the word made flesh and become canon of the Code, c. 1752: “ . . . and the by careful preparation, and followed sacramental. (“The Mystery of the salvation of souls, which must always be the by an appropriate thanksgiving, Church and of the Eucharist in the supreme law in the Church, is to be kept according to each one’s strength, Light of the Mystery of the Holy before one’s eyes.” circumstances and duties. ,” Joint International Com-

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GIAQ 22.3.indd 19 6/21/11 9:53:29 AM mission for Th eological Dialogue nimitatem fovens, sive ritus sacros maiore 32. Th e power of sacred music in- Between the Roman locupletans sollemnitate.” Th e last of the creases the honor given to God by Church and the Orthodox Church, “defi nitions” of music for the Extraordinary the Church in union with Christ, August 1, 1982, Origins [August Form is in the 25 December 1955 encycli- its Head. Sacred music likewise 12, 1982 vol. 12, no. 10, 157–160], cal, Musicae Sacrae Disciplina, of Pius XII: helps to increase the fruits which II:2:¶3. Th e French original is at the faithful, moved by the sacred http://tinyurl.com/4vwduff .) 31. Th e dignity and lofty purpose harmonies, derive from the holy of sacred music consists in the liturgy. Th ese fruits, as daily experi- 8 See http://catholic-resources.org/Lection- fact that its lovely melodies and ence and many ancient and modern ary/Statistics.htm. splendor beautify and embellish literary sources show, manifest 9 Congar, I Believe in the Holy Spirit, 236–237. the voices of the priest who off ers themselves in a life and conduct See also his fi rst volume, 36–37. Mass and of the Christian people worthy of a Christian. 10 For more see Catechism of the Catholic who praise the Sovereign God. Its 12 “But if a poor man or woman should come Church, §§683–741, 976–987, and 1113– special power and excellence should . . . , and especially if they are stricken in 1134, as well as my essay “Five Principles for lift up to God the minds of the years, and there be no place for such, do a Renewed Sacramental Th eology,” Essays in faithful who are present. It should thou, O bishop, with all thy heart provide a Honor of Robert W. Hovda, Series III: Sacred make the liturgical prayers of the place for them, even if thou have to sit upon Signs: Commitment and Healing (http:// Christian community more alive the ground; that thou be not as one who www.npm.org/assets/HovdaIII.pdf), 1–19. and fervent so that everyone can respects the persons of men, but that thy 11 Sacrosanctum Concilium (4 December 1963): praise and beseech the Triune God ministry may be acceptable with God.” (R. “Musica sacra tanto sanctior erit quanto more powerfully, more intently and Hugh Connolly, trans, Didascalia Apos- arctius cum actione liturgica connectetur, more eff ectively. tolorum [Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1929], sive orationem suavius exprimens vel una- Chapter XII: To Bishops, last paragraph.

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