7 Replies to “Survey on the New Missal”

  1. I still am a bit suspicious of the template being set up by publishing companies, etc, that the implementation is some major event that requires immense preparation and resource materials (which they publish, no coincidence!)for the assembly.

    I agree that there is some preparation and training needed for the CLERGY if we are to get to the goal of increased chanting of the Mass parts by the Priest. That needs some training.

    But what exactly does the assembly need to prepare for, other than some advanced notice that the texts will be changing and why?
    This idea that there needs to be extensive planning, bulletin inserts, workshops and small and large group meetings to learn the responses, learn the music or whatever…I just don't get it.

    The Gloria, if sung, is a new song that they have to learn. They will learn it in good time if they are presented with a good and singable setting that isn't changed on them every month.

    Ditto for the Sanctus and Memorials. They will learn them, just be patient and in the meantime, make good use of your choir and maybe consider having even a small group of singers (a "schola" perhaps?) at each Mass to make sure they are sung well while the assembly learns them.

    The rest of the Mass they will be reading along in the Missalette and, assuming they can read, they will be just fine.

    In a year or two, again if the settings aren't changed on them, they will be fine. Pick good settings that can endure a year or so of constant use. If they learn them well in 6 months, then introduce a new one. What is the problem that some people seem to foresee?

    I suspect it is a lot of "projecting" by some individuals that the negative feelings they have about the translation are universally felt by all Catholics and so there will be this overwhelming resistance already in place come Nov. 2011.

  2. An issue that seems to be on the back burner at this point is for the faithful to have a permanent missal in the pews. The current practice of disposable seasonal resources is great for publishers, but throw away missaletes only contribute to making the Mass seem ephemeral. Disposable resources are also very expensive.
    So as not to make each pew a mini library, the lectionary could be combined with the missal,so that there could be 3 missal/lectionary books one for each yearly cycle. One would still need a chant book for the Ordinary (if not included in the missal)and Propers (including the responsorial Psalm), and a hymnal. Three permanent books in a pew does not seem too overwhelming.

  4. Chironomo:
    Just some background behind my suggestions-
    When my local parish got a new pastor fresh from seminary, he was dumbfounded by the heresies contained in the hymnal that had been used up till then. The hymnal is put out by a large publishing house and is quite ubiquitous in Cathilic churches of USA. The subscription for this hymnal was not renewed this past year and the old ones are being re-used while he is looking for something to start next Advent with, even looking for some pre-Vatican II hymnals that some church may still have and wants to part with. Next Advent provides an opportunity to rethink and reframe this whole disposable missalette/hymnal bondage as well as the current musical practice.

  5. Ted K:
    I agree with you concerning the wasteful use of disposable and expensive missalettes. At the last parish where I was the music director, the pastor, liturgy director and I tried to remedy the situation by looking for other sources for the congregation. We found very few options. Now that the change in translation will be coming in Advent, it might be a good time to cancel the subscriptions that are currently enslaving most American parishes and consider a permanent source in the pews for liturgy. It will be a tough sell, but worthwhile, in my opinion.

  6. Ted;

    It sounds like you have a pastor that makes your parish the envy of many!

    When I said "tough sell", I meant that many parishes got burnt buying hardcover hymnals two or three years ago, only to find them no longer usable after this year. The "word on the street" is to wait several years.

    However, it sounds like your pastor is looking for something more along the lines of the Adoremus Hymnal or perhaps even the Parish Book of Chant

  7. Hah! Of the 47 possible check boxes in the survey's first question – "What worship resource(s) are in your pews and currently being utilized in the liturgy?" – not one of them is for the official "worship resource" of the Roman Rite: the Graduale Romanum. Nor do they list the Graduale Simplex, the Gregorian Missal, the Liber Usualis – or even the Parish Book of Chant. You can't even enter these in the "Other" box at the bottom. I'd say their "survey" is just a tad bit slanted.

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