Guide to Reading Semiological Signs
Coverage of the Sacred Music Colloquium
Most of the coverage of the Sacred Music Colloquium can be found at the New Liturgical Movement. I could repost of course but it makes more sense to just point you to NLM.
Actually, this seems like a good time to make the announcement to this page. The CMAA is now the publisher of the New Liturgical Movement, and I’m the site editor. I’ll be dividing my posting time between the Cafe and NLM, but it is not always clear what belongs where.
This blog focusses on music and its details with a liturgical emphasis — but also covers sacred music more generally. NLM of course has a broader liturgical focus.
Perhaps we will eventually install some feed widgets both directions. And we might be adding some voices here at the Cafe.
In any case, this is an expansion, no question.
Antra deserti: Hymn for the Birth of St. John the Baptist
Antra deserti
June 24th, Office of Readings
You sought the solitude of caves,
The desert, from an early age.
You fled your kin, and disavowed
The risks of life among the crowd.
Rough clothing made of camel hair
Was all your sacred limbs would wear.
And water, and wild honey sweet,
And locusts were your only meat.
The prophets sang, in mystic sight,
The coming of the future light,
But you their last, could point to Him:
The Lamb who takes away our sin.
Of woman born, through all the earth,
Was never known a holier birth.
You washed with water Him who cleans
The world from all its world of sins.
The citizens of heaven sing
Your praise, O One and Triune King.
And we pray too, that we may live:
Lord, those You have redeemed, forgive.
Matt Williams on Sacred Music
Here is a wonderful interview with Matt Williams of Gregory the Great Academy (in northeast Pennsylvania). He explains the reason for chant and polyphony and their place in Catholic liturgy.
Field recording of Archbishop Sample’s Plenary Address
This recording was made earlier today in the Salt Lake City Cathedral. Thank you so much to Richard Chonak and the recording team.
The Purpose of the Liturgy: The Worship of God and the Sanctification of the Faithful
Today’s Colloquium Plenary Address by Archbishop Sample was profoundly encouraging on every level.
The Archbishop linked liturgical renewal with both the new evangelization and with care for the poor. He offered a theological explanation of appropriately vast scope to explain the timelessness on the one Sacrifice of the cross of Jesus Christ, re-presented at every celebration of the Mass. He explained the mystery of the unity of the earthly and heavenly liturgies in a way that made this mystical reality altogether accessible.
Throughout Archbishop Sample’s talk, I experienced a sense of relief. I realized that in a remarkable way, possible only in our unusual post-conciliar times, the torch has passed from groups like the CMAA. The job of carrying the banner is in some very real sense no longer ours. This responsibility is now being carried by its rightful stewards, the bishops of the Church.
(Photo: Charles Cole)
Impromptu Google Hangout Interview with Archbishop Sample
Considering that we set up this little studio on the fly in less than two minutes, and it broadcast live, I’m pretty pleased! Archbishop Sample is an amazing man and an inspired leader.