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Question
I am leading a choir group for the last 25 years. Recently, during the assumption feast of Mother Mary, entrance Song we sung a song dedicated to Mother Mary. After the Holy Mass one worshiper approached me and said, It is against the Liturgical Rule to sing, Mother Mary's song for the entrance. It is a new knowledge for me. Is that right? Please answer.
Thank You
Justin
Hi, Justin:
Thanks for the question.
The person who approached you was expressing an opinion that exists out there, somewhere in ideology-land. I have encountered the same sort of thing myself. The opinion makes much of an idea that somehow the only song in Mass that is to specifically address the Feast or Mystery being celbrated is to be done only as a closing song. Apart from that, I suppose, the theory demands that all other songs somehow be only those songs that would be encountered as proper or common to SUN Mass of a particular liturgical season.
However, the reality of options within the Roman Rite are far beyond the mere choosing of hymns and metered-songs.
The Feast of the Assumption, for example has an assigned proper chant that would be sung ideally at a High Sung Mass: "A great sign appeared in Heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." I think that all can most certainly agree that this is a chant dedicated to Mother Mary.
The Offertory assigned is: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed."
The Communion assigned is: "All generations shall call me blessed; because he who is mighty has done great things for me."
The sort of thing you describe happens when people forget the original sources for the Mass.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Answers by Expert:
Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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