tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post3081016451231115386..comments2024-03-28T20:30:10.681-04:00Comments on southern orders: JUST WHAT WERE THEY THINKING WHEN THEY REFORMED THE TRADITIONAL REQUIEM MASS INTO THE NEW ORDER? PERHAPS THEY WEREN'T THINKING!Fr. Allan J. McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16986575955114152639noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-75236820803839721752010-10-19T20:39:29.024-04:002010-10-19T20:39:29.024-04:00Verdi's Requiem was written for the concert ha...Verdi's Requiem was written for the concert hall rather than for use at an actual funeral mass in a church.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-12922346223621399042010-10-19T20:03:52.339-04:002010-10-19T20:03:52.339-04:00Henry, what you have to say is true. I should lik...Henry, what you have to say is true. I should like to add, however, that an EF Requiem Mass is not only about praying for the deceased, but also, and perhaps especially, about putting all the living in attendance on notice that they, too, shall one day meet their Maker. All are enjoined to clean up their acts before it's too late!<br /><br /><br />--WilliamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-82955769741030652322010-10-18T14:47:23.162-04:002010-10-18T14:47:23.162-04:00Of course, the generally understood purpose of the...Of course, the generally understood purpose of the OF funeral Mass (to celebrate the life of deceased) is quite different from that of an EF requiem Mass, which is solely to pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased.<br /><br />On May 3, 2008 I attended at the Shrine in Hanceville (AL) a solemn high Requiem Mass celebrated by the FSSP for the 3rd anniversary of John Paul II’s death (thus, 3 years after many had declared him santa subito), complete with black catafalque topped with papal red at front in center aisle.<br /><br />Beyond comparison, it was the most profoundly <b><i>Catholic</i></b> Mass I have ever experienced. Not a word in the vernacular from beginning to end. No repeated readings, no sermon, all Gregorian chant with no music per se (no hymns, no offertory or communion motets, etc). The Dies irae was perhaps the most moving moment.<br /><br />Until after the Mass and before the blessing at the catafalque, the celebrant removed his chasuble and donned the black cope that since before Mass had been hanging in the sanctuary, lit candle on one side, processional cross on the other side, signifying the deceased pontiff, and mounted the pulpit for his "tribute", which never until the final two sentences mentioned the deceased pope, instead outlined why the solemn Requiem Mass is the most impressive (and expressive) of all Catholic liturgies, dealing directly as it does with death as the wages of sin -- after which each of us can expect judgment followed by either purgatory or hell -- with the sole and undiluted purpose throughout of offering sacrifice for the repose of the soul of the deceased. Then he ended by saying<br /><br />"Perhaps someday we will be praying to John Paul in heaven as a Blessed of the Church. But today we pray instead for the repose of his soul, that he may in time be permitted to join the ranks of blesseds in heaven."<br /><br />Earlier that morning, I had (on EWTN) seen Pope Benedict and hordes of concelebrating cardinals decked out in festive looking red robes, and our great and wonderful Pope suggesting our need now for John Paul's intercession in heaven on our behalf.<br /><br />I recall remarking offhand to someone after the solemn requiem Mass that anyone, who has attended recently an OF funeral and really believes these are two different forms of one and the same Roman rite, of one and the same Church, has a serious problem of perception. I would not say this in the same way now, but it reflected at the moment the overwhelming effect of the Church’s most profound liturgy–-the EF requiem Mass.Henrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-4710165678700951832010-10-17T21:25:42.485-04:002010-10-17T21:25:42.485-04:00I'll be attending the All Soul's Day EF Re...I'll be attending the All Soul's Day EF Requiem Mass.<br /><br />Now I will be prepared in advance and can savor it even more.<br /><br />Thank you.SqueekerLambhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14604597395421612386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-1677748108062720392010-10-17T13:12:51.170-04:002010-10-17T13:12:51.170-04:00It's my understanding that you can use the Gra...It's my understanding that you can use the Graudal for the OF, seeing as the Responsorial Psalm is the 2nd of the options in the GIRM..(I don't have my copy with me)<br /><br />I've seen OF Masses with the Tract being used instead of the Gospel acclamation. The official music of the Church is being subsituted on way too many occasions. I know this is how the Norbertines do the Mass back in LA where I'm from, I can't imagine it being an abuse of the LiturgyJoe of St. Thérèsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06506671882770822003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-51883894254212982102010-10-17T10:35:48.830-04:002010-10-17T10:35:48.830-04:00IMHO, I think they were trying to "compete&qu...IMHO, I think they were trying to "compete" with Protestant funeral services, many of which are "celebrations" consistent with the assumption that the deceased went straight to Heaven (although I did go to one Protestant funeral where the minister implied that the deceased had gone straight to Hell and informed those present that since they probably were no better than she was, everyone present needed to be saved immediately!) I think the traditional service is beautiful and hope when my time comes that is what is used.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-62555761781948737362010-10-17T06:50:31.271-04:002010-10-17T06:50:31.271-04:00You may request the Extraordinary Form of the Requ...You may request the Extraordinary Form of the Requiem Mass! Thank Pope Benedict for that, but the entire Mass would be in Latin.<br /><br />In terms of planning your Ordinary Form Requiem Mass, you could insist on the official Introit for the Mass or the Extraordinary Form of it in English. You couldn't have the gradual, tract or sequence, but rather the Responsorial Psalm and there are many choices for it. I think you could ask that the verse between the Gospel Acclamation be that of the tract, but I could be wrong.<br /><br />In terms of the sequence which is the Dies Irae, I know that sequences are allowed in other Masses, for example Easter Sunday, Corpus Christi, etc. The Sequence is always sung before the Gospel Acclamation. Can you ask for the Dies Irae for the OF Funeral Mass, I don't know, seems like one could. There are some nice English settings of this. It is long as you can see.<br /><br />You could choose the EF Offertory Antiphon for the OF Funeral Mass. You could choose Pie Jesu for an additional Communion hymn and libera nos as a post-communion hymn. Technically, there is no reason why the Libera Nos couldn't be sung in place of one of the official songs of farewell in the ritual, since these can be replaced with a "suitable" hymn. <br />In Paradisum for the recessional is a no-brainer!Fr. Allan J. McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16986575955114152639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-80690449098920408372010-10-17T06:21:49.029-04:002010-10-17T06:21:49.029-04:00Can this be requested for funeral Mass?Can this be requested for funeral Mass?Genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06672484450736725268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-39241810507527091332010-10-17T00:16:33.156-04:002010-10-17T00:16:33.156-04:00You will be pleased to note that Mozart was striki...You will be pleased to note that Mozart was strikingly faithful to the Mass. Here is his version:<br /><br />http://www.its.caltech.edu/~tan/Mozartreq/main.html<br /> <br />Contemplating these words brought to mind a recent composition in recent popular music: <br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u50IoS2nY7I<br /><br />I admit this is an acquired taste, but one worth the effort. Listen to the lyrics and they reflect the essence of the Requiem concisely in a popular format inspired by sacred source. Consider that this is a new composition in the style of 18th century folk music with an even more ancient theme. This is the sort of thing that gives me hope for our children.<br /><br />rcgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-70558627047407019632010-10-16T23:12:34.091-04:002010-10-16T23:12:34.091-04:00Very excellent, Fr. Allan.
I find the words of th...Very excellent, Fr. Allan.<br /><br />I find the words of the traditional requiem very true so as to be touching to the human heart. It is unlike the modern rite of burial which assimilates the mindset of the current age; it is as you remark "happy, clappy, sappy", which may "touch" the bereaved in a melodramatic way but which does not proclaim the reality and the truth about death, sin, and the judgment of God.Fr. Patrick Bonaventure de la Cruznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-20176385910678632302010-10-16T19:13:55.713-04:002010-10-16T19:13:55.713-04:00That post was wonderful, thank you!That post was wonderful, thank you!Tophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13343588404569783817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-8418748131160850142010-10-16T15:23:04.270-04:002010-10-16T15:23:04.270-04:00Excellent point. Tonight we will take in Mozart&#...Excellent point. Tonight we will take in Mozart's Requiem and I will follow along with your post. <br /><br />rcgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com