The Recovering Choir Director

50. The rite of the Mass is to be revised in such a way that the intrinsic nature and purpose of its several parts, as also the connection between them, may be more clearly manifested, and that devout and active participation by the faithful may be more easily achieved.

For this purpose the rites are to be simplified, due care being taken to preserve their substance; elements which, with the passage of time, came to be duplicated, or were added with but little advantage, are now to be discarded; other elements which have suffered injury through accidents of history are now to be restored to the vigor which they had in the days of the holy Fathers, as may seem useful or necessary.

As a part of our simplified rite, we now have:

• three options for the Penitential Rite (sometimes four);
• at least twelve options for the Eucharistic Prayer;
• four Memorial Acclamations (more if you count composers’ creative license);
• people using their own translations for many of the Mass texts.

This is before counting the myriad options for music and lyrics.

Also interesting—”other elements which have suffered injury through accidents of history are now to be restored to the vigor which they had in the days of the holy Fathers, as may seem useful or necessary.”

Does this apply to Gregorian chant? Or do we get our inspiration from the music of Herod’s court and Salome’s dance first?