The Recovering Choir Director

You have a point, Joe — regardless of what is said at tiara level, if the people at crook level and sanctuary level don’t go along, and the people at loft level don’t know what they’re doing or do know but have their hands tied, what can be done at pew level?
My priest is a terrific man, and a fine pastor in many ways, but after one single week of my programming the simplest Gregorian Sanctus, and ONLY at a Mass with a 25 voice scola to support the congregation, he said to drop it, the people didn’t sing it.
A new “hymn” that he hears somewhere and asks me to try to introduce becaseu he thinks it’s “catchy” we will use at every Mass for two months to familiarize them with it, but the prescribed music of Holy Mother Church, it’s one shot and adios.
He said,” the people don’t know Latin any more.”
When I asked if if he didn’t want them to learn he said no, and left the room.
So, what can we do?
EDUCATE.
Am I going to change the hearts and minds of the balding guys with big guts hanging over their jeans who are wailing away on their drums and guitars in the sanctuary every week in a vain attempt to relive the glory days of ther garage band youth’s?
Almost certainly not.
But I teach every child I can get my hands on, a Jesus Dulcis Memoria here, the Kyrie from the Missa de Angelis there, the chanted Litany of the Saints; I play Gregorian melodies as “filler”, as liturgical cocktail music every chance I get so that Salve Regina can burrow its way into the ears and hearts for the PIPs who are content to croon Hail Mary Gentle Woman for now; I show the cantor who loves the dreadful Celebration psalms how much easier it is to chant on a psalm tone at 7:00 am Mass during flue and cold season…
I do what I can.
I do what I can get away with.

I feel like a mole, I feel the the French resistance, I feel like I’m living and working in a system I’m trying to subvert.
Advent is a poignant time, no?
All that prayer about waiting and hoping…

The Leper

>The retort can also be given: “Fr.,
>the surest way to make sure that
>the people don’t know something
>is to never sing it.”

Which, despite his having had the Church’s express thoughts on this pointed out to him, is his obvious aim.

>He said,” the people don’t know
>Latin any more.” When I asked
> if he didn’t want them to learn
>he said no, and left the room.

So burrowing on,

The mole, AKA the Leper

>The goal is always to find the
>workaround, not just give up.

Oh, absolutely, I’m still continuing my subversive ways.

>Lots of times pastors really are
>concerned about being “pastoral”

Would that that were the case.
Dr Ed Shaefer says that we should remember that chant can take us to another time, another place — and that we need to remember, for some people that’s a place and a time they just don’t want to go.

But when Nero finally kicks it, and the empire falls, Britannicus, who has been biding his time, will come back to restore the republic.

Or so I, Claudius, believe.

The five to eight year olds who argue over whether the Kyrie from the Missa de Angelis, (which I have taught them but never yet allowed them to sing at Mass,) or “Ubi caritas” (which is their “warm up,”) is their “very, very favoritest song!” are primed and ready.