No "Simple English Propers" for me

                                          She's not going away anytime soon

Last Sunday, the local parish started introducing portions of the new Missal.  The change from old to new is evidently meant to be seamless and undetectable, because so far it's a matter of an additional note or word or two crammed into the lamentable old settings.  Worse, it served as an opportunity for the the leader of song to yack it up at the microphone even more than usual.

And I'd had such hopes.  Still, I know that somewhere, some lucky parish is singing "Simple English Propers," and that thought gives me joy.  


Saint Cecilia, patron of Church music, pray for us.

Actually sounds like prayer

                                                 We'll need St. Cecilia's help

Clicking on the link will take you to the text and accompanying chant for the Introit of the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary time, in English.   It's from Simple English Propers, by Adam Bartlett, which provides accessible introits, offertory and communion chant for the entire liturgical year.   It has already been adopted in many parishes in the US (though not at our local parish, where we must still sing ballads that sound like rejected first act closers from an unproduced 1973 musical).  The new English Missal will also include a full slate of Mass settings in English chant, and Holy Mother Church is encouraging their use.  I devoutly pray they will be.

New Liturgical Movement has more here.

St. Cecilia, patroness of music, singers and musicians, pray for us.

A Sacred Music Revolution?

"Simple English Propers" is more like a return to ancient forms.  It would mean Catholics would once again sing the Mass, rather than sing wretched contemporary songs at Mass, and for both reasons I say "Deo Gratias!"