Rantings on Liturgical Music

I offered a Requiem Mass (in the ordinary form) at a wake earlier. Before the Mass, the members of the choir approached me to ask if they may sing the responses at the Mass. "Old translation or new translation?" I quickly asked. "The old, father," the leader said, "we have not yet updated ourselves." I was disappointed with the answer as the implementation in the Philippines of the new English translation of the Roman Missal was a year behind the implementation in most English speaking countries.

I ask: Why is it that in spite of the formation given by the Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, choirs still insist on singing the responses in the old translation? If the priests are obliged to use the new translation, why should the noncompliance of the choir be toleration. I think that insisting on using the text of the old translation is really arrogance. If priests must follow rules, why shouldn't the choir? Also, in the Philippines, certain compositions paraphrased the official text. This is the bad case of lyrics adjusting to the melody. Why should the text suffer just so that the composition may fit into the melody? Is the liturgical text the servant of the music? I don't think so! The music is the servant of the liturgical text. Fine! "Mundo" and "sanlibutan" might be synonyms. But the official text of the Agnus Dei in Tagalog is "Kordero ng Diyos na nag-aalis ng mga kasalanan ng SANLIBUTAN" and not "Kordero ng Diyos na nag-aalis ng mga kasalanan ng MUNDO..." I think that composers of liturgical music must have the humility required to make their compositions submissive and faithful to the liturgical text.

In the extraordinary form, these things I speak of are not problems!

Also, I ask: Can't the choir prepare a repertoire appropriate for a Requiem Mass? If the bereaved family requires the services of a priest for a Requiem Mass, I think that it will be inappropriate for the priest to preach a wedding homily. He is expected to speak on the reality of the four last things. If this were the case, then would it be too much to expect from the choir to sing songs appropriate for the occasion? Why should the choir have a greater license than the priest? Everybody involved in the Sacred Liturgy ought to have the humility required to submit the self to liturgical laws. The liturgy is not ours. It belong to Christ. It belongs to the Church.

Truth in Liturgy

Over the social networks, I found out that TV Masses here are shot weeks before the actual Sunday when they are supposed to be aired. A Palm Sunday Mass was offered in some church on the first week of Lent for the purpose of airing it on Palm Sunday. I am concerned about the way the Mass is treated like a TV series which may be taped many weeks before the actual airing. Is it right to shoot the Mass weeks before the actual feast?

In the liturgical reform after the second Vatican Council, there was an emphasis on the return to the "Truth of the Hours" in matters concerning the Liturgy of the Hours. This is the reform of a prevalent liturgical practice wherein the celebration of matins and lauds were anticipated on the night before (as in the case of the Tenebrae of Holy Week) or the celebration of all the hours were lumped together at the most convenient time of the priest. Also, in the 1955 reform of Holy Week, the hour of the celebration of Easter Vigil was transferred from the morning of Holy Saturday to the hours of the night. 

If the "truth of the hour" mattered, should the "truth of the day" be treated differently? The Liturgy is not a game of "make believe" but an actual encounter with the Blessed Trinity. It is not honest (and therefore not right) to offer the Mass of Palm Sunday when it is not yet Palm Sunday. Perhaps it is true that the Mass will be aired on Palm Sunday itself but when it was actually celebrated, it was not yet Palm Sunday.

The Holy Father Benedict XVI reminded us that the Liturgy is not a show. It is not meant to be a form of entertainment. Liturgy is an encounter with God.  Liturgy is prayer in Spirit and in TRUTH.

Animism in the Guise of Ecological Liturgies?

In a meeting of the Parish Pastoral Team, I was informed of the pilgrimage of the Cross of the Sierra Madre mountains. This pilgrimage is aimed at raising awareness regarding the devastation of the Sierra Madre on account of logging and mining operations. Obviously, this is an ecological pilgrimage - something that is in fashion today.

I looked into the pamphlet and I saw a creative liturgical rite which disturbed me:

Misa Alay sa Sierra Madre at sa Buong Sangkalikasan

(Mass offered to the Sierra Madre and to all Creation)

Maaring gamitin ang Liturhiyang ito sa pagdiriwang. O kaya di man ay maari rin namang pumili ng ilang bahagi nito na pwedeng gamitin sa Misa.

(This rite may be used for the celebration. Or if not, some parts of this may be chosen for Mass)

I. PAGBATI AT PAGPUPUGAY SA ESPIRITU NG KALIKASAN

    Greeting and Salutation to the Spirit of Nature

(Maaring gawin ito sa labas ng simbahan - ang bawat isa ay may hawak na kandila)

(This may be done outside the church - each person holds a candle)

Obispo/Pari: Batiin natin ang bawat isa at ang lahat ng bahagi ng Sangkalikasan ng isang umagang puspos ng pagpapala ng Diyos na Maylikha. (Bigyan puwang ang pagbabatian) Atin ngayong sindihan ang ating mga kandila at bigyang pugay ang Espiritung nagbibigay at nagpapadaloy ng buhay.

Let us greet one another and the whole of Creation with a morning filled with blessings from the Creator God. (Give room for the greetings) Let us now light our candles and honor the Spirit who gives life.

Panalangin sa Apat na Direksyon

Prayer to the four Directions

Tagapamuno: Batiin natin ang dakong Silangan na siyang nagdadala ng liwanag ng Araw (Itataas ang malaking kandila) Amang Araw, sa 'yong nakabubulag na kasikatan, bigyan kami ng lakas, liwanag, at kaalaman.

Let us greet the East which bring the light of the Sun. (The big candle is raised) Father Sun, in your blinding radiance, give us strength, light, at knowledge.

Lahat: Espiritu ng Apoy, kami sa yo'y nagpupugay.

Spirit of  Fire, we salute / honor you.

Tagapamuno: Batiin natin ang dakong Hilaga na siyang nag-aalaga ng mga bahaging lupa (Itaas ang sisidlang may lupa o isang maliit na punong kahoy) Inang Lupa na nagkakalinga ng buhay ng Santinakpan, bigyan kami ng lakas na lumagong kapakipakinabang.

Let us greet the North which cares for the earth (A container of soil or a small plant is raised.) Mother Earth that cares for the life of all Creation, give us strength to grow usefully.

Lahat: Espiritu ng Lupa, kami'y sa yo'y nagpupugay.

Spirit of Earth, we salute / honor you.

Tagapamuno: Batiin natin ang dakong Kanluran na siyang nagpapadaloy ng tubig na nagbibigay buhay (Itaas ang sisidlang may tubig) Inang Karagatan at Tubig-Kanlungan, ikaw ang pumapatid ng aming uhay, gawin mo kaming daan ng kalinisan at kagalingan.

Let us greet the West which makes the life-giving waters flow. (A container of water is raised.) Mother Seas and Bosoms of Water, you quench our thirst, grant that we may be means for purity and wellness.

Lahat: Espiritu ng Tubig, kami sa yo'y nagpupugay.

Spirit of Water, we salute / honor you.

Tagapamuno: Batiin natin ang dakong Katimugan na nagbibigay daan sa hininga ng buhay (Itataas at patutunugin ang chimes) Amang Kalawakan, hanging may kaginhawaan, bigyan kami ng lakas na magsaya at magdiwang.

Let us greet the South which gives way to the breath of life (The chimes are raised and made to sound) Father Space, air that comforts, give us the strength to rejoice and celebrate.

Lahat: Espiritu ng Hangin, kami sa yo'y nagpupugay.

Spirit of the Air, we salute / honor you.

Obispo/Pari: Sa ating pagsasama-sama, ang Banal na Espiritu, ang Enerhiya ng Diyos na nagbibigay-buhay ay sumasaatin. Kasama ang buong Sangkalikasan, tayo ngayon ay magpuri sa kanya at ipaabot ang ating pagkamangha at paghanga sa kanyang Pangalan.

In our gathering, the Holy Spirit, the Life-giving Energy of God is with us. Together with all creation, let us praise him and express our awe and admiration for his Name.

                 ______________________________________________________________

While claiming to praise the Holy Spirit (the Energy of God?), the prayers actually honor the spirits of nature which we call the "elementals" or nature spirits (which are actually demonic spirits worshiped by animists.

I remember the first reading for Monday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time:

"This (the Assyrian Occupation) came about because the children of Israel sinned against the Lord...and because they venerated other gods. They followed the rites of the nations..." (2 Kings 17: 7-8)

The Smoke of Satan entering the cracks of the Church?