Respondeo dicendum . . .
Thanks for the list. I recently (in the last two years or so) began reading the documents concerning music since Pius X's famous moto proprio. It is fascinating and your list will help in this study. Thank you! The only one I had read was The Spirit of the Liturgy by Ratzinger and have been wanting to read the Organic Development of the Liturgy by Fr. Alcuin Reid. My only problem is, and perhaps you have some thoughts, these writings only deepen my depression, since I am in a parish where the priest likes to tell a joke immediately after Communion. Sometimes the sound of the Schola singing Ave Verum, or some other chant, hasn't even died out yet when he begins his jokes, some of which are truly offensive. There are many other things that lead to a general atmosphere of entertainment. The schola recently put out a booklet of chant with a cd recording we made to go along with the booklet, but without the priest's help we are floundering a bit (in fact, he has never even acknowledged our efforts...not that we want acknowledgement, but a least a modicum of support would help). I went to the CMAA conference last summer and was planning on attending the CIEL conference in England this Fall, but after returning from the heights of these liturgies, the ones here are that much more hard to endure. Sorry for being long-winded. I mainly wrote to thank you for the list.
Thanks,
chantromanum
Thanks for the list. It was pleasing to see that only one book on the list was new to me, the rest already read and on my bookshelf. I can't recommend the Reid book highly enough; it is absolutely essential. Keep up the good work!
CR:
I understand completely what you mean by depressing. As I learned more about the liturgy I found myself often depressed and sometimes outright angered by the liberties that are taken in the carrying out of the sacred rituals. I think it important to remember that while what you read may not match what you experience, what you have read gives you the catechesis and understanding to enter more deeply into the liturgical rites. So, stop counting rubrical abuses (I'm not saying that you do, but rather admitting that I have) and focus more prayerfully on what is happening before you. Begin offering the Mass in union with the priest for the priest as also for your own needs. Remember to offer your Holy Communions for your parish priests and to pray for your confessors. You intimate above that this particular priest does this often then it might behoove you to mention to him how it affects you. Barring this, since I know that most of us might be somewhat afraid of confrontation in this regard, pray as I have said above and offer other devotions for him. I've known and served Mass for various priests across the gamut of "styles" but I've never found one that intentionally tried to offer a sloppy or sacreligious Mass. In truth, the priests that I have disagreed with truly have their congregations at heart. Maybe you might offer one of the works above as a present.
Well said, thanks Keith
Robert
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