This is a bit of an experiment, in every way both the Missa Cantata, the first I have celebrated, and the production and uploading of a video, thanks to Nick Bristow.
Missa Cantata: I had a few phone calls from people to say they couldn't come because of the snow and ice, how badly we are prepared in England for bad weather, so few people could come, including a couple of servers, the organist, the lady who was going to sing a cantata, there were actually a few more than those in the procession. The bells weren't quite as deafening in reality. I loved doing it, I got the chant wrong for practically everything, but if a thing is worth doing it is worth doing badly! What I like about it, is that I am not in charge, the rubrics are, I am just so grateful to Dominic the MC and his commands: genuflect, kiss, sing, bow, pray bless!
You can see how odd our santuary is, in the 1970's the altar was moved onto the sanctuary step and the sanctuary extended by a few feet. It is impossible to get a coffin in front of the altar, or a bride and groom kneeling before the altar without dragging benches around. Except for people in the front row no-one has seen the liturgical action in this church for the last 40 years. I hope that this year we will be able to raise the altar and move it back.
Next Friday evening I am singing a Requiem Mass for my father who died last Friday, in the simpler form, -choir, two servers, no incense. I am not sure where we can erect a catafalque for the absolutions, maybe in a side chapel. Pray for his soul.
23 comments:
I thought it was very atmospheric,and poignant with the candlelight in the gloom. Very symbolic of the season - with a few pinpricks of light bringing the promise of Spring, and a metaphor for the TLM's current position. It was mediaeval in its simplicity. Also it was in tune throughout, so I don't know why you criticise your singing. With all the noise and fury in the blogosphere at the moment, it is good to remember what Catholicism is really all about. Thank you.
Just beautiful,and I loved the bells.Just wish I lived near enough to attend.May your Father rest in peace.Will say the rosary for him tonight.
Can I post it up on the current discussion board of Holy Smoke, and on my blog too?
Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei.
I will pray for the repose of your father's soul, Father.
Father, on the part of the video, tripod is crucial and the position of the camera is certainly far from ideal.
Wonderful, Father, and thank you both for celebrating the Feast and for making the recordings available to us.
Prayers, too, for your late father. It must be both a privilege and a difficulty to offer the Requiem for one's parents. Requiescat in pace.
Dear Father Ray
Thank you for sharing this piece with everyone. It is very beautiful. If only we lived 280 miles nearer we'd be there like a flash!
We will pray for your father - and for you and your family at this time.
God bless
Alan and Angeline
Approaching the 3rd anniversary of my dear mother's death, I offer prayers for the repose of your father's soul and for you. May he rest in peace.
May your Father rest in peace.
May the Angels lead your father into Paradise,will pray for the repose of his soul tonight.
I will pray for your father's soul. May he rest in peace.
Well done on the Mass. Be assured of my prayers for the eternal happy repose of your father.
Dear Fr. Ray; my condolences to you on your loss. May his soul and the souls of all the departed rest in peace, Amen.
With my condolences Father.
Merciful Jesus: Grant him eternal rest.
May angels lead him into Paradise;
May the martyrs receive him at his coming.
from catholic.org
A Prayer for a Lately Deceased Person
Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
the soul of Thy servant Mr Blake,
from every bond of sin,
that being raised in the glory of the resurrection,
he may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Did you also leave your Crib up? I will pray for your Father and for you.
Well done, Father! My condolences on the death of your father. May he rest in peace.
Lux aeterna luceat ei, Domine.
I confess I was in the choir, we were worried about that piece, it didn't sound so bad after all, it must be the acoustics.
God rest your father's soul.
From the video, the Missa Cantata appears to have been a great success. I can see how the forward position of the table altar is awkward. It seems to waste the space behind it. And the point is well made that this altar is, frankly, too low down for the congregation as a whole to see the sacred action.
What strange ideas people had in the 1970s. Did they not think about weddings and funerals before they sited the table altar so far forward ? And the damage they have done in this church (as in so many others) !
I hope Fr. Ray will soon be able to improve things.
Did you keep up the Crib in the church until candlemas? Well done Fr keep up the good work we need you. With prayers for over this time and for the repose of your Father.
Thank you, Father, for sharing the film with those of us far away who were not able to get to a Candlemass celebration. As others said, it was beautiful. I will light a candle for your father this weekend, and God bless you.
The prayer cited by Epsilon above is a (loose) translation of the tract from the traditional Requiem Mass:
Absolve, Domine, animas omnium fidelium
defunctorum ab omni vinculo delictorum. Et
gratia tua illis succurrente, mereantur evadere
judicium ultionis. Et lucis aeterna beatitudine
perfrui.
(And the one I quoted previously was the Introit).
It is a wonderful source of prayers for the dead. (And the plainchant is just ravishing!)
Perhaps readers of this blog could explore it to find other prayers to offer for the repose of your late father's soul: I certainly will.
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