Liturgically, the Mass at Bellahouston Park was a mixed bag. It looked very much like the result of a tussle between the Papal celebrations team and the Scots new liturgy enthusiasts. There was some superb music and singing side by side with some that was so ghastly I took the headphones off until it finished. (As I write, Susan Boyle is singing "Make me a channel of your peace" as part of the post-liturgy provision which presents me with a more than usually difficult Catholic Dilemma.)
Visually, the sanctuary was disappointing. The throne, altar and lectern were made from fine materials, including marble, but managed to look pedestrian. This was particularly helped by the placing of three candles in boxes in a line either side of the altar. Whatever nuLiturgy expert managed to browbeat Mgr Marini into allowing that, instead of having some beautiful candles on the altar, should stick to school assemblies and creative liturgy prayer sessions for discussion groups.
One of the most striking positive elements was the reverent silence before Mass and at various points during the celebration. Under Pope Benedict we have learnt how to be quiet at the sacred liturgy where appropriate. I noticed this at the Mass for the Epiphany at St Peter's in January and it seems to be something that the Holy Father takes on pilgrimage with him.
The Bruckner Locus Iste was sung superbly before Mass but I do not think that it is the Introit for the Mass of St Ninian; neither were the two hymns also sung for the entrance procession. The offertory hymns were not the offertorium and the communion hymns and motets were not the communio. There were some wonderful pieces of music included (along with some truly gruesome things) but we still seem to have little sense of singing the Sacred Liturgy itself rather than singing things at it. Nevertheless, the parts of the Mass from the James MacMillan's new composition sounded very fine, and well suited to congregational singing.
The Holy Father is using Latin for the Preface and Eucharistic Prayer at all the three public Masses on the apostolic journey. This is a good example to others and a great support for priests who have already introduced some Latin at their Sunday Masses. The Papal booklet printed for the Masses also has the Latin texts printed for the offertory prayers which he says secreto. I am sure that I saw his lips move while he was incensing the gifts. And, of course, those who received Holy Communion from the Holy Father received on the tongue, while kneeling at a prie-dieu.
11 comments:
This is a day for overlooking faults, surely? For God anyway, if not for man. I just felt such love for Jesus as I watched the Mass and a real longing for heaven, even if I don't make it. I just know His Will, will be done one day.
Mindyou, I'm only on chapter two of the Mass in Slow Motion. I'll be better at this critical approach soon, no doubht :(
What a great day for jumping up and down and praising God!!!
Sorry Father, I'm a bit carried away.....
On the whole, it sounded pretty darned good. Obviously not perfect, but much better than most of the stuff the US managed during our papal visit.
Poor Susan Boyle. That's not a super-easy song really, and she's obviously not over the cold she had in the Telegraph's interview with her. But she did a respectable job with the old warhorse, and it wasn't at Mass, and it wasn't "At a Distance" (bleh) like that other lady did.
But the Gloria was good stuff!
Perhaps it is my Gaelic nature but I loved not only the music of MacMILLan but the gaelic hymns. De gustibus no disputandum. I felt sorry for Susan Boyle. There she stood on the pedestrain stage far from the crowd, totally isolated from her accompaniment, a cold wind blowing on her face. A sight of utter lonlieiness. It was no surpirse her voice was not at its best. but she tried valiantly to cope.
It's a slam dunk over the wretched mess at Downsview in Toronto in 2002.
Dancing girls, being notably absent.
Yes, sorry for the notes of negativity there, but the Liturgy is important. Glad it was better than the US ;-)
But you just wait until Saturday morning's Mass at Westminster. That is going to be a real feast!
We were able to see some of the mass at my mother in law's house via the news!!
Juxtaposing the good and the bad music might be Mgr Marini's way of drawing attention to the yawning disparity between the two. And perhaps those of us who have had the misfortune to pass some time in the EF desert of Renfrewshire can enjoy a little schadenfreude at the sight of Scotland's bishops having to mouth the Missa de Angelis.
Father Tim, as an American I can only say that what I saw televised, music-wise, was in many ways, far superior to what the Holy Father was subjected to here in the US.
I was not familiar with some of the music, but all-in-all, thought it reverent and beautiful.
Some don't think so.
But this Mass was beautiful; God be praised!
Nazareth priest - thank you. See also my comment above. Saturday morning will be the liturgical highlight of the trip.
I'm just back from bellahouston and the Pope was marvellous, I especially, liked the homily. After the other compromises I was wondering if the Holy Father would be allowed to distribute Communion on the tongue or not, I am glad he did manage to bet Fr. Mackenzie on that one. I agree Fr. The Silence was magnificent
But Faddah, but Faddah... there was at least a 7th candle, in front of the Crucifix on the centre of the altar. Even if the big 6 were in line at the side, at least there wasn't the 2-to-one-side business with a bunch of flowers on the other. An arrangement all too common in my dear homeland - an island to the west of GB: not the Isle of Man. The HF (and, I presume Msgr. Marini) shows the way.
Brick by brick. Travertine, hopefully.
For the first day, and only catching snatches on TV, my impression was that it's going to be a triumph. Maybe understated, but that's our Holy Father.
Really looking forward to the rest, especially in Westminster, which I should be able to see live on the telly, I hope. We get the Beeb in my part of Ireland.
Now, we're going to host the 2012 Eucharistic Congress here in Ireland. Oh dear. Sad need of a liturgical Ninja shock team. Can we borrow your young MCs? :)
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