Sacred Miscellany

“Ineffable” Akathist

From the Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God - uses the word we can't understand twice in a single stanza.

Hail, O hidden Sense of the Ineffable Plan!
Hail, O Belief in Silence That Must Be!
Hail, O Forecast of the Marvels of Christ!
Hail, O Fountainhead of truths concerning Him!
Hail, Celestial Ladder, by whom God came down!
Hail, O Bridge leading earthly ones to heaven!
Hail, O Wonder, ever-thrilling to the angels!
Hail, O Wound, ever-hurting to the demons!
Hail, O you who gave birth to Light ineffably!
Hail, O you who told no one how it was done!
Hail, O you who surpass the wisdom of the wise!
Hail, O you who enlighten faithful minds!
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!

 

I'm grateful that this hymn beloved of the Orthodox and Eastern Rite Catholics hasn't been turned over to official translators. Apparently in the 6^th century, "big words" weren't a concern to Romanus the Melodist. As one commentator points out,

The word "akathistos" literally means "not sitting," i.e., standing; normally all participants stand while it is being prayed. The hymn is comprised of 24 stanzas, alternating long and short. Each short stanza (kontakion) ends with the singing of "Alleluia." Each longer stanza (ikos) ends with the refrain: "Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded."

The majority of the hymn is made up of praises directed to the Mother of God, always beginning with the salutation of the Archangel Gabriel: "Rejoice." In each of them, one after the other, all the events related to our Lord's incarnation pass before us for our contemplation. The Archangel Gabriel ( in Ikos 1) marvels at the Divine self-emptying and the renewal of creation which will occur when Christ comes to dwell in the Virgin's womb. The unborn John the Baptist (Ikos 3) prophetically rejoices. The shepherds (Ikos 4) recognize Christ as a blameless Lamb, and rejoice that in the Virgin "the things of earth join chorus with the heavens." The pagan Magi, (Kontakion 5) following the light of the star, praise Her for revealing the light of the world.

As the hymn progresses, various individuals and groups encounter Christ and His Mother. Each has his own need; each his own desire or expectation, and each finds his or her own particular spiritual need satisfied and fulfilled in Our Lord and in the Mother of God. So too, each generation of Orthodox, and each particular person who has prayed the Akathist, has found in this hymn an inspired means of expressing gratitude and praise to the Mother of God for what she has accomplished for their salvation.

You can find the complete Akathist several places online. Here's an Orthodox source and a Catholic one. It's a treasure for meditation and devotion.

Thoughts from Down Under

In my wanderings on the Internet, I stumbled across this most interesting pastoral letter. The author is Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Canberra-Goulburn, Australia. Issued on Pentecost of this year, it is well worth the read. And thank to Adoremus for the link.

I was particularly impressed with the clarity of this paragraph:

A final more general consideration concerns creativity in the liturgy. At times, there is the impression that creativity means that we have a freedom to change and adapt the liturgy as we see fit. But this is not the Church's understanding. Creativity in Catholic worship means that we do as well as possible what the Church sets down in the liturgical books. People coming to Mass have a right to a celebration of the liturgy according to the norms set down by the Church; anything else can be unsettling and distracting. Without changing anything, we are to bring as much prayer, intelligence, imagination and sensitivity as we can to the act of worship. Creativity concerns the quality of our participation, not an adaptation of the ritual in an attempt to improve it or to make it more relevant.

To speak of participation is to raise the question of what the Council meant when it stressed the need for "full, conscious and active" participation in the liturgy. At times, this is taken to mean that everyone has to do everything all the time. But this is not the Church's understanding. The Roman Rite presumes that everyone has his or her particular role in the liturgy and that participation means that each performs his or her own role as well as possible. To listen in silence to the Readings is certainly "active" participation, as are all the great silences that are built into the liturgy. To speak of "conscious" participation does not mean that every word, gesture and action needs to be immediately and easily accessible to all, since much of the symbolism of the liturgy moves at a more than conscious level. Creativity in the liturgy respects the different levels at which the language, actions and symbols move and the way in which they gather up the whole human person.

In other words, there's more to the liturgy that meets the eye. So respect what's there and do it beautifully. That will suffice.

Back from Chicago

Getting home from conferences is never easy – especially if you decide to travel on Friday evening. Every road warrior is out there. Flights are cancelled; small children are wailing; folks are missing connections. Nonetheless, I made it back to Florida and I am eternally grateful to the person who picked me up at 12:30 a.m. in Jacksonville.

The capstone of our Chant Intensive was a Mass celebrated in the Madonna della Strada Church at Loyola. Fr. Haines from the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius was the celebrant and he brought along a pile of brothers to serve. After I get the recording cleaned up, I will put up the various propers that we sang. Admittedly, it was an ad hoc recording, so the balance isn't perfect. (The perfect place for the mic would have been behind the altar facing out – I bet Father would have loved that.) Fortunately, the two voices that come through the strongest are Scott Turkington's and Janet Gorbitz's (Vox Feminae).

Yes, the Intensive was hard work. However, the joy of being surrounded by that much music and by a group of people who love chant outweighed any fatigue. Thank you, CMAA!

Grass-Roots Chant

One of the good reasons to attend conferences is "intelligence gathering."  What I'm learning here at the CMAA Chant Intensive is more than just technique and piles of neums.  It's about people.  There are scholas popping up everywhere.  Some of these are adjuncts to existing music programs.  Some of them are "garage scholas," individual initiatives put into motion by people who simply love Gregorian chant.  They sing where they can and when they can, but importantly these folks aren't waiting for everything to be perfect.  And they aren't waiting for permission to do what they love.

Oh, and did I mention that chant lovers are very entertaining?  They are definitely good company.  So there's another reason to take up chant.  The quality of your co-singers.

That's all for now.  I have another eight hours of theory and singing today.

Feast of the Sacred Heart on Friday

I'm delighted to announce that the St. Augustine Schola Cantorae will be singing at the 7 a.m. Mass on Friday at the Cathedral-Basilica in St. Augustine.

While it's awfully early, who could miss the opportunity to sing the introit, Cogitationes, or the Communion antiphon, Unus militum?

Attack of the Italian Widows!

Our Corpus Christi procession was pretty good. However, we need to come to some resolution about schola dress. I thought we were wearing rather tasteful black. One member contended that it might seem as though the celebrant was being chased by Italian widows brandishing handbells. All in the eye of the beholder.

Feast of Corpus Christi

Valencia, Spain is famous for its celebration of this feast.  The description below is taken from the city's tourism page.  I particularly like the part where "sweeties are thrown in the air."  Oh well, how good is my Spanish

May all the processions and surrounding events of this day be glorious!

Celebrations go back to 1355 in Valencia city. The Traslado de las Rocas takes place on Friday, in which those monumental and spectacular triumphal carriages, that are typical and exclusive to the Valencian celebration, are taken out of the house-museum where they are kept all year and are driven to the square known as Plaza de la Virgen where they are exhibited.

The Corpus Christi celebration has been held for centuries with different religious, cultural and festive events in a large number of towns and cities throughout the whole region of Valencia, and in some places with great splendour in their events and amazing processional parades. The Misteris (Mysteries) takes place on Saturday afternoon: narrations of Biblical events written between the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century and that are performed on a stage set up in the Plaza de la Virgen.

Corpus Christi Day, Sunday, at noon, after the pealing of the bells from the Miguelete Tower and the Pontifical Mass, the Cabalgata del Convite (Invitation Cavalcade), leaving from the square known as Plaza de Manises, begins. In this cavalcade curious characters parade and the dances, such as Els Cavallets (The Merry-Go-Rounds), Els Pastorets (The Shepherds) or La Magrana (The Pomegranate), are performed, the most original of all of them is the dance performed by the Moma and the Momos which symbolises the fight between the seven capital sins and virtue in which finally prevails the good.

The most expected group in this cavalcade the characters by the public is that of the Degolla (Throat-cutting) which symbolises Herod's guard fulfilling the mission to "execute" the innocents. These characters, wearing black masks and carrying a plastic stick and a sack full of sweets embark on it with "blows" to the people while throwing sweeties into the air, to which the public responds by throwing bowls of water at them from the windows, in the popular banyà (bath), which is spectacular as it passes through the streets of Cabillers and Avellanas.

Late in the afternoon the bells of the Miguelete announce the Solemn Procession that at 7pm sets off from the Apostles' Door of the Cathedral. In it numerous characters from the Old and the New Testament travel round the old quarter of the city in a colourful and imaginative parade and they accompany the monumental custodia from the Cathedral of Valencia.

It's Just Too Loud

Go over to Charlotte was Both to read an interesting discussion of way-too-loud church music.

No, I don't have any solutions to the problem.  I just find it fascinating that it vexes so many people, both musicians and our hapless victims in the pews.  Some days we blame the cantors; other days, it's the lounge-style pianist with the bass guitar and guy with traps.  Is it the organist without self-control?  Bad speaker placement?

At the same time, I no longer glare when people tell me that they go to the one Mass on Sundays where it's guaranteed there won't be any music.  I just sigh gently.

Fr. Rob Johansen Nails It!

Go here to read a memorable essay on "Beauty, Subjectivisn, and Liturgical Music."

After you've read it the first time, go back and read it again.

Corpus Christi is Coming on May 25, 2008

This is one of my favorite feasts because I love a parade! And I love St. Thomas Aquinas as well.

And this year I'm happy to announce that the St. Augustine Schola Cantorae will be there.  We've only been together a short time, but we're intrepid.  The Schola will be assisting the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine's music ministry with chants during the 11 a.m. Mass.  After this Mass, there will be a Eucharistic procession (and yes, we'll be there as well) around the historic plaza in St. Augustine, followed by Adoration until 5 p.m. And then Benediction. 

Over in the Bishop Baker Center from 1 to 5 pm, there will also be a photo exhibit from the Vatican about Eucharistic miracles.

What a wonderful way to spend part of your Memorial Day weekend!  If you're anywhere near, please come.  If you're not, please pray for us.