CHORAL MASS
August 7, 2022 - 5:00PM
Propers from the Plainchant Graduale
Motets by Christopher Dalitz
Latin Mass Ordinary
Fellowship after Mass in the Mission House
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church has embarked on a liturgical journey with the commencement of a series of “CHORAL MASSES” celebrated on the first Sunday of each month at 5:00PM.
Worshipers from across the diocese are invited to partake in these glorious liturgies while hearkening to some of the most venerable Mass Ordinaries and Motets ever penned for the Catholic Church by some of her most towering composers!
Our Music Ministers will resound the musical masterpieces of such lauded composers as Hans Leo Hassler, Joseph and Michael Haydn, Antonio Lotti, Claudio Monteverdi, Amadeus Mozart, Giovanni Palestrina and Tomás Luis de Victoria accompanied by our historical pipe organ and/or one of our resident ensembles.
CHANCEL CHOIR MEMBERSHIP
A well-trained choir adds beauty and solemnity to the liturgy and also assists and encourages the singing of the congregation...(the choir) will assume the role of leadership, while at other times it will retain its own distinctive ministry."
MUSIC IN CATHOLIC WORSHIP (1969)
Matthew Loucks
Director of Sacred Music
sacredmusic@stthomascda.org
Matthew Johnson
Principal Organist
Joseph Schubert
Associate Organist
Mariel Solis
Staff Singer (Soprano)
Jessica Schlenz
Staff Singer (Alto)
lawrence McDonell
Staff Singer (Baritone)
THE IMPORTANCE OF
"SINGING THE MASS"
SINGING THE "DIALOGUE"
40. Great importance should be attached to the use of singing in the celebration of the Mass...every care should be taken that singing by the ministers and the people not be absent in celebrations that occur on Sundays and on Holydays of Obligation.
...in the choosing of the parts actually to be sung, preference is to be given to those which are to be sung by the Priest or the Deacon or a reader, with the people replying...
("The Dialogue")
34....the celebration of Mass by its nature has a “communitarian” character...
36. Other parts, most useful for expressing and fostering the active participation of the faithful, and which are assigned to the whole gathering, include especially the Penitential Act, the Profession of Faith (CREED), the Universal Prayer, and the Lord’s Prayer.
113. Liturgal worship is given a more noble form when....celebrated solemnly in song. (Vatican II)
30. To promote active participation, the people should be encouraged to take part by means of acclamations, responses, psalmody, antiphons...(Vatican II)
118. Religious singing by the people is to be skillfully fostered so that...the voices of the faihtful may ring out according to the norms and requirements of the rubrics. (Vatican II)...Dialogues between the Priest and the assembled faithful, and the acclamations are of great significance...
35. The acclamations and the responses of the faithful to the Priest’s greetings and prayers constitute that level of active participation that is to be made by the assembled faithful in every form of the Mass,...
THE CREED
The Creed is to be sung...(choice #1 - Roman Missal)...by the Priest together with the people on Sundays and Solemnities...it is intoned by the Priest, if appropriate, by a cantor or the choir. It is then sung either by everybody together or by the people alternating with the choir...if it is not sung (option #2) it is recited by everyone together...
LATIN IN THE NOVUS ORDO MASS
54...steps should be taken so that the faithful may also be able...to sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordianry of the Mass which pertain to them (i.e Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Mysterium fidei, Agnus Dei...) - VATICAN II (Sacrosanctum Concillium)
... it is desirable that they (the faithful) know how to sing together at least some parts of the Ordinary of the Mass in Latin, especially the Profession of Faith and the Lord’s Prayer, according to the simpler settings...
41. The main place should be given, all things being equal, to Gregorian Chant, as being proper to the Roman Liturgy.
The Church acknowledges Gregorian Chant as speciffically suited to the Roman Liturgy...it should be given pride of place in liturgical services. (Vatican II)
Sung from Pentecost to the First Sunday of Advent
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!
Our life, our sweetness, and our hope!
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve,
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley, of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us;
and after this our exile show unto us the
blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus;
O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Sung from the First Sunday of Advent to Feast of the Presentation (February 2 - "Candlemas")
O loving Mother of our Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea,
Hasten to aid thy fallen people who strive to rise once more.
Thou who brought forth thy holy Creator, all creation wond'ring,
Yet remainest ever Virgin, taking from Gabriel's lips
that joyful "Hail!": be merciful to us sinners.
Sung the Feast of the Presentation (February 2) through Wednesday of Holy Week
Hail, O Queen of Heaven enthroned.
Hail, by angels mistress owned.
Root of Jesse, Gate of Morn
Whence the world's true light was born:
Glorious Virgin, Joy to thee,
Loveliest whom in heaven they see;
Fairest thou, where all are fair,
Plead with Christ our souls to spare.
Sung from Easter Day to to Pentecost
V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.
V. Has risen, as he said, alleluia.
R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
Congratulations on your recent engagement and your upcoming Nuptial Mass/Wedding Rite at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church!
We are committed to providing beautiful liturgical music for your Nuptial Mass/Wedding.
To assist us in this end, please take a moment to review our policies regarding liturgical music approved by our Pastor and our Director of Sacred Music.
In the left-hand column, please find a link to an extensive list of Liturgical Music
that has been "PRE-APPROVED" for your celebration.
Any musical works requested beyond this list must be approved by the Director of Sacred Music.
Please submit all musical requests to the Director of Sacred Music at least two months prior to your scheduled Wedding date. Secular music (including music from movies, television, musicals, plays, operas, etc.) is not appropriate for your Wedding and is not permitted.
Please review all the links listed in the left column. Thank You!
Please contact our Director of Sacred Music, Matthew Loucks
sacredmusic@stthomascda.org