That thread was interesting but to make this thread a little more interesting, could you identify the songs that probably will be scrapped after the new prayers are installed in the OF? That would be very helpful.
Rather than violate the congeniality of this thread, let me share some insight that I gained this weekend.
On Friday, I begrudgingly contacted OCP to secure the licensing rights to the Spanish psalm and hymn for my cousin’s wedding. During the ordering process, I mentioned to the CS representative that there were some serious issues of licitness with eight of OCP’s versions of the Spanish translation of the Gloria. After my purchases, she transferred my call to one of the editors of their song books.
I told the editor that there were some grave problems and that these paraticular versions violated both Liturgiam Authenticam and Redemptionis Sacramentum. He was not at all receptive to my bringing up this particular problem and he grew rather defensive. He told me that he reads and teaches the subject of music in the Mass. I told him that, with all due respect, he needed to re-read the authoritative documents of the Church since his publishing house seems to routinely ignore them, especially in this case. He then told me that the USCCB approves what OCP does. I told him that I would contact them to ascertain for myself, something else that rather bothered him.
After we hung up, I called the USCCB. After getting the customary runaround from the staff secretary, I was able to finally speak to the Secretary to the Bishops’ Committee on Liturgy. The priest told me that he is pretty much a two-man operation and that it is hard for them to thoroughly look at everything that comes their way, especially if it is in a language other than English. At least that is the impression he gave me. I told him that I understdood. Nonetheless, he thanked me for bringing this matter to his attention and his office told me to reduce my remarks to writing so that they can further research the matter. I also wrote to Bishop Seratelli, the chair of the BCW.
Thus, if the USCCB cannot be expected to review just about anything that crosses its threshhold, I suspect that it is the same for the bishops. Just because a song book happens to be in use at a particular parish, that does not necessarily mean that the bishop has seen it. Most of the time (if not all of the time), the bishop will entrust his diocesan liturgical commission to go over everything. I know, I spent three years doing that, and solo, serving on the committee, going through stuff and planning liturgies for the Cathedral and another parish. The bishop, at least mine, will take a hands-off approach and let someone else go through the motions.
That is why I cannot stress how important it is for anyone engaged in planning liturgies to make himself familiar with the authortative documents of the Holy See on the Mass and Sacred Music. Often, even the pastors will take a similar approach and leave everything to the director of music, the choir director, the cantor and the musicians. For lack of time or effort, these folks will simply use whatever the publisher mandates (I know, I have seen this ad nauseum in my present parish).
All of this reminds me of the line that Robin Hood (Errol Flynn) spoke to King Richard the Lionheart when he found the king (paraphrase, but, it’s close enough): “You go off and you fight in crusades and leave the defense of England to rogues and thieves like me.” That is the same concept. Granted, we are not rogues and thieves, but, if the lot falls to us, then we are just as obliged to educate ourselves on what the Church requires.
