St. Michael Hymnal

[jwinch2]

I know that many of our Catholic brethren here on CAF are not exactly thrilled with much of the music that shows up in Mass. I also know that there are those on the other side of the fence that don’t wish to see the entire Mass be in Gregorian Chant and sung in Latin. Well, perhaps there is a compromise to be found.

stmichaelhymnal.com/buythehymnal/Home/AbouttheHymnal.aspx

I know nothing of this other than what is on the website and that it was linked to by the Eastern Province of Dominicans on Facebook which is how I found it. The sound bites provided on the website aren’t really very helpful but I have to admit that I like the ideas that they are presenting. Chants? Sure I like some of those, just not all the time. New and respectful Mass settings in English? Yep, I like that idea as well. A collection of traditional and more modern hymns that are all respectful of Church tradition and faithful to Church teaching? Yep, I am in love with that idea.

I wonder if this hymnal is as good as it sounds. Does anyone know about it or have some thoughts? It seems like this could be a very good thing…

Peace,

 

[TheMc]

I know that many of our Catholic brethren here on CAF are not exactly thrilled with much of the music that shows up in Mass. I also know that there are those on the other side of the fence that don’t wish to see the entire Mass be in Gregorian Chant and sung in Latin. Well, perhaps there is a compromise to be found.

stmichaelhymnal.com/buythehymnal/Home/AbouttheHymnal.aspx

I know nothing of this other than what is on the website and that it was linked to by the Eastern Province of Dominicans on Facebook which is how I found it. The sound bites provided on the website aren’t really very helpful but I have to admit that I like the ideas that they are presenting. Chants? Sure I like some of those, just not all the time. New and respectful Mass settings in English? Yep, I like that idea as well. A collection of traditional and more modern hymns that are all respectful of Church tradition and faithful to Church teaching? Yep, I am in love with that idea.

I wonder if this hymnal is as good as it sounds. Does anyone know about it or have some thoughts? It seems like this could be a very good thing…

Peace,

It sounds like a wonderful idea, assuming the following is true:

• All the mass ordinaries are faithful to the words of the Mass (I assume it will be, from a quick glance)
• All the hymns are theologically sound
• The hymns have real content (a problem with many modern hymns is not that they are theologically incorrect, but so vauge and fluffy that you can’t tell what it is even saying)
• The musical style of the hymns is acceptable for Mass

From a glance at the website it seems like most of these are probably happening. This looks like a great idea!!

 

[jwinch2]

It sounds like a wonderful idea, assuming the following is true:

• All the mass ordinaries are faithful to the words of the Mass (I assume it will be, from a quick glance)
• All the hymns are theologically sound
• The hymns have real content (a problem with many modern hymns is not that they are theologically incorrect, but so vauge and fluffy that you can’t tell what it is even saying)
• The musical style of the hymns is acceptable for Mass

From a glance at the website it seems like most of these are probably happening. This looks like a great idea!!

Thanks for weighing in. I am quite interested in this.

Unfortunately, I have zero pull to change music in my current parish and will have even less when we move in a month. Having said that, I really hope that this is as good as it appears to be and if so that it gets widely adopted.

 

[TheMc]

Update:

I was brousing around on the website, and I noticed several AWESOME things:

• Entrance Antiphons for every Sunday with music by Rice
• SIX Chant Masses (Jubilate Deo, Mass VIII, Mass IX, Mass X, Mass XI, Mass XVII), and several new chant Masses in english too
• Lots of chants, such as the Regina Caeli, Attende Domine, and funeral introit Requiem Aeternam.
• Several Haas, Schutte and Haugen pieces on the “not to be included” list
• No psalms (this is both a good and bad thing. It is good, because you aren’t tied to one resource. It’s bad, because people might not have it in front of them. But overall, I think it’s better that they aren’t in there)

Some things that I think should be in there:

• Some people like having the readings in the hymnal

 

[PA650]

I know that many of our Catholic brethren here on CAF are not exactly thrilled with much of the music that shows up in Mass. I also know that there are those on the other side of the fence that don’t wish to see the entire Mass be in Gregorian Chant and sung in Latin. Well, perhaps there is a compromise to be found.

stmichaelhymnal.com/buythehymnal/Home/AbouttheHymnal.aspx

I know nothing of this other than what is on the website and that it was linked to by the Eastern Province of Dominicans on Facebook which is how I found it. The sound bites provided on the website aren’t really very helpful but I have to admit that I like the ideas that they are presenting. Chants? Sure I like some of those, just not all the time. New and respectful Mass settings in English? Yep, I like that idea as well. A collection of traditional and more modern hymns that are all respectful of Church tradition and faithful to Church teaching? Yep, I am in love with that idea.

I wonder if this hymnal is as good as it sounds. Does anyone know about it or have some thoughts? It seems like this could be a very good thing…

Peace,

Beyond the run of the mill OCP hymn books, the St. Michael Hymnal is used at my parish. It’s a simple hardbound hymnal that contains a wealth of traditional hymns to be used during Mass. At times, it’s used as a supplemental resource to the OCP product and at other times the majority of our liturgical music during Mass comes from the hymnal. In the end, I think it’s a worthwhile addition to any parish seeking more traditional liturgical music in their celebration of Mass.