Starting a Traditional Latin Mass! Got the Go Ahead!

[rben20]

Hello CAF Peeps,

Not sure if you all remember, but I’m trying to start a TLM in Laredo, TX. I’ve done a bit of homework to at least get the wheels moving and I was met with quite a block after asking the first priest on my list if he would be willing to say the Mass. If you all remember, I was shot down and brushed off pretty badly (“do you know latin sir”) even though the priest knows Latin. Luckily, the second priest on my list (who knows Latin as well) is very open to having the Mass after speaking with him. His only concern was getting a stable group together the magic number being 25 and the reasons as to why people want the Mass (not because they see the OF as invalid e.g.). I am very happy of course that all the pieces seem to be falling into place!

In order for this to grow though I am getting concerned about the music of the Mass. The numbers I feel will come on there own as we get the word out, but as far as the gregorian chant goes…we have little to no experience. I’ve gotten in contact with a great organ player, but the gregorian chant is lacking. Of course, I haven’t asked around all too much, but I would really like a solid group. What have you all done at your parishes to get beautiful gregorian chant? Are there certain resources you would recommend? I would even consider hiring a group at first if need be…

You know what they say…the first impression is the most important and in some cases most defining. Our priest has agreed to have the Mass one Sunday every month to start out, but I believe we need a strong impression as I want people to keep coming back and bring in others. Any constructive thoughts would be awesome! Please keep us all in your prayers down here. Thanks!

 

[ConstantineTG]

Congratulations, and may you received continued blessings in your work.

I’m glad you brought up a good comment by the priest, that he wants to make sure those who seek the EF are not dissenters who believe the OF is invalid. This is a pastoral issue and this may be the reason a lot of priests and possibly some Bishops may shy away from the TLM. They don’t want to encourage the idea of some people that the OF is invalid, so they want to make sure its not part of the equation. Think of it as the same reason why the Precious Blood was withheld from the laity. It because the Church wants people to realize the Host contains all of Jesus Christ, not just His body.

If you want to advertise, approach the other parishes and have an announcement on their bulletins. Best way to get the word out to the right target audience.

 

[MarkThompson]

Hello CAF Peeps,

Not sure if you all remember, but I’m trying to start a TLM in Laredo, TX. I’ve done a bit of homework to at least get the wheels moving and I was met with quite a block after asking the first priest on my list if he would be willing to say the Mass. If you all remember, I was shot down and brushed off pretty badly (“do you know latin sir”) even though the priest knows Latin. Luckily, the second priest on my list (who knows Latin as well) is very open to having the Mass after speaking with him. His only concern was getting a stable group together the magic number being 25 and the reasons as to why people want the Mass (not because they see the OF as invalid e.g.). I am very happy of course that all the pieces seem to be falling into place!

In order for this to grow though I am getting concerned about the music of the Mass. The numbers I feel will come on there own as we get the word out, but as far as the gregorian chant goes…we have little to no experience. I’ve gotten in contact with a great organ player, but the gregorian chant is lacking. Of course, I haven’t asked around all too much, but I would really like a solid group. What have you all done at your parishes to get beautiful gregorian chant? Are there certain resources you would recommend? I would even consider hiring a group at first if need be…

You know what they say…the first impression is the most important and in some cases most defining. Our priest has agreed to have the Mass one Sunday every month to start out, but I believe we need a strong impression as I want people to keep coming back and bring in others. Any constructive thoughts would be awesome! Please keep us all in your prayers down here. Thanks!

Congratulations – sounds like you found a priest with very good pastoral sense. As to the music, my (strong) advice is to start with a low Mass – as you know, it has no music, just worship. (You can also sing hymns during it, which used to be more popular, but now would probably be frowned upon.) Anyway, it’s a mistake to think the Mass requires singing of any kind, and obviously you’re not really going to pull off a solemn high Mass from week one; that’s the kind of thing you have to work towards.

One problem with introducing music in the TLM is that you can’t make gradual steps – you can’t just say, okay, starting this week we’ll be singing the introit, Kyrie, and Agnus Dei. Once you have a group of people who are coming, though, you can consider forming a schola and developing in the direction of a sung Mass – maybe once a month or every other week at first. But it will help if you can build a more sizeable base of worshipers. You’re probably not going to get much of a schola out of your average group of 25 random Joes.

And if you really have your heart set on hiring a group straight out of the gate, you can probably ask here and people may be able to connect you with an existing schola in your area if there is one. Otherwise, if you think it’s eventually going to come down to you to form a group and get chant going, start here and get cracking!

 

[amsjj]

My dear friend,

I am so happy that it has progressed thus far! Oh, I recall the first time the Latin Mass was held (a low one); to be honest, things were a little chaotic. It took several weeks until we all settled into things.

ICRSS has PDF files at their Library of Gregorian Chant Propers:
institute-christ-king.org/latin-mass-resources/sacred-music/

Since I don’t read music very well, I practised, practised, practised listening to pieces until I’d memorised some of the basics Mass parts – I went to this site, which has music downloads; perhaps it may assist your group – adoremus.org/JubilateDeo.html

There’s also help at You Tube, e.g. to learn the Missa de Angelis I used this video:
youtube.com/watch?v=37q9zIznj2M

Also, years after the Motu Proprio, I still meet up with this question: “They offer a Latin Mass?” So it’s good to keep spreading the word as one can.

take care,
amsjj

+++

Jesus, God and man,
imprisoned by love in Thy most holy Sacrament,
have mercy upon us.
– Venerable John Henry Newman, December 22, 1851
(LD, XIV, 511).

 

[At_Trent]

Hello CAF Peeps,

Not sure if you all remember, but I’m trying to start a TLM in Laredo, TX. I’ve done a bit of homework to at least get the wheels moving and I was met with quite a block after asking the first priest on my list if he would be willing to say the Mass. If you all remember, I was shot down and brushed off pretty badly (“do you know latin sir”) even though the priest knows Latin. Luckily, the second priest on my list (who knows Latin as well) is very open to having the Mass after speaking with him. His only concern was getting a stable group together the magic number being 25 and the reasons as to why people want the Mass (not because they see the OF as invalid e.g.). I am very happy of course that all the pieces seem to be falling into place!

In order for this to grow though I am getting concerned about the music of the Mass. The numbers I feel will come on there own as we get the word out, but as far as the gregorian chant goes…we have little to no experience. I’ve gotten in contact with a great organ player, but the gregorian chant is lacking. Of course, I haven’t asked around all too much, but I would really like a solid group. What have you all done at your parishes to get beautiful gregorian chant? Are there certain resources you would recommend? I would even consider hiring a group at first if need be…

You know what they say…the first impression is the most important and in some cases most defining. Our priest has agreed to have the Mass one Sunday every month to start out, but I believe we need a strong impression as I want people to keep coming back and bring in others. Any constructive thoughts would be awesome! Please keep us all in your prayers down here. Thanks!

Praying for your efforts to bear fruit !

This site has much info :
sanctamissa.org/en/music/

Also there are Una Voce chapters in Texas that may have info :
unavoce.org/chapters/

 

[rben20]

True points thank you. I know that this isn’t to be done over night…sorry if I gave that impression. I just want to have quality music for this to be successful in the long run Great resources so far! Thanks

 

[At_Trent]

My dear friend,

I am so happy that it has progressed thus far! Oh, I recall the first time the Latin Mass was held (a low one); to be honest, things were a little chaotic. It took several weeks until we all settled into things.

ICRSS has PDF files at their Library of Gregorian Chant Propers:
institute-christ-king.org/latin-mass-resources/sacred-music/

Since I don’t read music very well, I practised, practised, practised listening to pieces until I’d memorised some of the basics Mass parts – I went to this site, which has music downloads; perhaps it may assist your group – adoremus.org/JubilateDeo.html

There’s also help at You Tube, e.g. to learn the Missa de Angelis I used this video:
youtube.com/watch?v=37q9zIznj2M

Also, years after the Motu Proprio, I still meet up with this question: “They offer a Latin Mass?” So it’s good to keep spreading the word as one can.

take care,
amsjj

+++

Jesus, God and man,
imprisoned by love in Thy most holy Sacrament,
have mercy upon us.
– Venerable John Henry Newman, December 22, 1851
(LD, XIV, 511).

Excellent

 

[Aramis]

In order for this to grow though I am getting concerned about the music of the Mass. The numbers I feel will come on there own as we get the word out, but as far as the gregorian chant goes…we have little to no experience. I’ve gotten in contact with a great organ player, but the gregorian chant is lacking. Of course, I haven’t asked around all too much, but I would really like a solid group. What have you all done at your parishes to get beautiful gregorian chant? Are there certain resources you would recommend? I would even consider hiring a group at first if need be…

One resource I can recommend is Melody Assistant; it’s a $25 piece of music editing software, which can also play entered gregorian notation. The ability to enter gregorian and have it play it is excellent. Combine it with Virtual Singer, and it even will reasonably perform the chant in a synthesized voice. It can output MP3’s, which can be used for rehearsal.

I myself do not use Melody anymore. I sprung for Harmony Assistant; the more full featured version, because I needed the additional features at work.

Neither converts gregorian to standard notation prettily, but it can do it, and that alone is a help.

I don’t know if the OMER add on handles gregorian; I’ve not tried it on gregorian notation. (It does handle standard notation rather well, tho. It’s music scanning and recognition.)

myriad-online.com/en/products/melody.htm
myriad-online.com/en/products/virtualsinger.htm
myriad-online.com/en/products/harmony.htm

 

[5Loaves]

Are there certain resources you would recommend? I would even consider hiring a group at first if need be…

And if you really have your heart set on hiring a group straight out of the gate, you can probably ask here and people may be able to connect you with an existing schola in your area if there is one. Otherwise, if you think it’s eventually going to come down to you to form a group and get chant going, start here and get cracking!

Congratulations! A well established local parish first offered the “Indult Mass according to the Roman Missal of 1962” back in 1989 and continues to do so with the both EF High Mass and EF Low Mass (The latter which is basically the priest and an altar server, not sung.) At this point they offer “High Mass (Extraordinary Form)” with chant on Sundays and I have heard that typically has a paid schola. They offer the Extraordinary Form Low Mass daily–priest, altar server, about 20 in the pews, without chant. I don’t know if the music changes from day to day are as complex as they are for the choir in Divine Liturgy but if so I can imagine that is why they choose a paid schola. It’s a huge commitment to sing the DL and I imagine likewise for the EF High Mass.

 

[Like]

rben20, Are you familiar with benedictgal over on the L & S sub forum? She lives in Laredo & seems to be in the know.

 

[corsair]

Wonderful news!!! How are you fixed for Altar-ware, vestments, etc.? PM me if you need a few things; I’ll see if I can help.

 

[malphono]

True points thank you. I know that this isn’t to be done over night…sorry if I gave that impression. I just want to have quality music for this to be successful in the long run Great resources so far! Thanks

I particularly liked [post=7001698]Aramis’[/post] suggestion. In combination with a decent organist and/or choir director, that software should be very useful.

If I may, I’ll add here that you might consider “taking it slow” and at first starting with missa de angelis, which is both well known and relatively easy to sing. It takes a lot of time and effort for a parish choir to sing the Propers, so it might be an idea to start with a cantor (or a limited “sub-schola”) for that purpose. There is a simplified version (sometimes known as the “Guam Propers”) that are set to psalm-tones are relatively simple to use.

While a paid choir is usually esthetically superior, IMO having a local choir goes a long way. It can, again IMO, help give the group a feeling of “belonging” and can also be helpful in bringing more people into the group.

 

[benedictgal]

rben20, Are you familiar with benedictgal over on the L & S sub forum? She lives in Laredo & seems to be in the know.

Actually, I was the one who suggested the second priest to him. I did talk to the priest, who is actually a chaplain to his Holiness (and also my best friend), so as to help smooth things along.

He made the point very clear that he wants people who are going to be there to pray. That is first and foremost. He is perhaps the most orthodox and most knowledgeable we have in the diocese. I am also trying to see if we can get the 1962 Missal from the Vatican’s bookstore. I may have found a contributor for this. We have narrowed it down to three churches and one chapel that have the communion rails. Given the sensitivity of the situation and the need for anonymity, I cannot divulge the locations just yet, so as to let my friend handle that one himself.

The Cathedral organist might be able to help with the music as he knows Latin and knows the Misa d’Angellis (Gloria, Sanctus, Credo and Agnus Dei).

 

[Like]

Thanks Benedictgal!

Way to go!

 

[rben20]

rben20, Are you familiar with benedictgal over on the L & S sub forum? She lives in Laredo & seems to be in the know.

O yea, she is my biggest supporter and now we are doing our best to set everything right. She is vital in Laredo’s slowly growing group of supporters.

 

[PacoG]

Actually, I was the one who suggested the second priest to him. I did talk to the priest, who is actually a chaplain to his Holiness (and also my best friend), so as to help smooth things along.

He made the point very clear that he wants people who are going to be there to pray. That is first and foremost. He is perhaps the most orthodox and most knowledgeable we have in the diocese. I am also trying to see if we can get the 1962 Missal from the Vatican’s bookstore. I may have found a contributor for this. We have narrowed it down to three churches and one chapel that have the communion rails. Given the sensitivity of the situation and the need for anonymity, I cannot divulge the locations just yet, so as to let my friend handle that one himself.

The Cathedral organist might be able to help with the music as he knows Latin and knows the Misa d’Angellis (Gloria, Sanctus, Credo and Agnus Dei).

You should go on a fact finding visit to St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Pharr. They have their TLM at 8 a.m.

 

[At_Trent]

Another link that may be of help
renegoupil.org/

 

[georgewithfaith]

Congratulations! Thank you for planting a good seed in our Church. Over time, the Tridentine Mass will become common and the Novus Ordo will move into the background. This will only help the Faithful.

 

[rben20]

Well not sure if it will move it to the background, but I do hope it will help the OF being along side the EF.

 

[HCC]

Great news rben20! That took a lot of courage and it is inspiring to read.