What is a Requiem Mass?

[CatholicSamurai]

Just what exactly is a Requiem Mass? I just attended my first Latin Requiem Mass last night and I must say, it was out fo this world! :getholy: It’s more of an orchestral Mass and it felt great… it was dragging in the beginning but it was a GOOD Mass all in all. They had the orchestra play Mozart’s Requiem during most of the Mass’ entirety.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

A Requiem Mass is a funeral or memorial Mass.

Deacon Ed

 

[chicago]

The formal “Mass for the Dead” with appropriate prayers and readings. Many composers have taken to setting it to musical arrangements.

I heard John Rutter’s Requiem live a couple of nights ago. Beautiful music. I need to get my hands on a recording of Frank Martin’s work.

 

[_veritas]

Where did you go for this Mass?? Wouldn’t happen to be St. Agnes in St. Paul would it??

I and a huge group of young adults went last night, it was AMAZING!

It is an annaul event for St. Agnes, and they pull out all the liturgical stops (even more than usual, IMHO). While I would always recommend that anyone in the St. Paul area stop in there for Mass, I especially recommend it on Nov 2nd!! In fact, I think people should make it a point to pilgrimage to St. Agnes then! (Well, both on All Souls’ Day and on their feast day, the Feast of St. Agnes, which is equally amazing.)

+veritas+

 

[CatholicSamurai]

Hm hm. Sorry, no. This was St. John Cantius in Chicago.
St. Paul, MN? My friend studied at St. Thomas there… He didn’t become a priest but he’s a good friend and a wonderful Director of Religious Ed at a nearby parish.

Anyway, going back to topic, thanks for the answers. The mass took about 1 hr 40 mins. It’s like a movie or an opera. Very good liturgy. I’ll be sure to attend next years.

 

[DominvsVobiscvm]

I used to be a postulant for the Society of Saint John Cantius. Every November 2 they celebrate a Solemn High Tridentine Mass, and it’s Mozart’s Requiem.

It is beautiful . . .

 

[puzzleannie]

most of the great classical composers even if they were not Catholic composed requiem masses, it was considered proof of their talent. Not all of these mass settings are approved for liturgical use, but their performance in church as concerts rather than liturgies especially on All Souls is a wonderful thing. When I was watching ER, and the broadcast was interupted with footage of the first tower exploding, and then almost immediately the second tower was hit, after my first shock I knelt and prayed the sorrowful mysteries, and then played CD of Verdi’s requiem as I continued watching the broadcast. This was my mother’s favorite, and it is mine too, since my brother came home from school on the day Kennedy was shot and played it (LP, remember those)

 

[chicago]

+veritas+:

Where did you go for this Mass?? Wouldn’t happen to be St. Agnes in St. Paul would it??

Is that the parish with the well known monsignor (forget his name) who is big on Sacred Music is at?

 

[_veritas]

chicago:

Is that the parish with the well known monsignor (forget his name) who is big on Sacred Music is at?

Yes. Both Msgr. Schuler (pastor emeritis) and Fr. Welzbacher (current pastor) are very big proponents of sacred music, they started the Twin Cities Chorale which plays full orchestral music at many of their Latin High Masses throughout the year.

Visit www.stagnes.net for more info and their complete musical schedule – plus, online Latin/English translation of the REVISED Roman Missal!! (They are using the 2000 Roman Missal for their Latin High Masses on Sunday!

-Mary