Grassroots Liturgist

  “ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel .” (Lk 24:21) These are the words of the two disciples making their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus.   Their hearts were bereft and their minds clouded in confusion because of what had happened over the last few days. Let’s try to understand and enter their desolation. Jesus had been preaching and teaching for maybe three years.   But in that time, a great multitude had become his followers – his disciples.   They left their homes, the security of all they knew, to follow him – to sit at his feet and listen to his words. Ask yourself whether there is there anyone that you would do that for? And why it was that they did?   We get an idea from the Gospels… “ And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes .” (Mt 7:28-29 & Mk 1:22) It was no earthly authority that Jesus had – that’s...

Our music group plays at the Vigil Mass every fortnight.  On the alternate weeks I lead the singing unaccompanied.  Strangely, our small congregation often - though not always - sings more heartily when there is no accompaniment. I know that we are not alone in this.  Talking with other music leaders, and reading liturgy forums, I know that this happens elsewhere.  I'm not entirely certain why this is the case, and I'm sure that there are a number of reasons, but it does mean that we don't need to afraid of leading unaccompanied singing. Hymn singing is a recent phenomenon in the Catholic Mass.  More traditional is the singing of Processional Songs or Chants.  Put simply, these are similar to the Responsorial Psalm in that there is an antiphon (response) sung by everyone and verses from a psalm sung by a cantor(s).  We use John Ainslie's " English Proper Chants ".  If we had an organist we would doubtless make use of that; instead we sing the ...