by Fred Moleck
DMMD Colloquium 2008 – Part 2
One of my favorite self-accusations that surfaces in my dealings with other folks is my declaring that I’m probably the dumbest smart person they would ever know in their lives.
Last week’s TableTalk is a good example.
I said that I would be attending the 2008 study colloquium the National Association of Pastoral Musicians sponsors by way of its Director of Music Ministries Division.
Each year the colloquium addresses an important issue in the professional lives of music ministers in Catholic churches in the United States.
Imagine my surprise and chagrin when I discovered that the topic would be an exploration of the new Roman Missal, an update on its contents and translations.
“You mean we are not going to discuss the merits of Sing the Lord, the BCL document on sacred music?” I asked myself. I didn’t dare ask my tablemates.
Some of them knew me personally, and such information would simply confirm that I am the dumbest smart person they knew. They really didn’t need any more evidence.
I was a peace with the topic because the leader was the Rev. Dr. Paul Turner, a name one associates with the RCIA, liturgy, music, and sanity—and a fine musician.
(At the completion of one of the session he blessed us with his performance of one of Schumann’s piano compositions, Childhood Scenes.)
Some of the information was not new, such as the switch from the principle of “dynamic equivalence” (capturing the essence of the text and not its literal translation from the Latin) to “formal equivalence” (literal translation from the Latin text called for by the document Liturgiam authenticam).
The battle for “dynamic equivalence” has been lost a long time ago, so any discussion of the principle would be pointless now.
He listed some new additions to the calendar as devotional day, such as January 3, the Most Holy Name of Jesus; May 13, Our Lady of Fatima; and September 12, the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Some new saints on the universal calendar are February 8, Josephine Bakhita (+1947); May 21, Christopher Magallanes and companions; and some ancient ones now included: July 20, Apollinaris; and November 25, Catherine of Alexandria.
(I know. I was thrilled, too.)
As for the solemnities and seasons, we learned that there will be prayers over the people for each day of Lent in the six weeks of Lent, and the Apostles’ Creed may be used especially during Lent and Easter, and there will be vigils for Epiphany and Ascension.
At this point in the day’s activities, I’m still wondering why I spent $$$ for this information.
The reason why came when Father Turner discussed the propers, order of Mass chants, and dialogues in the Roman Missal.
I was pleased to see the discussion on the processional antiphons surface the desirability of newly composed antiphon and psalmody music.
GIA’s catalog already has six “introit hymns” by Lynn Trapp and Delores Dufner. I do hope that more will come once composers see the value in developing this form.
New information for me was the translation of the Confiteor, a new emphasis on the opening rite dialogues, and the new translation of tropes with minimal changes for the assembly.
The Glory to God will have some changes in the text, and the intonation for the priest will be included.
I asked if the Tridentine rubric for the priest circling his hands in front of him, then joining his forehead in a simulated swan dive, would be included. He didn’t know.
What was most encouraging is the possibility of new compositions for the new dialogues, indicating a full sung liturgy.
These dialogues are the sign of the cross, the greeting, the collect introduction, the conclusion to the readings, the “Pray, my brothers and sisters,” the preface dialogue, the memorial acclamation, the Great Amen, the Lord’s Prayer, the “Lord, I am not worthy,” the solemn blessing, and the dismissal rite.
A strenuous part of Tuesday morning’s subject dealt with English language choices with gender inclusivity.
There have been genuine and honest attempts to reach inclusivity, and that is a noble and good thing. The prayers that we heard were remarkably smooth.
There was not a hundred percent consensus on other language solutions.
It does appear that the chapter on language is almost closed.
The strongest interest was when we should expect the final missal. We still don’t know.
One reason is the track the missal takes in the process of its compilation: base translator, ICEL bishops (the actual commission), the conference of bishops, Vox Clara, and the Congregation for Divine Worship an Discipline of the Sacraments.
I figure four more years.
Why did I attend? Well, the translations and emendations are not as bad as they could be. There are numerous opportunities for new compositions for singing the rite. The people in charge of the translations are not Darth Vader surrogates. There’s nothing to be afraid of.
The major reason why I was there is what became more and more obvious during the two days: I was with people with like minds, like hearts, like passions, and cheer.
I was embraced, kissed, complimented, revered, kidded, honored, while learning that the NPM has given to the church of the Americas a leadership that is profoundly committed to good worship and unabashedly human in its dealing with each other . . .
. . . and that is reason enough.
You can reach Fred Moleck via email at fmoleck@comcast.net