Wednesday Liturgy: Follow-up: Gregorian Masses
ROME, MAY 19, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
After our May 5 column on "Gregorian Masses," a New Jersey reader inquired: "What is the relationship of a 'Gregorian Mass' to 'Gregorian chant'? Indeed, do these Gregorian Masses use the Gregorian chant? If so, 30 of such Masses seem unrealistic in the parish setting, and raise another question: Are these intended to replace the daily Mass in a parish?"
Actually the only relationship between Gregorian chant and Gregorian Masses is that both are historically linked to Pope St. Gregory the Great.
In themselves, Gregorian Masses do not necessarily affect the liturgy in any way as they refer only to the priest's intention in offering the Mass. There are no special rites or formulas attached to Gregorian Masses.
Our reader has a point, however, that Gregorian Masses are rarely celebrated in parish settings. This is not because of special rites but because a parish priest would find it very difficult to dedicate 30 days of Masses for one single intention, especially when many parishioners request Masses.
Therefore Gregorian Masses are usually celebrated in monasteries, seminaries, priestly houses of studies, and other similar locales with priests in residence with relatively few pastoral commitments. These are usually the only ones who can take upon themselves the commitment to celebrate 30 consecutive Masses for the same deceased person.
After our May 5 column on "Gregorian Masses," a New Jersey reader inquired: "What is the relationship of a 'Gregorian Mass' to 'Gregorian chant'? Indeed, do these Gregorian Masses use the Gregorian chant? If so, 30 of such Masses seem unrealistic in the parish setting, and raise another question: Are these intended to replace the daily Mass in a parish?"
Actually the only relationship between Gregorian chant and Gregorian Masses is that both are historically linked to Pope St. Gregory the Great.
In themselves, Gregorian Masses do not necessarily affect the liturgy in any way as they refer only to the priest's intention in offering the Mass. There are no special rites or formulas attached to Gregorian Masses.
Our reader has a point, however, that Gregorian Masses are rarely celebrated in parish settings. This is not because of special rites but because a parish priest would find it very difficult to dedicate 30 days of Masses for one single intention, especially when many parishioners request Masses.
Therefore Gregorian Masses are usually celebrated in monasteries, seminaries, priestly houses of studies, and other similar locales with priests in residence with relatively few pastoral commitments. These are usually the only ones who can take upon themselves the commitment to celebrate 30 consecutive Masses for the same deceased person.
posted by Chipi Buenafe at
10:42 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home