I will post some comments on the Holy Father’s Mass as it progresses. I sincerely hope it will be fruitful for all who follow it!
As soon as the Holy Father finishes his sermon, I will post it in another entry and also add my commentary to it.
2:24
Alas, Shepherd is stumbling a bit on FNC… I think I will shift to another audio.
2:25
The Holy Father has left the "popemobile" and has gone to vest.
2:36
Joan Lewis made a comment on EWTN, about the music being more "Classical" rather than representing multi-cultural values. I think Classical does represent multi-cultural values. Also, Raymond Arroyo and Fr Neuhaus commented that this is ore to Benedict’s and Card. Egan’s liking. I don’t think that is the point, really, though it is undoubtedly true!
2:43
His Holiness, now incensing the altar, seems seriously upbeat.
2:55
Card. Egan gave a greeting which also summarized many points of His Holiness’s visit.
2:57
The people seemed to handle the Kyrie very well!
2:58
Ah… what a Gloria! And people participate by listening with interiorly active receptivity! Wonderful. Like a cool drink of water in a desert.
3:01
It would be nice he sang the Collect after that nice Gloria!
3:05
The responsorial psalm seems often, musically, to be the weakest moment in the Novus Ordo, I think.
3:08
The English feed of Vatican Radio has cut in with EWTN, and Charles Collins is reading the English for the Spanish of the second reading.
3:12
The Gospel is sung in an adapted Roman tone. Very nice! I wish we had a better translation, but this is very good! The deacon did a good job, and with confidence in a very intimidating situation!
Il Papa parla!
The stadium is so quiet as he speaks. People are listening! This is what I hoped for.
3:37
Spanish
Now that he is finished with his sermon, I have posted his text, with some preliminary commentary, here.
Long applause!
3:43
The Holy Father intones Credo III and everyone seems to know what to do. They don’t have to divide it up in that odd, us against them fashion. Excellent!
Also, during the Creed there was a good view of the Holy Father bowed at the Et incarnatus. How I wish we would all kneel everytime the Creed was recited or sung in the Novus Ordo! This could be a good thing to reintroduce.
3:55
Offertory. The lines and lines of priests are going to their places. I had a fleeting image…. well…. more about that later.
3:38
Incense. Nice thurible. It doesn’t look like a glob, or early Russian satellite.
4:02
A momentary stumble in singing the dialogue of the Preface. However, I so prefer the sung intonation, I can handle even drifting from the pitch a bit. Singing is truly important in the liturgy! It doesn’t always have to be perfect, even in such a moment. Singing adds something that mere recitation cannot approach.
4:03
I am fine with this Sanctus in this setting today.
Again.. The Roman Canon!
BELLS for the consecration! Class!
"For ever und ever"! I love this guy!
He must be so tired. And one tends to lose energy faster the closer you get to the end.
4:17
Ego sum! In Gregorian setting! Very fine.
During Communion I saw I priests I met in Kansas City.
Sicut cervus by Palestrina. Folks, if you have a choir that can do this piece, and you have me come for Mass, please do it. This is one of my great favorites and for many reasons. It always has a powerful effect on me.
On ETWN Raymond and Fr. Neuhaus are The Bickersons. o{]:¬)
4:25
Papa look tired now.
Raymond and Father should NOT talk during Panis angelicus.
Was our tenor fighting with the score a little?
Break Bread Together On Our Knees… hmmm. I think the setting is a little gushy… perhaps a little too show tune. Was that some Latin at the end? Laudamus Patrem?
Benediction….. very good.
4:45
And into the dug out he goes!
This gets high marks.
Well done New York, from beginning to end.
