The new issue of the Newsletter of the USCCB’s Committee for Divine Worship is out.
Two articles are of greater interest to WDTPRSers.
First, there is "Now is the Time for Catechesis on the Roman Missal". We must prepare for a good reception of the new translation which is coming!
Let us not forget that while the orations for Masses are not yet finished, the Ordinary of Mass is.
Change is coming. Priests and people should prepare for the day when the new Ordinary kicks in. We need to know and understand what is going on, especially so we can respond to those who will choose to get "stuck on stupid" – those who will stomp their feet and hold their breath not because they don’t understand the texts, but because they do and choose to dislike them.
If we are smart, we will be able to avoid some avoidable problems. It is important that, when the new translation comes into force, people in the pews are not blind-sided by the changes.
Let’s be smart about what is inevitable and necessary.
Second, there is an article on the training of pastor musicians "Five Questions on the Formation of Music Ministers".
I was amazed to find all sorts of citations of this and that document, some of great authority such as Sacrosanctum Concilium, all talking about wonderful and rich concepts.
There was not a single reference to Latin.
"But Father! But Father!" you are surely exclaiming. "If this issue is focused on the new translation, why would it talk about Latin?"
Because, dear readers, Latin might be important to the Latin Church’s Latin Rite Catholics participating in the Latin Rite.
If you are going to cite your favorite bits of Sacrosanctum Concilium once in a while you ought to cite Sacrosanctum Concilium 54 (Cf. Musicam sacram 47), namely, that pastors of souls make sure their flocks know how to sing and speak in both Latin and their mother tongue.
Do you think that maybe Latin might have something to do with the Church’s treasury of liturgical music?
So, what are the questions in the newletter?
1. What does the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy have to say specifically about the proper training of liturgical ministers?
2. Is there any mention of formation in the General Instruction on the Roman Missal that refers to proper formation for ministry?
3. How does Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord encourage the formation of music ministers?
4. What does Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship have to say specifically about the formation of music ministers?
5. Has the USCCB Commission on Certification and Accreditation (USCCB/CCA) contributed to encouraging the ongoing formation of music ministers?
I am all for lots of good catechesis!
We must have a good preparation for the new translation.
But do we have to be so obtuse? So narrow?
