Yesterday's excitement was ransacking the house to find my W-2 from STC. My W-2 from TCI Solutions was in my 2003 taxes folder as it should have been but for some reason the STC one didn't make it in. 2+ hours later I found the STC one so I can do my taxes tonight. Yea! Every year I think I'm going to do my taxes early and it just never seems to happen.

I experienced some frustration today in talking with a friend. She is a Gen-Y-er, and though she claims to be a Christian she also says she believes in reincarnation. When I tried to point out that the New Testament explicitly says that we live only once, she claimed that that was because Constantine had removed "Apocrypha" from Scripture.

I meet confused people like this all the time, and I never know how to respond. To me statements like this are like saying 2+2=5; totally illogical. While thinking about this I came across this cool article by Mary Ann Glendon, University Students Today: Portrait of a Generation Searching. (Thanks to Mark Shea for the link). After relating a story about Alexis de Tocqueville, she continues:

Some young men and women, like Tocqueville, may spend their whole lives in a kind of melancholy yearning. Others may start to keep their spiritual lives completely private, in a separate compartment sealed off from the rest of their lives. Still others imitate the chameleon, that little lizard who changes his color to blend in with his surroundings. When parts of their Christian heritage don't fit with the spirit of the age, the chameleon just erases them.

How many of these lost searchers, I wonder, might have held their heads high as unapologetic Catholics if somewhere along the way they had become acquainted with our Church's great intellectual tradition and her rich treasure house of social teachings?

Over at Catholic Light, Eric Johnson has a grudge match: changed Litany vs. Becker Litany. Check it out. I voted for the Becker, myself.

Happy Easter!

Music for Mass
SSPP Combined Choirs
Easter Vigil


Service of Light

Exultet: (Chant)

Liturgy of the Word

Reading 1 Psalm Response: Send Forth Your Spirit, O Lord (Walker)
Reading 3 Psalm Response: Let Us Sing To The Lord (OCP R&A)
Reading 5 Psalm Response: We Shall Draw Water (Inwood)
Gloria: Ss. Peter and Paul Gloria (Schiavone)
Gospel Acclamation: Celtic Alleluia, Easter verses 3-5 (Walker)


Liturgy of Initiation

Litany of the Saints: (Becker)
Baptism: We Shall Draw Water (Inwood)
Sprinkling Rite: Flow River Flow (Hurd)
Confirmation: Veni Sancte Spiritus (Taizé)

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Preparation of the Gifts: The Risen Christ (Holler)
Holy,Holy: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Memorial Acclamation: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Great Amen: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Our Father: (Yantis)
Lamb of God: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Communion: Behold the Glory of God (O'Connor)

Closing Rite

Dismissal: (Chant)
Recessional: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today (EASTER HYMN)

A nice article in today's Star on the annual Good Friday procession up Sentinel Peak.

I had bought tickets to see The Passion of the Christ today, the 2 p.m. show, in spite of the fact I was concerned whether I would be able to get to the theater in time after the Good Friday service. Apparently God wanted me to see this movie since despite not getting out of the service until 1:40 p.m. and incredibly frustrating traffic, I nevertheless made it into the theater and into the seat saved for me just before the movie started.

I found the movie... incredible. Very moving, very Catholic. I cried a number of times in the movie, but especially at three points -- first, during one of the early flashbacks (Jesus working in the carpentry shop) when Jesus kisses his Mother; second, at Peter's denial as he throws himself at Mary's feet, then runs away; and third, when Jesus's encounter with Mary when carrying the Cross. That last I just started weeping and couldn't stop for some time.

For me some of the high points were the many, many connections with Scripture and the Mass; especially the invocation of the Last Supper, both the Eucharist and the washing of the feet. Seeing it on Good Friday, naturally these connections were especially powerful for me. Another thing for me was turning both Veronica and, especially, Simon of Cyrene into real characters with feelings and lives of their own.

I know there are those who claim the movie is anti-Semitic. I cannot believe anyone who's seen the movie can really think that. If anything the movie is anti-authority, but really, it's just an amazing telling of the crucial (look up the etymology of that word) part of the Gospel. I'm really hopeful they will re-release this movie every Lent, or at least often. I can think of few better ways to powerfully focus one's mind on the reality of Christ's Passion.

The Arizona Daily Star has a nice piece about the Passion today.

Music for Good Friday
SSPP Latin Schola

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 31 (OCP R&A)
Gospel Acclamation: (OCP R&A)
Gospel: (English chant)
Veneration of the Cross: Crux Fidelis (John IV of Portugal)
O Sacred Head Surrounded
Tenebrae Factae Sunt (Ignegneri)
Our Father: spoken
Communion: Sing My Tongue The Savior's Glory (PANGE LINGUA GLORIOSI)
O Bone Jesu (Palestrina)

Music for Mass
SSPP Combined Choirs
Holy Thursday

Gathering Song: Lift High the Cross(CRUCIFER)
Penitential Rite: spoken
Gloria: Ss. Peter and Paul Gloria (Schiavone)
Responsorial Psalm: Our Blessing Cup (Joncas)
Gospel Acclamation: Lenten Gospel Acclamation (Walker)
Washing of the Feet: Love One Another (Dufford)
Preparation of the Gifts: Jesus You Love Us (Walker)
Holy,Holy: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Memorial Acclamation: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Great Amen: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Our Father: (Traditional Chant)
Lamb of God: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Communion: The Supper of the Lord (Rosania)
Procession of the Eucharist: Pange Lingua/Tantum Ergo (Traditional)

One of the "advantages" of blogging this music is that I can note that we sang exactly the same songs this year as last year, except that last year we did Norbet's The Lord Jesus instead of this year's Love One Another (Dufford).

It's amazing sometimes what the perspective of a specific time and place can do for you. Here it is, Holy Week, and I happened to be listening, again, to one of my favorite pieces -- Barber's Agnus Dei, the choral setting of his Adagio for Strings. It's a beautiful, gut-wrenching, incredibly emotional piece that I had the privilege of performing when I sang in the Lane Justus Chorale.

It occurred to me for the first time tonight that you can view this piece as accompaniment to the Stations of the Cross -- you can imagine Jesus, the Agnus Dei, slowly, excruciatingly carrying his cross to Calvary and being nailed to the Cross and dying just at the huge crescendo before the end of the piece. If you know the piece or can find it, try this experiment and see what you think.

Communal Penance Service
April 7, 2004

Gathering Song: Amazing Grace (NEW BRITAIN)
Psalm: Create In Me (Psalm 51) (Hurd)
Gospel Acclamation: Lenten Gospel Acclamation (Walker)

We had a very good crowd for the penance service. We had 15 (!) confessors, and when I left at 6:45 (service started at 5:30) it looked like they would be there for another 15 - 20 minutes or so.

Tonight the University of Arizona® Collegium Musicum performed as part of a doctoral lecture by T.L. Shawn. We performed the Handel Coronation Anthems. The subject of the lecture was authentic performance practice of Handel and how it may be adapted for contemporary ensembles. It was a pretty neat lecture and we were all happy for Terre to have completed so much work. It was a great concert!

No fooling -- President Bush signed the Unborn Victims bill (aka the Laci Peterson bill) today. Good stuff!

Happy April Fools Day!

So far it's been a fun day in the news for pranks. My favorite so far is probably from Slashdot on developing an open source surface-to-air missile guidance system. Close runner-up is the new NetBSD logo.

Happy Birthday Jeanetta!

Yep, our favorite Domestic Punk is 22 today! Go hit up her blog and wish her the sentiments of the day!

I asked J what she wants for her birthday and she responded:

For my birthday, I want you to offer a few extra prayers for women who are feeling pressured into having an abortion and their unborn children. :-)

So, you got it J -- one rosary for your intention. It's a good one.

This is definitely NOT from the lovely Jeanetta -- the Pimp Name Generator. Apparently my Pimp Name is

Silver Tongue Zaft Clinton

Oooooooookay.

Thanks to the lovely Jeanetta for the latest amusement:

My very British name is Dominic Watson.
Take The Very British Name Generator today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Name Generator Generator.

I seem to be popular with the pollsters. For the second time now I've gotten pollsters calling me asking me my opinions about local radio stations and the music they play. They play a number of song clips at you (I think there were 25!) and ask you for your opinion -- never heard it, never liked it, tired of it, like it, it's a favorite, no opinion. It's kind of fun actually.

The last couple of days at work we've been trading haikus. I've written a couple (they are very work-specific so I won't share them here) and my boss (Andrey) replied with one of his own:

Brutal Q A man
Development team concerned
A weekend coming.

Whoa! My friend Amber Lee's friend Debbie had a nice writeup about her singing etc. in the Arizona Daily Wildcat. Way to go Debbie! You can also check out Debbie's website.

A few times recently people have asked me about the book, The DaVinci Code. I've not read it, but apparently it is quite critical of the Church and specifically Opus Dei. The Prelature has put up a response to the book.

We also want to point out that The Da Vinci Code’s bizarre depiction of Opus Dei is inaccurate, both in the overall impression and in many details, and it would be irresponsible to form any opinion of Opus Dei based on reading The Da Vinci Code.

Bishop Olmsted from Phoenix writes about Catholic Buts. I'm really glad he wrote the column, it seems this attitude is very common in our society today, unfortunately.

Music for Mass
SSPP Latin Schola
Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year C (RCIA Readings from Cycle A)

Prelude: Adoramus Te Christe (Pius X Hymnal #217)
Gathering Song: Parce Domine
Penitential Rite: Kyrie (Chant Mass)
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23 (Dominican tones)
Gospel Acclamation: (Chant Mass w/verse of the day)
Preparation of the Gifts: Crux Fidelis (Pius X Hymnal #225)
Attende Domine (Pius X Hymnal #202)
Holy,Holy: Sanctus (Chant Mass)
Memorial Acclamation: (Chant Mass)
Great Amen: (Chant Mass)
Our Father: (Traditional Chant)
Lamb of God: Agnus Dei (Chant Mass)
Communion: Amazing Grace
Meditation: O Bone Jesu (Palestrina)
Recessional: From All That Dwell Below the Skies (DUKE STREET)
Postlude: The King of Love My Shepherd Is (ST. COLUMBA)

Woo! More rumors of In-N-Out Burger coming to Tucson... from today's Star:

In-N-Out burgers might be moving in (or not)

OK, calm down now. It may not be for a while yet - a long while.

Sure, there's a sign that says In-N-Out burgers are coming soon posted on the official Arizona Pavillions sign near Wal-Mart and Kohl's, off Interstate 10 and Cortaro Road in Marana. It looks as though ground has been broken, too.

But a spokesman for the Irvine, Calif.-based In-N-Out, says it's "premature to talk about an In-N-Out in Tucson this year."

Yes, he knows about that sign. But he doesn't know how it got there. He'll be looking into that, and chances are that sign will be coming down.

"There will be nothing in Tucson this year," he said. "Maybe in 2005, but it'll be late 2005."

So, we can all salivate thinking about the juicy burgers being in our back yard, but we'll have to keep it up for almost two years more, if the spokesman is to be believed.

But hey, it could happen. We got Krispy Kreme, didn't we?

Happy feast of St. Joseph! A big topic of discussion today on some of the Catholic email lists is whether we are dispensed from abstinence today since the solemnity falls on a Friday. I asked my pastor (who is a canon lawyer) and he said:

You would not believe the ink that has been spent on this on the canonical hot line on this issue over the last five days. The answer appears no, except if the bp has excused or you live in a country where Joseph is the patron saint.

Fortunately I had not planned on steak for dinner.

Robert Cringely's column this week talks about the NMCI (Nayv-Marine Corps Intranet) and what a fiasco it is. I believe it. When I was visiting some of my old buddies/ex-coworkers who work for the Navy they spent some time complaining about NMCI. These guys do software maintenance and development, and for them NMCI has been a royal pain -- they have to have an NMCI machine on their desk and then another machine with which to do development. Another idea which sounded great to the bean counters and doesn't work well in practice. It's too bad.

President Bush gave a speech about the Iraq war, which started one year ago today (transcript here). Unfortunately I expect most people will never read or hear the whole thing.

There is no neutral ground -- no neutral ground -- in the fight between civilization and terror, because there is no neutral ground between good and evil, freedom and slavery, and life and death.

Dang! The Arizona Wildcats basketball team fell to Seton Hall in the first round of the NCAA tournament, 80-76. *sigh*

This is cool -- the Diocese of Phoenix will be allowing the Tridentine Mass at some Phoenix churches. The new bishop is making some positive changes already! Bishop O'Brien had refused to allow Mass in Latin in the diocese.

I get a lot of spam because my email address is posted on the net in various places (for example, on this blog!). One of my favorite spam subject lines ever came earlier this week:

Discover illegible singles in your area tonight!

Hmm. CNN reports Utah is eliminating the option of death by firing squad from its capital punishment. The article claims that the option was a relic of Utah's territorial days. That does not jibe with my understanding -- from what I've read, the firing squad option was available so that Mormons sentenced to death would be able to make a blood atonement for their sins. I'd appreciate enlightenment or correction on the issue.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A very cool review of the complete Lord of the Rings cinema trilogy from a Catholic perspective. Check it out, and while you're at it you might want to visit the author's Decent Films website.

A milestone -- last night (March 13th), at about 8:12 p.m. MST, my car's odometer turned over to 100,000 miles while I was near the intersection of 5th St. and Country Club.

A very apt Lenten quote from Catholic Light:

You only love Jesus as much as you love the person you hate the most.

CNN is reporting that hundreds are dead and thousands wounded in a terror bombing in Madrid. Some claimed it was Basque separatists but it sure looks a lot like Al Queda -- multiple bombs in a coordinated attack.

I'm in an email discussion about the Eucharistic fast, and fasting in general. Someone brought up a helpful article on the EWTN website, Eucharistic Fasting: Preparation and Penance. It's very helpful.

A nice article in the Arizona Daily Star on quinceañeras. I agree with the article; I think they are a fine custom that has gotten too materialistic and commercialized.

Fr. Greeley writes that Celibacy, homosexuality are Catholic shibboleths. I think he's mostly right about this -- the real scandal is not so much the behavior of the priests, who were clearly sick; it's the bishops. Greeley claims that according to his research, 16% of priests are gay and 60% of them have lived celibate lives, vs. 80% of heterosexual priests.

Last week was cold and rainy. The weekend was absolutely beautiful, with snow on the mountains and temps in the high 60s or low 70s. Now the tables have turned, and today we had a high of 87! Oh well.

It's been a long weekend. Saturday I spent much of the day at the rink watching the Tucson Invitational skating competition. Sunday I was at the rink a bit, but also went to my sister's to see how she's doing (she's doing much better but, being a Zaft, doesn't like to sit at home when she'd rather be doing stuff). I also got to go watch the UA Wildcat basketball team beat ASU 106 - 81 (Yay!). All in all quite a busy time...

It's definitely a weird day when my buddy ElfGirl links to an Ann Coulter article on The Passion. I have to say that I agree with much of what Coulter writes in this case as well.

Here's my Friday Five:

What was...

1. ...your first grade teacher's name?

I do NOT remember that.

2. ...your favorite Saturday morning cartoon?

The Bugs Bunny - RoadRunner Hour, closely followed by Jonny Quest.

3. ...the name of your very first best friend?

Wow, I totally do not remember. How sad is that?

4. ...your favorite breakfast cereal?

We never got horribly fancy stuff. I really liked Captain Crunch, as well as Froot Loops and Trix. Most of the time I was forced to eat far healthier stuff though.

5. ...your favorite thing to do after school?

Read!

I got to teach my 4th RCIA class for the year, on conscience and morality. After discussing the nature of knowledge, objective reality vs. subjectivism, relativism, and how we gain knowledge (personal experience, authority, and reason). From there we talked about the role of conscience and how we must inform our consciences and obey our conscience. Finally we talked about some general moral principles and examined a moral dilemma and how we can reason about moral dilemmas. It was a good class.

I hear a lot of interesting music, both because I have a variety of friends and also because I'm exposed to new stuff at the ice rink. For example, I got turned on to Evanescence by my friend Amber Lee. And at the rink lately I've been hearing a cool song by Bowling For Soup :

Punk Rock 101

She works at Hot Topic
His heart microscopic
She thinks that it's love but to him it's sex
He listens to emo but fat mike's his hero
His bank account's zero
What comes next?

Same song different chorus

[Chorus:]
It's stupid, contagious
To be broke and famous
Can someone please save us from punk rock 101
My Dickies, your sweat bands
My spiked hair, your new Vans
Let's throw up our rock hands for punk rock 101

She bought him a skateboard, a rail slide, his knee tore
He traded it for drums at the local pawn shop
She left him for staring at girls and not caring
When she cried because she thought Bon Jovi broke up

Same song second chorus

[Chorus]

Don't forget to dely...on the very last word

Seven years later he works as a waiter
She married a trucker and he's never there
The story never changes, just the names and faces
Like Tommy and Gina they're living on a prayer

Did you just say that?
I said

[Chorus x2]

It's stupid, contagious (same song different chorus)
To be broke and famous (same song different chorus)
Can someone please save us from punk rock 101
My Dickies, your rock hands
My spiked hair, your new Vans
Let's shoplift some sweatbands for punk rock 101

One of the things I love about my music fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, is the quality of the members. They are men of the highest caliber. The latest example is one of the national leaders, who found out a few years ago that one of our early presidents, a man whose memory is esteemed by the brothers of Phi Mu Alpha, was buried in an unmarked grave. So what did he do? He went out and contacted the family and others, got permission, and spent $1500 of his own money to have a suitable marker installed. Now that the marker is ready to be placed (once the snow thaws in Massachusetts) he is asking for donations to help cover the cost -- but he did "first things first."

This is a bad decision -- apparently the California Supreme Court has decided that the right of Catholics to act in accord with their consciences ends if they are employers. I wonder what Catholic Charities will do now? Probably drop their prescription drug coverage entirely.

This is very cool -- we were told at Collegium rehearsal tonight that our choir will be performing Bach's St. Matthew Passion with the Arizona Choir next spring! Arizona Choir is the top choir at The University of Arizona® so it's a big deal to sing with them.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King has just won its 11th Oscar, for Best Picture. I have to say that I'm very pleased that for once the Academy did the right thing instead of backing away from supporting what was, to me, clearly the best film of the year in so very many ways.

Frodo lives!

Happy Leap Day!

My chosen fast for this Lenten season is hamburgers. Eeep! It's only been a few days and already it's been quite difficult. I guess that means it was a good choice.

Statistics are in for the Diocese of Tucson -- 2% of priests had credible accusations of sexual abuse against them since 1950; a total of 96 reported victims. Most of the cases occurred between 1970 and 1989.

I didn't forget, but there's no Friday Five this week.

Phew! It's been a busy few days. I flew to Lansing, Michigan on Tuesday for work, had meetings Wed. morning, and flew home Wednesday night, getting home very late indeed. Today was a catch-up day at work, very busy indeed.

I'd never been to Lansing before. It's a pretty little town, actually. The weather was cold (at least by Tucson standards!) but clear and sunny. I had some time Wed. afternoon to go on the tour of the state capitol. Very interesting -- it's a beautiful building that has been lovingly restored.

I managed to make it to Ash Wednesday Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral, just a block from the capitol. I didn't get to see when it was built, but it looks like either it was built or "renovated" in the late 60s -- it has some beautiful stained glass, but other than that it's very plain inside. I got my ashes but had to leave before communion (only the 2nd or 3rd time in my life, I think, that I recall leaving early) as I had to dash back to the hotel to catch the shuttle to the airport :-(. Bleah!

Today was a very long and hectic day at work, so I was glad to finally get out of the office and get to choir rehearsal. One of the grad students working with us now is a Canadian woman with a very thick Scottish accent. She's a good conductor, but I have to say we just love to listen to her talk! Her turns of phrase are very whimsical.

An amusing quote for today from one of my fellow choir members:

Koreans are the Irish of the Orient. -- Cara

By which she means that "they were oppressed, and they're feisty!" There's something to that.

Today was the first of our diocese's two Rite of Election liturgies. I attended since it's the one our parish participates in, and sang in the choir as I usually do. I've always found it to be an uplifting experience to see so many (270 or so) people anxious to join the Church. It is encouraging. This year's celebration seemed to go quite nicely. Unfortunately it was (as usual) marred by the inappropriate liturgical dancers. I just realized that I was working on a complaint about last year's but of course between job changes and general laziness I never finished it. Shame on me!

Last night I went to see Arizona Opera's production of "Sweeney Todd." I still find it a bit odd that an opera company is doing Sondheim. It was a pretty good production, though. One of the tenors (Todd Strange) from The University of Arizona® had the role of Tobias, and he was excellent! It was a great role for him. I'm really glad he got the exposure.

In the "not at all surprising" department -- CNN reports that Catholic high school religion texts stink. Here's a good quote on a "pattern of deficiencies" in many current texts:

• Tentative language that depicts Catholic doctrine as a matter of opinion, not fact.
  
• Weak explanations of the importance of church hierarchy and the church's ban on female priests.
  
• References to "partners" rather than husbands and wives.
  
• The depiction of the Bible as a historical document, only briefly mentioning its spiritual value.
  
• Presenting premarital abstinence as a way to avoid pregnancy or AIDS, rather than necessary to avoid committing a sin.
  

"AmChurch" strikes again. Thank God the bishops are finally starting to DO something.

Here are my Friday Five:

When was the last time you...

1. ...went to the doctor?

December 8th.

2. ...went to the dentist?

January.

3. ...filled your gas tank?

last week?

4. ...got enough sleep?

Monday, I think. I was off.

5. ...backed up your computer?

Hmm. I backed up my laptop a couple of weeks ago when I installed the new hard drive. I've not backed up my home machine in a while, but most things of importance are on my file server's RAID-5 partition so they're pretty safe.

Just a quick update -- my sister's surgery went very well. She had a great anesthesiologist who was able to vary her mix so that she didn't have the nausea that has plagued her in the past. Her doctor was very pleased with the outcome and she already is feeling some relief. I forgot to mention that besides her back/neck surgery she also had her right wrist done (carpal tunnel).

I stayed at her house last night to watch the animals etc. I'd forgotten how homey it can be to be sleeping with a dog next to you and a cat perched on your hip :-).

Kathy got to come home from the hospital today. I will be out to see her tonight after work.

My sister Kathy is having her back surgery tomorrow. Please pray for her, it's been a tough year. Thanks.

Sad news, Phoenix Bishop Thomas O'Brien has been convicted of hit-and-run. CNN says that O'Brien is the first American Catholic bishop ever convicted of a felony. Not a good "first" for the Church, I'm afraid.

Music for Mass
SSPP Latin Schola
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Prelude: Spirit Seeking Light and Beauty (Traditional Gaelic)
Sicut Cervus (Palestrina)
Gathering Song: All Creatures of Our God and King (LASST UNS ERFREUEN)
Penitential Rite: Kyrie (Chant Mass)
Gloria: (Chant Mass)
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1 (Domincan tone 8)
Gospel Acclamation: (Chant Mass w/verse of the day)
Preparation of the Gifts: How Can I Keep From Singing (Quaker Hymn)
Holy,Holy: Sanctus (Chant Mass)
Memorial Acclamation: (Chant Mass)
Great Amen: (Chant Mass)
Our Father: (Traditional Chant)
Lamb of God: Agnus Dei (Chant Mass)
Communion: Tantum Ergo
Meditation: Ecce Panis Angelorum (St. Gregory Hymnal #317)
Recessional: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (HYFRYDOL)

Compromise Achieved
I'm glad to report that we worked out a compromise on the standing issue. After the Sanctus I went and knelt in the side pews next to the choir, and returned during the Kiss of Peace. I was happy and it seems like a workable solution. Thanks for all your prayers and feedback.

Happy Valentine's Day!
I don't have a valentine, but it's okay. I hope all y'all out there have a nice V-Day.

This is a copy of a letter I sent to a priest-friend asking for advice on the situation in my parish.


I need some advice, or at least feedback anyway. Just between you and I, okay? As I think I've mentioned to you, my parish (Ss. Peter and Paul) has a Latin Schola that sings once a month at the 11 a.m. Mass. We sing the Mass responses in Latin, and general do some traditional English hymns for opening, closing and communion and some Renaissance motets in Latin for Offertory as well as preludes and communion meditation. It's been a great joy to sing in this group and it's been my hope that this would help encourage more reverence in the Liturgy and more acceptance of Latin in the parish and Church in general.

My pastor told our choir director in November that we were not allowed to kneel during the Eucharistic prayer. His reasoning was that a) there are no kneelers where we are, and b) it was distracting to the congregation to see us kneel, then stand to sing the memorial acclamation, then kneel again. Needless to say this bothers me a great deal. After praying about it for over a month I went and talked to him about it and asked him to reconsider, for a number of reasons (most of which I'm sure you can imagine) -- no one else in the church is standing at the time, it's not fair to keep us from kneeling, it didn't suddenly become distracting this year (we've been doing this for some time), it's distracting to the congregation to see us standing, etc. I talked with him 12/31 and he said he'd give it some thought.

I had not heard back from him, so I asked him about it again today in email, and got this response:

Gordon:
What I thought I said for at least the present would be that if one was a cantor and wanted to knell [sic] fine, but I did think and I still do not think that have the schola singing while knelling[sic] or getting up and down during the Eucharistic prayer would be appropriate as so it is I have been told with the choir at saint peters. Fr. XX I will see prior to Mass on Sunday.


I'm torn up as to what to do. From the reading that I've done it seems to me that he is within his rights to do this, and I am bound by obedience to follow his direction. As I see it, I can either 1) obey, or 2) resign from the group.

On the one hand, some people whom I respect (orthodox Catholics) have said that since I'm being directed to do this I'm not being irreverent. I believe them.

On the other hand, my reflection says that resigning might be viewed as disrespectful, counterproductive, and perhaps petulant or arrogant or prideful (i.e. that I didn't get my way).

On the 3rd hand ( :-)) my bottom line is that having had to do this 3 times now (Nov, Christmas Mass and January) and being faced with it again this Sunday, I can honestly say that it really, really bothers me. It is painful. It hurts, and obviously it distracts me from the Mass, especially if my pastor is saying Mass and I'm shooting him dirty looks (or trying not to) during the Eucharistic Prayer when I should be focused on Jesus and the Miracle that is taking place.

I'd appreciate any feedback you can give, and your prayers. Thanks.

Gordon

Here are my Friday Five:

1. Are you superstitious?

No. Although my mother did die on a Friday the 13th.

2. What extremes have you heard of someone going to in the name of superstition?

Well, any number of people act weird on days like today. I'm not sure I've heard any particularly good stories though.

3. Believer or not, what's your favorite superstition?

The rabbit's foot. What's lucky about that? Doesn't seem to be too lucky for the rabbit!

4. Do you believe in luck? If yes, do you have a lucky number/article of clothing/ritual?

I don't believe in luck as such. I don't really believe in coincidences either. I believe in a loving God who is intimately connected to His creation and active in my life.

5. Do you believe in astrology? Why or why not?

No. I think it's absurd to believe that the stars influence our fate. That doesn't mean that what time of year one is born at might not have some kind of influence on how we develop, but I don't see any mechanism for the stars influencing us.

I'm home at last. Tuesday night I had dinner with an old friend and his wife in the lovely Queen Anne section of Seattle. Wednesday I spent the day at the King County Department of Health, working with their folks. Left for the airport at 3 and got home at 10:30, very tired and very glad to be home.

I'm in Seattle today and tomorrow for work; I flew in last night.

As I was waiting to board the plane in Tucson I was looking out the big windows they have in the departure lounge, looking north toward the Catalina mountains. They are so beautiful! Sometimes we forget about the beauty all around us. It's good to take some time to enjoy the beauty God created.

After a long and tiring flight, including sitting across the aisle from a tipsy woman who insisted on talking nonsense at me for quite some time, I finally arrived in Seattle with my colleagues. We drove from SeaTac airport to the hotel in downtown Seattle and had a beautiful view of the Space Needle, all lit up and looking gorgeous.

Today we drove down to the capital, Olympia, to meet with various folks there. The weather has been absolutely beautiful (and, apparently, atypical) -- dry and sunny, lows in the low 30s and highs in the low 50s. On the way back we had a beautiful view of Mount Rainier. It was truly stunning.

Today's parish bulletin has a letter from our pastor announcing (as expected) that they are proceeding with fingerprinting and background checks on parish volunteers, starting 2/21. The following people will be checked:

Parish:
CCD teachers and aides
hospital eucharistic ministers
lectors
Life Teen instructors
RCIA instructors
St. Vincent de Paul volunteers

School:
lunch room monitors
playground monitors
classroom helpers
library helpers
hot lunch helpers
sports volunteers

Since I'm an RCIA instructor I guess I will be going in for fingerprinting. It doesn't really bother me, it's the price we pay to keep children safe. I'm a little curious why lectors are included but not commentators, unless "lectors" includes them.

Update: I checked, and the commentators will also be fingerprinted.

Here are my Friday Five:

1. What's the most daring thing you've ever done?

Hmm. The obvious answer seems to be, step onto the ice for the first time. Or maybe a couple of women that I asked out. I'm not really that daring a person, I don't think.

2. What one thing would you like to try that your mother/friend/significant other would never approve of?

Nothing comes to mind, sad to say.

3. On a scale of 1-10, what's your risk factor? (1=never take risks, 10=it's a lifestyle)

I take risks in my skating, all the time. It's essential. Other than that I'm not much of a risk taker. Interestingly I've never really thought of it that way before.

4. What's the best thing that's ever happened to you as a result of being bold/risky?

My relationships with a couple of ex-girlfriends come to mind.

5. ... and what's the worst?

Hmm. I broke my arm rollerblading in 2002, so maybe that's it.

Yesterday evening I went to see Arizona Theater Company's production of Tennessee Williams's play, "A Streetcar Named Desire." It was a terrific production. I had never seen the play before, and I and my companion found it very moving, disturbing, and thought-provoking. It's a powerful play.

Apologies for not posting more lately. Life has been quite busy (if unexciting) lately. I'll try to improve.

Today I was in Phoenix for a meeting at work, and afterwards I went shopping with my beautiful nieces Cori and Chelsea. For Christmas I had promised them I'd take them shopping (rather than give gift certificates). So tonight we went shopping -- for Chelsea some Etnies shoes she wanted, and for Cori a belt and some sandals. Afterward we had a nice dinner along with Cori's bf. It's really nice to spend time with the girls... they have grown up into fine women who are a joy to be around.

I've not done it in a while... here are my Friday Five:

You have just won one million dollars:

1. Who do you call first?

Hmm. My sister, probably, closely followed by my Dad and stepmom, brothers, and best friend.

2. What is the first thing you buy for yourself?

I'd pay off my debt. Other than that, probably a house.

3. What is the first thing you buy for someone else?

I'd probably buy my sister a new truck.

4. Do you give any away? If yes, to whom?

I'd give half away. If it were more I'd set up a foundation, but $500K makes it not really worth the effort. I'd probably give a chunk to my parish school's endowment fund, then some to my old parish, and the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Clinic.

5. Do you invest any? If so, how?

Yes, I'd probably invest most of it. I'd get a financial advisor, but it would probably go in index funds.

Yahoo Obnoxiousness

I got this in an email from a Yahoo group I'm on, it's worth checking out:

For those of you concerned with security, you might want to opt out
of Yahoo's "research". Here's the skinny.

Dear Friends,

Yahoo is now using something called "Web Beacons" to track Yahoo
Group users around the net and see what you're doing and where you
are going - similar to cookies.

Take a look at their updated privacy statement:

http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us/pixels/details.html

About half-way down the page, in the section "Outside the Yahoo!
Network", you'll see a little "click here" link that will let
you "opt-out" of their new method of snooping. I strongly recommend
that you do this.

Once you have clicked that link, you are opted out. Notice
the "Success" message the top the next page.

Be careful because on that page there is a
"CancelOpt-out" button that, if clicked, will *undo* the opt-out.
Feel free to forward this to other groups.

This is something NEW, not the regular stuff where you just check the
boxes.

A few days ago my e-buddy Brenda ElfGirl blogged about how shocked people in her church were that the pastor prayed for the President. Today's Star has an article about the Presidential Prayer Team, a group founded in Tucson to pray for the President. They have about 3 million members! The group claims that they will pray for the President regardless of his party affiliation. They also pray for the Veep and other staff leaders. Here's a sample prayer for Cheney:

Pray for the vice president as he prepares to celebrate his birthday on Friday, January 30. Pray that he will enjoy blessing, health, wisdom and strength as great gifts from God, and that he will seek to know and do God's will in the coming months and years.

Music for Mass
SSPP Latin Schola
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Prelude: Locus Iste (Bruckner)
I Have Longed For Thy Saving Health (Byrd)
Gathering Song: One Spirit, One Church (Keil)
Penitential Rite: Kyrie (Chant Mass)
Gloria: (Chant Mass)
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 6 (Domincan tones)
Gospel Acclamation: (Chant Mass w/verse of the day)
Preparation of the Gifts: Adore Te Devote (St. Gregory Hymnal #227a)
Holy,Holy: Sanctus (Chant Mass)
Memorial Acclamation: (Chant Mass)
Great Amen: (Chant Mass)
Our Father: (Traditional Chant)
Lamb of God: Agnus Dei (Chant Mass)
Communion: Soul Of My Savior (ANIMA CHRISTI)
Meditation: Ecce Panis Angelorum (St. Gregory Hymnal #317)
Recessional: Holy God, We Praise Thy Name (GROSSER GOTT)

Rumors of my death are unfounded! :-) Seriously, I got back home Monday evening and I've been swamped with stuff to do.. I'll relate some quick thoughts though.

I was in Atlanta Monday to Wednesday. It's a nice place. I had a good visit with our folks in the office there, and had some productive meetings. Since there's a nonstop Delta flight from Tucson to Atlanta getting to/from there is not bad. I got back Wednesday night, got off the plane, and was hit with the smell of rain. It was so beautiful, it almost made me cry. There's something wonderful about the smell of the desert after a rain that is just the most wonderful smell, something that any desert dweller immediately recognizes. I'm told it's the creosote bushes, or maybe the mesquite.

Thursday I drove out to Palm Springs for our company kickoff meeting. Two days in Palm Springs at the Doral Desert Princess Resort! It was terrific. I got to meet almost everybody in the company, which, since we are a pretty far-flung company, is a very good thing. The actual meeting was Friday morning, and was very encouraging. We are doing very well, we're growing, and our hard work is paying off. It makes me very happy (once again) that I made the choice to work here.

After the meeting we had company-sponsored activities in the afternoon; I chose horseback riding. I'd not been on a horse since Thanksgiving of 2000, so it was nice to get out and ride again. Of course the horses were pretty docile and we mostly just followed each other in single file. The terrain was pretty rocky and broken, so no galloping for us -- once in a while a quick trot is all. It was about an 8 mile ride in a bit over 2.5 hours. After the riding I had dinner with my team and we talked about our progress and what's coming up. I've got a good bunch of folks working for me, I'm very lucky that way.

Saturday morning I slept in, then drove to Oxnard to visit friends. Saturday night I had dinner with my friends Bill and Wayne, former coworkers when I worked for the Navy. They are still working there. We had a nice dinner at one of the fancy restaurants down at Channel Islands Harbor.

Sunday morning I went to 9:30 a.m. Mass at Santa Clara Church, my old parish. It's a wonderful, wonderful place that was my spiritual home for the 6 years I lived in Oxnard. It's a beautiful old church, 100 years old, that is in the midst of extensive retrofitting due to earthquake damage and to safeguard it for the future. If you are so inclined you might check out the website and send 'em some $$ to help, it's a worthwhile endeavor. After Mass I saw a number of old friends and spent some time talking to them. Considering I'd not lived there in 12 years it is nice to be remembered.

After Mass I had lunch with my friend Bill, and he gave me a tour of the base where I used to work. Many things have changed, new buildings etc., but much is still the same. It's more than a little weird to go in the lab and see machines that you first set up 14 years ago, still humming along and doing their jobs.

After we parted, I went to go skating at the rink in Oxnard, then had some dinner and went and relaxed at the hotel. Monday morning I got up and drove home to Tucson, getting home just in time to go to Collegium Musicum rehearsal. Whew! It's good to be home.

I'm in Atlanta today through Wednesday. Lots of traveling tends to make me grumpy so I'm having to fight off "a case of the Mondays." Fortunately the trip out was pretty uneventful. Now it's time to go get some food...

I've not had time to do more than skim this, but it's still amusing -- How to Deconstruct Almost Anything--My Postmodern Adventure. Since my minor area for my MS was science & technology studies I can readily appreciate this sort of thing.

I'm home again. It was a very, very long day. Some random thoughts...

I don't know how morning people in Eastern cities can take it. We were showing up for work at 8 a.m. in Indianapolis, and at that hour, not only was it bitterly, bitterly cold, but the sun isn't even up yet. Also the sun only was out the first day we were there. I don't think I would handle the lack of sun well.

My plane from Phoenix to Tucson was delayed, so I didn't get into Tucson until a bit after 10. Bleah! The trip from Phoenix to Tucson was on a CRJ-900, a smaller jet. We got to walk across the tarmac and go up the steps to the plane, just like in the old days... it was fun.

From 7 a.m. Wed. until 10 p.m. tonight (Friday), I managed to read 724 pages of the 5th Harry Potter book. I'm almost finished. It's a great book.

Our trip was not as successful as I would have liked, but we did accomplish a lot.

This is very cool -- The Queen Mary 2 was christened by Queen Elizabeth today.

In other news, it snowed in Indianapolis today. Whee!

I'm in Indianapolis today for work; I flew out this morning frightfully early from Tucson. It was a mostly uneventful travel day. Some images:

A bunch of F-16s were taking off at TIA before my plane left. It's interesting to me how my reaction to them is different (still) than before 9/11. I wonder about the pilots and their training, and whether someday they will be called upon to defend American skies instead of fighting over someone else's.

It was 27 degrees (F) when we landed in Indianapolis -- with a clear blue sky. It just amazes me. Weather in Tucson was so much warmer! Our work bunch went out to dinner and were walking around downtown -- it's amazing how the wind cuts through, even though I'm wearing my "It's Winter!" London Fog overcoat. Brrrr!

Marriott Courtyard hotels have free Internet access! Very cool.

I started reading the 5th Harry Potter book (Order of the Phoenix) this morning. I got through 195 pages on the trip so far...

My belated Friday Five:

What one thing are you most looking forward to . . .

1. ...today?

A nice quiet evening at home.

2. ...over the next week?

My skating lesson on Friday.

3. ...this year?

Paying off my car in June.

4. ...over the next five years?

Buying a house.

5. ...for the rest of your life?

Finding Ms. Right, getting married, having children, growing old?

While surfing I came across a pretty cool weblog for the St. Cecilia Schola Cantorum in Auburn, AL. It looks like a neat group. Latin really is making a comeback in the Church.

Happy New Year

Happy feast of Mary, Mother of God

The Virgin

Mother! whose virgin bosom was uncrost
With the least shade of thought to sin allied;
Woman! above all women glorified,
Our tainted nature's solitary boast;
Purer than foam on central ocean tost;
Brighter than eastern skies at daybreak strewn
With fancied roses, than the unblemished moon
Before her wane begins on heaven's blue coast;
Thy Image falls to earth. Yet some, I ween,
Not unforgiven the suppliant knee might bend,
As to a visible Power, in which did blend
All that was mixed and reconciled in Thee
Of mother's love with maiden purity,
Of high with low, celestial with terrene!

--William Wordsworth

I've often thought that it's singularly appropriate that this day when we look back and forward is a feast of Our Lady. What more appropriate image than She who, in her own body, bore the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end? She herself was the door through which the old ended and the new began. Pray for us, Holy Mother of God, on this day and at the hour of our death.

My resolutions for last year were:

• Clean up/out my house
  
• Lose more weight (goal: 200 lbs.)
  
• Visit family and friends more often, especially those far away.
  
• Attend 2003 Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Assembly in Washington, D.C. in August.
  

Alas, I did precious little on the first. On the second I made progress (13 lbs) but had 12 lbs or so to go. The third I didn't do that well at, and the fourth was a loss. So... mustering up my optimism, here are my resolutions for this year:

• Clean up/out my house
  
• Lose more weight (goal: 200 lbs.)
  
• Visit family and friends more often, especially those far away
  
• Pray more
  

I'll also have some resolutions on my skating blog, no doubt.

Music for Mass
Gordon Zaft, cantor; Kyle Frank, pianist
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Year C

Gathering Song: Good Christians, All Rejoice (IN DULCI JUBILO)
Penitential Rite: (spoken)
Gloria: Christmas Gloria (GLORIA/Gibson)
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67 (Respond & Acclaim)
Gospel Acclamation: Christmas Gospel Acclamation vs. 5 (Haas)
Preparation of the Gifts: O Holy Mary (Alstott)
Holy,Holy: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Memorial Acclamation: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Great Amen: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Our Father: Yantis
Lamb of God: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Communion: Holy Is His Name (Talbot)
Recessional: Let There Be Peace On Earth (Miller & Jackson)

I'm glad to see that apparently OCP has decided (re: Let There Be Peace On Earth) that it's okay for us to be "brothers" again. You might want to re-visit Richard Chonak's version of In Terra Fiat Pax.

Also note that I belatedly posted the Christmas Mass Music (7 p.m. and 10 p.m.).

My meeting with my pastor went much better than I'd hoped for. He explained that his concerns were mostly that the congregation not be distracted by people getting up and down during the Eucharistic prayer, and also that people not be made to feel bad or wrong if they are not able to kneel (which a number of folks in the other choirs are not). I pointed out that having to stand for the whole prayer was actually more tiring than either kneeling or sitting, at which he expressed surprise and said he had not intended to tell people they couldn't sit. I suggested some possible options such as singing the memorial acclamation from a sitting/kneeling position etc. He said he would give it some thought and let me know. He also clarified he didn't have any problem with a cantor kneeling, which solves my immediate problem since I'm supposed to cantor tomorrow.

Thanks to all who prayed about this. I'll keep you informed.

Peg Noonan asks, "Why are rich people afraid of the Virgin Mary?". Perhaps it's that whole crushing-the-snake's-head thing -- rather than feeling protected by Our Lady they fear her? Makes you think, doesn't it?

Thanks to Mark Shea for the link.

I will be meeting with my pastor tomorrow afternoon to discuss the issue about the choir standing during the Eucharistic prayer. I'm not optimistic about it since I very much doubt my pastor will change his mind, and I don't know what, if any, changes might be made that will ease my mind on this problem. Please pray that I will not be overly defensive or obnoxious.

This is encouraging -- the new bishop of Phoenix, in one of his first acts, led a prayer vigil at an abortion mill. Would that more bishops would do so!

Music for Mass
SSPP Latin Schola (10 p.m.)
Solemnity of the Nativity, Year C

Carol Service
Veni, Veni Emmanuel
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Dixit Maria (Hassler)
Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
Angelus ad Pastores Ait (Hassler)
Silent Night/Night of Silence
Harke the Herald Angels Sing
Joy To The World
O Holy Night

Gathering Song: Adeste Fideles
Penitential Rite: Kyrie (Chant Mass)
Gloria: (Chant Mass)
Responsorial Psalm: Today Is Born Our Savior
Gospel Acclamation: Today Is Born Our Savior
Preparation of the Gifts: Resonet In Laudibus
Holy,Holy: Sanctus (Chant Mass)
Memorial Acclamation: (Chant Mass)
Great Amen: (Chant Mass)
Our Father: (Traditional Chant)
Lamb of God: Agnus Dei (Chant Mass)
Communion: Silent Night, Holy Night
Meditation: Noë, Noë, Noë (Mouton)
Recessional: Angels We Have Heard on High

Music for Mass
SSPP Volunteer Choir (7 p.m.)
Solemnity of the Nativity, Year C

Carol Service
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
O Holy Mary
The Inn at Bethlehem
O Little Town of Bethlehem (ST. LOUIS)
Silent Night
Resonet in Laudibus
The First Noël
Angels We Have Heard on High
While By My Sheep
Joy To The World

Gathering Song: O Come All Ye Faithful (ADESTE FIDELES)
Penitential Rite: (recited)
Gloria: Christmas Gloria
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96: Today Is Born Our Savior
Gospel Acclamation: Today Is Born Our Savior
Preparation of the Gifts: O Holy Night
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (MENDELSSOHN)
Holy,Holy: Sanctus Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Memorial Acclamation: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Great Amen: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Our Father: Yantis
Lamb of God: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Communion: Piano solo
Meditation: What Child Is This
Recessional: Joy To The World

Merry Christmas!

I'll post the Mass music later. I wish all my readers a blessed and holy Christmas.

Since people are asking, here's the response I got to my note:

Dear Gordon and [choir director]:
The decision to have choirs stand during the Eucharistic Prayer was not made by our Choir Directors. It was made by our pastor and I agree with it. The rubric allows for exceptions for good reasons. It was our judgment that kneeling in the choir area is impractical, first because there are no kneelers and secondly it would be more distracting to the congregation to have the choir trying to pop up quickly for the singing of the anamnesis response. I don't think it confuses the congregation, especially here, where the congregation has been traditionally kneeling at the times called for in the new GIRM and the choir has been traditionally standing. I would suggest that if the Schola wants to adopt the practice of kneeling, that it be discussed with [pastor] before implementing such practice. I think he would not be inclined (nor would I) to adopt different postures for different choirs, particularly when you consider the elevated steps used by some of our choirs. Notwithstanding the devout and good intent of your thoughts and comments, Gordon, in the end carrying them out would be both impractical and actually more distracting to the congregation. I believe I was suggested that choir members give a profound bow at or immediately after the elevation of the Body and Blood of Jesus. I know I discussed that with [other choir director] and I'm not sure I mentioned it to you, [choir director]. I would be happy to discuss this further if either of you would like. For example, if a member of the Schola feels strongly about this, he or she could quietly move to the pews on that side and absent themselves from the choir after the Sanctus and return for the Our Father. On the other hand this should not become a mass exodus or significant partial exodus of the choir. That would be distracting, disrupt the flow of the liturgy and weaken the choirs singing during the liturgy of the Eucharist.
May God bless both of you for all that you do for our church and the people of God.
Fr. [associate]

I should mention that our Schola sings from the nave area to the left of the sanctuary (in front of Mary's altar), so we are in front of the congregation and to the side.

I followed up with this note:

Hi Fr. [associate],

Thanks for your response.

1) Clarification -- does this apply to cantors as well, or only to choirs?

2) I would like to meet with you to talk about this sometime next week if you will be around. Or if you prefer I could meet with [pastor] since it was his decision. Let me know.

Thanks.

Gordon

And I received this response:

Hi Gordon:
I think it applies to the cantor as well as the pianist/organist. If cantors wish to kneel in place, the pastor should give that consideration provided all cantors, physically capable of kneeling without kneelers available, desire to do so. I would be opposed to sending competing messages to the congregation where some cantors kneel and others do not. You can speak with either of us next week. We are both on the same wave length on the issue. Feel free to speak with [pastor] about it.
Fr. [associate]

I don't know what to do at this point. I am sick at heart and I don't know why it hurts me so.

This Christmas seems to be going rapidly downhill. I had very high hopes for this Christmas, but somehow they all seem to be unraveling.

• I felt very rushed, and I never got ANY decorating done except for my outside lights. I didn't even get a tree. That is depressing.
  
• I have not mailed even one Christmas card. I finally got my Christmas letter done Sunday night and got it xeroxed last night but I've not mailed any at all.
  
• It seems I've had a bazillion things I had agreed to do that took up large chunks of my time.
  
• There's the aforementioned no-kneeling-for-the-choir thing at church, which is bothering me much more than seems reasonable. It's just ripping my heart out and makes me want to chuck everything.
  
• There's a lot of squabbling in my family right now about who's doing what and so forth, with the result that no one knows when the heck we will be able to exchange gifts at all. My sister is not well, she was supposed to have surgery but isn't feeling up to traveling at all. It's just a mess.
  
• And of course I'm feeling lonely and unloved.
  

*sigh* Of course all these things are distracting me from the whole point of the season.

Back in November, just before we sang at the 11 a.m. Mass, for reasons that are still not clear to me our Schola was told we should remain standing during the Eucharistic prayer. This has been bothering me since, so I finally wrote up my thoughts and send them to our director and the celebrant at Mass that day:

---

My apologies for not having sent the following more promptly but it took me a while to gather my thoughts on the subject.

I was very concerned and disturbed by the decision made on 11/16/03 that the Schola was to stand during the Eucharistic prayer. After much thought and reflection, I respectfully request that this decision be rescinded, for the following reasons:

1) The Church rubric in the US is to kneel during the Eucharistic prayer.

2) There was no consultation among the Schola members about this discussion, as far as I am aware. It seems arbitrary.

3) As far as I can remember, the Schola has always knelt or sat during the Eucharistic prayer. There was no explanation or reasoning given as to the change, and I cannot think of any reason to be making a change now.

4) It confuses the congregation when we do not have the same postures as they do. For example it has often been my observation that if the Schola does not kneel after the Agnus Dei the congregation is confused as to whether they should kneel or stand.

5) It appears the concern might be that there is a lack of unity in the Schola's posture if some members kneel and others sit. Aside from the point given in #3 above, the Schola should adopt the same posture as the congregation. Indeed, my understanding of the Vatican II documents is that the choir is supposed to be seen as an extension of the congregation. At the Eucharistic prayer only the celebrant stands. It seems very improper for the Schola to be standing at this point, instead of having the same posture as the congregation (i.e. kneeling or sitting).

6) If the Schola's unity were truly the issue, a number of other items should have been and indeed ought to be addressed:

a) Saying the Creed as it is written (some members omit the word "man")
b) Omitting the bow during the Creed

The fact that these issues(and others) are not addressed suggests the argument re: unity is a specious one.

7) It also appears that it may be a concern that some members of the Schola are unable to kneel. However, this was not a concern in the past, even though my experience has been that some members have knelt and some have sat. Furthermore, not everyone in the congregation is able to kneel; those that cannot sit, they do not stand.

8) It is distracting for the congregation to see people standing during the Eucharistic prayer.

9) Members of the Schola who wish to obey the rubrics of the Church should not be prevented from doing so except for a grave reason, but none has been presented.

Music for Mass
Peter Dodge & Gordon Zaft, cantors; Kathie O'Sullivan, pianist
Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year C

Gathering Song: Maranatha I (Westphal)
Penitential Rite: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 80 (Respond & Acclaim)
Gospel Acclamation: Advent Gospel Acclamation vs. 4 (Haas)
Preparation of the Gifts: Holy Is His Name (Talbot)
Holy,Holy: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Memorial Acclamation: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Great Amen: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Our Father: (Traditional Chant)
Lamb of God: Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Communion: Like A Child Rests (Walker)
Recessional: People, Look East (BESANCON)

Just in time for Christmas, the terrorism alert level has been raised to orange. *sigh*

I attended the University of Arizona® Fall Commencement today, as my friend Amber Lee was graduating with her BM in Vocal Peformance (Go AL!). It was a nice ceremony. Particularly interesting to me (other than the usual tortilla-tossing that happens at UA commencements) was the awarding of two honorary doctorates. Interestingly enough, two UA alumni are both serving as ministers in the Afghan government, and they received honorary degrees today. It's amazing the connections in our world between Tucson and a far-off country struggling to rebuild itself.