New: Daily Mass in Latin
Beginning June 17, we will offer a weekly Novus Ordo Mass in Latin every Thursday morning at 6:30 AM.
Memorial Mass for Deacon Fred
Saturday, June 19, at 12:00 PM
Since so many of our parishioners were unable to attend the funeral for Deacon Fred a month ago, we will have a memorial Mass for him here at St. Bart’s. All are welcome to come celebrate his life, honor his memory, and pray for his soul’s eternal rest at this Mass. A reception will follow in the Family Life Center.
Q. What criteria is used for determining that a song can be sung at Mass? [Part 1]
A. Part 1: This is such an important question, the answer to which has had significant impact on the liturgical renewal. St. John Paul II writes the following: “Today, moreover, the meaning of the category ‘sacred music’ has been broadened to include repertoires that cannot be part of the celebration without violating the spirit and norms of the Liturgy itself.” Our parish leadership and parishioners from across the parish took heed of the great Saint’s words almost two years ago asking, might our “repertoire” of music – which was very similar to many parishes – be an example of this?
We discovered that the Church has taught that all sacred liturgical music fitting for sacred liturgy will possess three characteristics: 1) Sanctity/Holiness, 2) Goodness of Form/True Art, and 3) Universal. The most important of these three qualities is that to the highest degree, it must be truly holy, that is, at a minimum, it must “exclude all profanity” both in the song itself and in the way it is presented. Recall that, in this context, to be sanctified is to “be set apart” or set aside for a sacred purpose alone. When the Church speaks of not allowing the profane into the liturgy it means only songs set aside for liturgical use belong.
The Second Vatican Council taught that “sacred music is to be considered the more holy in proportion as it is more closely connected with the liturgical action, whether it adds delight to prayer, fosters unity of minds, or confers greater solemnity upon the sacred rites.” Here the council is emphasizing that to be holy it must be intimately connected to the liturgy (the language should be liturgical rather than profane or secular), and the more it is liturgical the more fitting it is for liturgy. Sacred liturgical music will also foster unity because the words avoid ambiguity – their meaning is clear. That is, the words are true and theologically precise - we can count on their trustworthiness. And such music brings a great sense of the sacredness, the solemnity, of what we are commemorating in the Mass – the passion and death of Jesus. Venerable Pius XII put it this way: Sacred liturgical music “should be conducive to the lofty end for which they are intended.” Next week we will explore the other two criteria: True Art and Universal.
Do you have a question about liturgy that you would like to have answered by the Liturgy Task Force? If so please submit it to Laura at Laura@st-bart.org with “Liturgical Question” in the subject line.
We still have a few spots left (for 18 months old and 2 years old) in our preschool for the 2021-2022 school year! Call us at 281-391-0993 for information and to begin registering your child.
Youth Faith Formation Updates
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
CCE 2021-2022
Registration for CCE grades 1-8, Encounter, and Confirmation classes will begin in late July for the fall classes. The Confirmation Mass for 2021 will be on Saturday, December 11, at 7:00 PM.