Society of Saint Gregory

Hi, Alan 29, Respect! I only lasted two terms in a socially deprived (non catholic) secondary school (and had the severe special needs form in Y8), so yes! I have some idea where you're coming from. Looking at the Lourdes story for a minute, Mary did seem to think that the Immaculate Conception was ...

Well, old barmaid, now you're asking. Here's my personal cringe-list. If anyone is upset by it, that is not my primary intention and I apologise. All lines are in the 2005 edition of HON. "O noble Tower of David, of gold and ivory" "Kum ba yah my Lord; Kum ba yah" "And io, i...

1) Benevenio, whilst accepting that Sundays are not part of the 40 days, nevertheless the organ should only be used to support singing. As has already been said, we omit the Gloria, Alleluia, have purple and no flowers on Sundays in Lent as well as weekdays. I took a raincheck on your suggestion to ...

Oops, I have none of the CTC, congratulations to you for making the effort. With regard to Gospel values, they are the mainstay of our faith but Catholics also believe in following the traditional teaching of the church - teaching handed down and developed over the years by the Church (e.g. prayers ...

Just shows the persecution all religions are undergoing at the moment in the UK. Religious iconography is required by all dioceses in Catholic classrooms. We would be going against the church's teaching if we were to teach that sex can be value free - and it patently isn't - look at all the trouble ...

The context of the Canon Law quote seems to refer to formal liturgical blessings. These aren't the only kind and the Church makes provision at times for laity giving blessings - for example the concluding blessing laid down for the Office differs according to whether a priest or deacon is present or...

OK, the new translations are probably brilliant, my Latin is more than rusty and my tongue is firmly in my cheek so help me out. Why is Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth translated Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God of Hosts? Wouldn't that have been something like Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus Domi...

Easter 3 Prelude & Fugue 2 from Bach: 8 Short Preludes & Fugues, BWV 554 hear it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIP2L7jeX6Y Music here: http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/bach/bwv553/Bach_Kleine_Praeludien_2.pdf Communion: Brahms Chorale: Schmucke Dich O Liebe Seele, (No V of Eleven Cho...

Benevenio, No the kids aren't there every week. During my teaching days I once had occasion to attend all the masses in my parish one Sunday. Out of a primary roll of about 240 (of which 50% are Catholic) about 12 attended mass in the parish that day. The count of secondary age pupils was even lower...

I have no problem with Mothering Sunday being referred to in Introduction to Mass and prayers. However, I think choirs and readers must be upset but take it very well when they're pushed out by the kids - the message is almost we wouldn't use you if the kids were here every week. Then there is the a...

An interesting one this. Churches who wouldn't dream of using "alleluia" or saying the Gloria, or having flowers during Lent just don't seem to be aware that this rubric is there. In the past, I have used the organ quite freely - to avoid CDs being played instead. This year I thought I'd t...

We do one verse of the Pange Lingua in English - that's gets the priest to the altar of repose; then switch to Latin for the 2 verses of the Tantum Ergo, because the choir (and some of the people) can still do it. We end Maundy Thursday with 'Stay With Me' sung very quietly to try to encourage peopl...

Easter Vigil / Easter Day (This is the time to try to be really inspirational. I tend to go for popular stuff at this time of year, much of what follows will be in wedding anthologies. Have linked a few YouTube performances - for interest/inspiration/motivation!) Start: (not Vigil!): Bach, Jesu Joy ...

The Guild of St Stephen in Southwark is looking for a choir and musician(s) to lead the music for the Mass at their Annual Rally at Aylesford Priory on Bank Holiday 5th May 2008. I understand that hymns are given to you, but the Mass parts etc. are at the choir's discretion. Aylesford is a good plac...

The trouble with the Stations is that non Catholics have real issues with those that are non-biblical, e.g. 'Veronica wipes the face of Jesus,' even with 'Jesus is placed into the arms of his mother.' This wouldn't preclude a service based on your own 'Stations.' Drama can be powerful if properly us...