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Online Edition - Vol. IX, No. 6: September 2003
About
Letters to the Editor
READERS'
FORUM
Readers' Forum -- the lively "Letters to the Editor" of the Adoremus Bulletin provides a forum for exchange of ideas, comment and information on the sacred liturgy -- but the letters column is not normally published online. (Sample letters below).
If you are reading the Adoremus Bulletin in the "online edition" only, you are missing one of the most popular and useful features of the journal. To become a member of Adoremus -- and receive the "hard-copy" edition, including the "Readers Forum", see Membership page.
We are grateful for your letters. While we read every letter, we get so many that it is impossible to answer or publish all of them. In selecting those to appear in "Readers Forum", preference will be given to subjects of widest interest. Letters should be 250 words or fewer, preferably typed. They may be e-mailed. Please include your name, address, city and state (which may be withheld on request). If a letter refers to a previous issue of AB, please include the date of that issue and name of article. All letters may be edited for publication. Be sure to indicate clearly if your letter is NOT intended for publication.
Readers' Forum -- September 2003 -- Altered Consecration -- Our Style -- Abolish the Lectors -- Why All the Fuss? -- Bible Translations -- Protestant Sacraments -- Reading the Word of God -- About the News -- On Banishing the Soloists -- Like Minds in Canada? -- Latin Rite Wedding - and Wedding Hymns -- Thee and Thou: The Last Word -- Sign of Peace -- Communion: Row-by-Row -- Encyclical in AB Prompts Adoration -- Grateful to AB -- AB's Alarmist Techniques -- Thrilled with St. Agnes -- Come Visit -- The Lingering Impact of Abuses
LetterLatin Rite Wedding - and Wedding Hymns
I read in a past AB about a lucky couple that was able to have a Latin Rite wedding. Would appreciate hearing back from them or anyone with suggestions on liturgy, music or any helpful info as we are preparing for a wedding and are hoping to obtain approval.N. Wille
via e-mail
ResponseWe do have some suggestions, but surely those who have put on such a wedding do too. How about it, readers?
You can find the prayers for the Nuptial Mass in the Missal. (The Nuptial Mass is used for a wedding Mass except on Sundays and major feasts, when the Mass of the day is used.) The latest edition of the Missal (3rd editio typica of the Missale Romanum) was published in 2002.
There are three sets of prayers for Nuptial Masses. They include the Introit, collect (opening prayer), prayer over the gifts, special preface, texts to be inserted in the Eucharistic Prayer, Communion antiphon, Nuptial Blessing, etc.
Readings are usually in English even if the rest of the Mass is in Latin. The various options for readings can be found in the Lectionary in the section called "Ritual Masses". The marriage ceremony itself, especially the exchange of vows, would probably be better done in English.
As to music you can use either English or Latin or some selections in each language. Most standard "missalettes" and hymnals have at least a few Latin hymns. The Adoremus Hymnal contains a number of Latin hymns as well as a large selection of hymns in English. Another option would be to sing the Proper of the Mass (Introit, Offertory, Communion) in the Gregorian chant setting of the Graduale Romanum. For this you would need a choir capable of singing this chant.
We have had other recent inquiries about liturgies and music for weddings. The following might be of interest as well:
Here are suggestions for wedding hymns for choir or congregational singing:
Prelude: Wake, awake for night is flying p. 306 of The Adoremus Hymnal. (Bach's Sleepers wake -- subject: Bridal Church awaiting Christ the Bridegroom).Entrance/Processional: Hail Thee, Festival Day (Pentecost) p. 445.
Communion: Panis Angelicus p. 523 or Ave verum corpus p. 514.
Post-Communion: Come with us O blessed Jesus p. 626 [Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. Also a good organ prelude before processional].
Closing hymn/Recessional: All Creatures of our God and King p. 600 (or God of our Fathers, whose Almighty Hand p. 625).
From Lucy Carroll:
You don't need many hymns because the entrance hymn and recessional hymn are replaced with the Bridal Marches, usually. At the Offertory and at the Communion, hymns from The Adoremus Hymnal with especially fitting text would be:Offertory: #623 Be Thou My Vision; #580 The King of love my shepherd is.
Communion: #517 O Jesus We Adore Thee; #522 Soul of My Savior.
If there is the placing of the bouquet at Mary's altar, you can't go wrong with a verse or two of #532, Immaculate Mary. Guaranteed the congregation will sing along!
Letter
The Lingering Impact of Abuses
We received a note from a reader responding to a letter that had appeared in the December 2001 - January 2002 issue of the Bulletin. The original letter had described an outdoor Mass the writer had attended. Because the priest had forgotten to bring hosts, Wonder Bread was used instead. We think it's worth considering the impact these abuses have on the faithful.The "Wonder Bread" Mass brought back much emotion for me. One that I have to relay. It is one I do not take lightly.
While I was attending a Catholic college in Pennsylvania, the priest set up a Mass in the coffeehouse. We gathered around the table, which was set with paper cups and a loaf of Italian bread. At the Consecration, he broke pieces off the loaf and gave us each a chunk. Then he poured the wine into paper cups and gave us each one of those. I remember saying to myself, "this Eucharist stuff really is just all symbolism -- the nuns that I had as a child lied to me. Jesus isn't really present in this Italian bread -- this is just symbolic of Jesus' presence".
From that Mass on I looked at the Consecration and Eucharist differently. That "Mass" planted the seeds of doubt that lasted for 10-15 years! Since I grew up in Generation X, the reinforcement of Catholic doctrine in the Eucharist (at my Catholic grade school) was absent from the age of 7 on.
Through God's good grace I rediscovered the truth those nuns had taught me before all hell broke loose in the 1960s! Now, I am adamant that our children will learn the truths of the Church properly. Every new fangled Mass we come upon, we avoid like the plague. I will not have their faith destroyed (in the Church) as mine was! Any Catholic college we look at will be scrutinized by us, to see how true to the Church they really are!
Anyone who sees such abuses, like this "Wonder Bread" Mass should report it to their bishop. There is a reason why all Masses are bound by certain rules: so the belief of the faithful stays intact, and without any doubt. We owe this to our children.
Julie Burns
via e-mail
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