I didn’t mean to suggest Fr Fox was misplacing his Latin Mass parts or being gimmicky with his particular implementations during this Lent. I’ve followed his blog carefully and I know that his efforts are part of a bigger plan.
My parish is large, and if you’ll pardon the expression, diverse. I’ve invited comment on the use of “Parce Domine” during Lent and I’ve gotten a handful of responses from all over the spectrum, but mostly favorable. One choir member who might be more in the category of a progressive doubter did concede:
Last week we did two Latin pieces, and in the context they were done, they felt comfortable to me. I would think that adding more might be too much.
For the record, I think the choir member was referring to the Kyrie and our Communion selection, “Parce Domine.” Though there might have been an anthem with Latin words; I’m not sure.
Anyway, I found the people singing Parce Domine very well. Even though we used it for Communion each of the last three weeks, they got a chance to sing the refrain as many as four times before the Communion ministers got into place. (I have to say I’m glad for the “delay” in lay people going to the altar; I find my parish sings as well at Communion now as they do at other times of the Mass.)
Looking ahead, what Latin chants would you suggest for each of the following: Easter season, Ordinary Time (pick two or three for this one), Advent, Christmas, and another Lent. Pick two you think school children should know. If I try them out, I’ll keep you posted.
I don’t believe I got any input from you on this, but I recently started doing a communion psalm at my parish. I can’t say yet how it’s catching on, but I think it may help the singing during Communion at many churches. I’m glad it is working out well for you. If anything, it would seem to me Communion is the most important time for congregational singing, what with the unity factor and all.
The Parce Domine we use has the Grail verses of Psalm 51 in English. I had planned to have the whole psalm ready, but some of the cantors were freaked out enough at doing a Latin refrain, I refrained.
I have programmed psalm paraphrases like Shepherd Me O God and Taste and See for Communion, but I’m cautious about falling into the (bad) reverse practice of using songs after the first reading.