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Saturday, July 6, 2013

Asking Whom does the Grail Serve.


It's nearly closing time on Saturday and I am looking forward to tomorrow.  Once a month I go down to the cellars and sweep and mop  the floor that leads to the door behind which the Holy Grail sits in its  Sanctum.

Then I go to Mass.

I go to a small Church in the village below the mountain from upon which the Tavern gets its magnificent view of the world. And there they 'do' a Latin Mass.




It is an almost renegade act on the part of a small group of 'old' Catholics. Old as in Traditional. It is a wonderful family occasion with many children, babies, young 'marrieds' and older folk too. It is renegade in that just as in most Parishes around our civilised western world, the PTB in the Church hierarchy do not like the Latin Mass. It reminds them too much of God and detracts from what really interests them: Zozchial Justiz, careers, budgets with which they can buy favour with the Lefty heretics that run pissant Governments. Sometimes one gets the impression, at 'local' level, that the Protestants won.

Modernism' post-Vatican 2, has taken much of the Majesty from Catholicism.

But this small Church is a haven of sanctity. It was part of a Nunnery that is now a residential place for older people. A 'Retirement' village.


Father Gerald, who is the Priest leading this small, tranquil congregation, is an old gentleman. He also works tirelessly leading Prayer for Mothers and babies in many Churches around, and not confined to Catholics. This Holy man prays for the tide of abortion to abate.

 A very small choir of staunch chaps and lovely ladies sings. In Latin.

No guitars !! No Bob Dylan wannabees.

This is a time of Worship, not entertainment.  It is not provided to 'draw in Yoof'. It is not trying to be 'relevant' nor 'inclusive' nor 'diverse'.

For 2000 years Many have been called, all over the world. The Mass is inclusive already.

They have little in the way of Grandeur about them. It is not as though we run to an orchestra and a hundred voices and we don't quite get up to the standard of Mozart's Requiem nor Karajan conducting it.

But here, in the Tavern Music room we can do something like that for you as a 'warm up' to the main event. So sit back and listen to a section. If you wish to. Just a small part. I will put the Full Monte at the end.

*A small note of alarm, however. This section is conducted by a very strange young man leaping about, and the audience appears to subscribe more to the 'New Religion' of 'Progressive Euro-Bureaucrat-Kommissars' than to the Body of Christ. The EU seems to have put this on. They seem to take over all in their path, the Catholic Church included.

One wonders why the massed ranks of atheists, Darwinites, Dawkinites - who one suspects are seated in the plastic chairs, - even Calvinists and Lutherans and assorted other Protestants who have not managed to have been inspired to produce so much beauty and adortation.

There are many people who have never asked the most fundamental of all questions -

'Whom Does The Grail Serve?'.



Latin is quiet. It has a melodie to it. Mind you, some of the intonation can do with work but most Priests who are still familiar (not many) with the 'sung' Mass are not choristers.

But. To get along. Here is a Full Sung Latin Mass for all those who miss it or have not heard it.



Now, just as a way of explanation for those of you who are not Catholic or not familiar with the Mass, here below is a rather detailed 'Training' explanation that is provided to Novice Priests. I will quite understand if some of you want to take a pint out onto the Patio instead of watching it.



Now, as Promised. Karajan. Follow the sections of the Mass with the timings below.


 
 
wolfgang amadeus mozart
requiem in d minor, k 626
herbert von karajan
wiener philharmoniker
wiener singverein

1986
anna tomowa sintow
helga muller molinari
vinson cole
paata burchuladze

2:05 I. Introitus
7:34 II. Kyrie
III. Sequentia
10:16 1. Dies irae
12:09 2. Tuba mirum
16:01 3. Rex tremendae
18:22 4. Recordare
23:32 5. Confutatis
25:54 6. Lacrimosa
IV. Offertorium
29:29 1. Domine Jesu
33:22 2. Hostias
38:00 V. Sanctus
39:50 VI. Benedictus
45:30 VII. Agnus Dei
49:13 VIII. Communio


Come along Time. Fly.

I just might have a nightcap.






8 comments:

  1. I have not had time to listen to all of your videos, but the music in the ones I have seen is beautiful. Religious Choral music always seeps into the soul.

    One of my favourite Hymns is more simple than the Catholic mass, but whenever I hear it I have to join in with the singing.

    http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/index.php/2011/04/22/i-hear-singing/

    I miss singing in a choir...





    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Requiem is best listened to as one goes about daily chores. As Pierre Tielhard de Chardin points out, those chores can join the Prayer and be offered up.

      The long winded video lecture on 'how to do it and why' is there for penance :)

      Delete
  2. And your thoughts on the Hymn I mentioned and connection to God...

    PS: I am not trying to be controversial I am just interested in a discussion on the subject.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your prompt caused me to think, CherryPie. I left this comment at your post.

    "Beautiful.

    The concept of God 'sending his Son to die' is a hard one that counterpoints the awe we have of God's more 'seeable' works.

    I have a slightly less certain view m'self, about the inevitable 'means' by which God draws the combined intellect and passion of his creation to Himself. To 'Know' Him. He Himself is eternal and can only 'Know' death through his creation."

    ReplyDelete
  4. These things always make me think and I am grateful for that.

    I have replied :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I would love to attend a Mass in Latin.. Ive only ever watched them on the internet and they are beautiful...feel so much more Holy and Spiritual.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yes...I too don't like the guitars and "Dylan wannabees" that have crept into the Church mass. A couple of times Ive been to Mass where they play the guitar during the responses liturgy of the Eucharist ...I find it very distracting and off-putting ....its interfering with my connection to God. Like someone that interrupts you when your having a private conversation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is a concept of the 'Magesterium' of the Church. Difficult to define simply. But one component is the depths into which elements can delve, into one's 'being'.

      The 'modern' parlance has it that 'being in the moment' is what life is all about. But the sort of music used in Mass is terribly important. Guitars are for 'Yoof' and is supposed to make the Mass 'relevant'. It omits reference to Soul of connection to God.

      I see the sort of Pentacostal and Negro-style music where everyone rocks along and I just do not see connection with God. Just 'enjoying' 'community' and having a jolly time.

      It forgets or sidelines the fact of the Mass. That is that the Mass is a repeat of the Sacrifice of Jesus. It is a means of joining in the perfection of the Role of Jesus.

      The Choral music of an entire millenium is sidelined. For 'Fun'.

      Delete

Ne meias in stragulo aut pueros circummittam.

Our Bouncer is a gentleman of muscle and guile. His patience has limits. He will check you at the door.

The Tavern gets rowdy visitors from time to time. Some are brain dead and some soul dead. They attack customers and the bar staff and piss on the carpets. Those people will not be allowed in anymore. So... Be Nice..