I mentioned some time ago that I was organizing a monthly chant Mass at my suburban parish in Stoneham, MA. Well, the project reached a milestone with our first such Mass Sunday evening, and everything came off just fine. Here’s what we did:
Before Mass: the Introit Omnia quae fecisti
Procession Hymn: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
Kyrie XVI
Glory to God, recited
Psalm 146 (in English): verses on tone V; refrain to an OCP setting
Alleluia, on the simple tone from Jubilate Deo; verse in English on tone VI
Creed: recited
At the offertory: I transplanted the Gradual Oculi omnium and we sang it at this time.
Sanctus XVIII
Memorial Acclamation: Danish Amen Mass
Great Amen: Danish Amen Mass
Our Father: recited
Agnus Dei XVIII
Communion Hymn: Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and Bless
Communion Antiphon: Memento verbi tui, with verses from ps. 118
Hymn: To Jesus Christ, our Sovereign King
The propers were sung a cappella; everything else was done with organ accompaniment.
I haven’t tried to recruit folks from the parish yet, but invited in some “ringers”, volunteers mostly from the schola of the indult Mass in Boston, including our organist member Randolph Nichols. I’m exceedingly grateful to them all for coming out to spread the beauty of the Church’s proper music (and not standing me up for the first such event I’ve ever organized!).
The congregation sang the ordinary well, especially the Kyrie; Shepherd of Souls wasn’t familiar to some, but they did all right on the other hymns.
After Mass, a few people came by to thank us, including one very enthusiastic lady, a revert who has been watching Mass on EWTN and pining for something like that in a real parish. She was thrilled to hear “real hymns”.
When the celebrant thanked us at the end of the Mass, he mentioned we’ll be here again monthly: so I guess we’re confirmed to be in.
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Whew. Had to blink my eyes. At first glance I saw “millstone”. Better a milestone than a millstone.
Congrats, RC! Sounds like it was a great success!
Well done!
Congrats!