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Cardinal George: new liturgical translations envision more music

September 02, 2010

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In his archdiocesan newspaper column, Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George discusses the preparations that should be made before the introduction of a new English translation of the Roman Missal. He argues that “information about the new translation will have to be given in a systematic way, because much of the information found so far in various articles and new stories has been incomplete and sometimes erroneous.”

In an interesting reflection on the new liturgical texts, the cardinal says: “The translations have been made with singing them in mind, so there should be more music in the eucharistic celebration.”

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• Posted by: Savonarola - Sep. 05, 2010 11:14 PM ET USA

  How about a bit less of the unrelenting and deafening organ and a bit more reverent silence (especially during and after the receiving of Holy Communion) ?

• Posted by: jflare293129 - Sep. 04, 2010 5:14 AM ET USA

  Hmm. I just read the article this page links too; apparently this WAS the article in which he made the comments. He mentions that liturgical musicians have been working on the adaptations and melodies for new chants for some time. Unfortunately, that still doesn't mean much. Will we be chanting these with something similar to Gregorian Chant tones? Or will we be seeing "new" variations of the same old, same old?

• Posted by: jflare293129 - Sep. 04, 2010 5:06 AM ET USA

  Does His Eminence explain himself more thoroughly in his column? I'd like to read more about what he means, exactly. To be honest, as I think about it, this one makes me nervous, really. I've heard too many Glorias, Hosannas, and whatnot that more closely resembled a 70's acoustic concert than a Mass. I do hope this doesn't mean we'll be hearing the entire Creed and Eucharistic Prayer with guitar accompaniment....

• Posted by: samuel.doucette1787 - Sep. 03, 2010 8:06 AM ET USA

  As long as the St Louis Jesuits, Marty Haugen (a Lutheran, at that), and David Haas have nothing to do with any of the musical settings of the new translations, I'll be cautiously optimistic about this.

• Posted by: patriot6908 - Sep. 02, 2010 3:52 PM ET USA

  Given the state of music in most parishes, His Eminence's statement falls in between news of the Titanic and that of the Hindenburg. It's one thing to have more music at Saint John Cantius and another to have it at (fill in the blank) in the rest of the city and suburbs.