Christmas Proclamation in English
The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ (PDF, 1.3MB) from the Roman Martyrology is available from the USCCB Web site.
Also available for downloading is the Liturgical Calendar 2005 for the Dioceses of the United States of America (PDF, 193KB).
Also available for downloading is the Liturgical Calendar 2005 for the Dioceses of the United States of America (PDF, 193KB).
4 Comments:
Although I realize that this is looking a gift horse in the mouth, I would like to point out that the accompanying ceremonial is indicative of the distressing reductionistic trends in modern suburban "liturgy:"*
1. We must all gather in the sanctuary. (Usually at the microphone to talk in our everyday conversational tone.)
2. All action, especially singing, has to be inserted into the Mass, even when its origin is outside the Mass. (We do have to stop inserting, though, when we reach the length of fifty-nine minutes and fifty-nine seconds, and this limit in fact cannot be blamed on those liturgists.)
3. We must always tell people what to do -- during a ritual -- even when what we want is that they stand still and pay attention. ("With hearts full of joy, let us listen ...")
4. The provision of the text alone originally seemed to be for ease of replication in a "worship aid" -- actually, in this file it is a picture, not text -- in which case we are asking those people to be still and pay attention, but what we really expect them to do is read. Yes, those who are having problems hearing also deserve to participate, and there is the formational advantage of having the document available to read and ponder before and afterwards, but I do not think that is why the text-only version was originally provided. Now if this text was provided as an alternative to chanting, we are back at number 1.
I bring up these four items because they have a great impact upon liturgical music praxis every day.
How about this, in the usual case of the Office of Readings not being celebrated: The proclamation chanted from the rear of the church, or from the aisle, or from the creche after the image of the Christ Child is placed there after being carried in procession -- before or after Adeste fideles but before the introit. Without a spoken "introduction" of the proclamation; bells could be rung if necessary.
* The scare quotes are not meant to indicate that this is not really liturgy, but rather that in practice the word "liturgy" is usually used to refer specifically and exclusively to whatever takes place in the sanctuary between The Opening Hymn and The Recessional Hymn. See numbers 1. and 2.
Well, if there is anything more ungracious than looking a gift horse in the mouth, it might be arguing with oneself in public. But on further reflection I must admit that the rubrics given in this document do reflect the guidelines for celebrating one of the Hours (usually Morning or Evening Prayer) in combination with the Mass. I am not sure how most of the faithful would recognize that, though ... by means of a longer "introduction?"
Perhaps the problems indicated, could be lessened if one simply took a leaf from the traditional Christmas Mattins, and instead of a choir concert before the Midnight Mass, chanted the "Cantus Martyrologii" (in Latin or English) within the framework of a vigil service modelled on a nocturn of Mattins, with congregational recitation of selected psalms, readings (OT, the great homily of St Leo!) and as responses, hymns by congregation and choir ? Conclude with a procession to crib, blessing, Adeste fideles, and then when Father returns to the sacristy to change from cope to chasuble, schola intones Dominus dixit, e cosi si segue la prima messa di Natale...tutto in ordine !
Va bene!
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