Mendicant Religious Order's Way?

In the mid 60s and early 70s the effects of Vatican II were at their prime. One of these was the transition of Mass from Latin to the vernacular and its form. In those bygone  years priests on big feasts and holidays offered Misa Cantada (Sung Mass) or High Mass where censer’s billowing smoke was offered for adoration --- holy water sprinkling included.

Liturgical hymns were a mixture of Gregorian chants, pop and locally written songs of worship accompanied mostly by the old but reliable pedal organ, violin or guitar. It’s nostalgic to recall the peace-inducing Kyrie, Gloria, Agnus Dei, Pater Noster or the “modern” Morning Has Broken, Today, Simon Garfunkel selections and others. Songs in Ilocano, I believe, especially Marian songs were from tradition while others like the Amami (Our Father) were locally composed.

Who can forget priests chanting the prayers with notes delivered for centuries?

A few days ago, my friend and a contemporary altar server e-mailed me “complaining” about the practices done in a cathedral manned by a mendicant religious order where he worships. 

“Sunday vigil and Sunday Masses are always in Misa Cantada. The Creed is also chanted. Everything is chanted by the new rector except the readings and the preaching but if the trend continues, it is quite possible that from the first sign of the cross to the final, everything will be chanted including the announcements,” he believes.

If that happens, most probably, some parishioners will go to other Churches on Sundays to  have more time spent in family bonding, recreation and fun for there is no difference between a high Mass and a regular Mass.

There is nothing wrong with that but what we are accustomed with is that a high Mass as I said is only offered on red-lettered days otherwise there would no longer be Misa Rezada (Recited Mass).

He continues, “It is only now that I hear the chanting of the Divine praises during benediction.”  He said more surprises  when one of his acquaintances had a wedding  and were asked to “donate” $2,000. Wow! That’s around P100,000. “What”, he asked “if I don’t have that amount? Will I be refused to receive the sacrament? I cannot afford that much; I have a simple job and I don’t live in Beverly Hills.”

If it is a donation, why the given amount?

He said too that the vigil Mass in another language was discontinued because collections in the Mass cannot defray “the cost of electricity (during the Mass) and the priest’s stipend”. He continues, “But lighting is not important for the Mass. During the last supper, there were only torches and surely, the room was dim. And why are they too much concerned for the stipend since they have a vow of poverty?”

My friend brought out valid points which I am not competent to answer. Probably those are the ways of that  religious order or are they?  Can a reader like you leave an opinion? -30-