Sunday, June 15, 2008

Missa Cantata at Kelmscott

After farewelling Peter at the airport, I went into town and went to confession at the Pro., before catching up with friends after the main Mass (which I'd missed).

After Fr Rowe finished the last Low Mass, I drove him over to Good Shepherd, Kelmscott, for the 2pm Mass there. This Sunday there was to be sung Mass there, so I joined the choir for its rehearsal and for the Mass itself.

We psalm-toned the Propers, and sang the Ordinary from a mixture of Mass settings (Kyrie from Mass XVI, Gloria from Mass VIII, Credo III, Sanctus and Agnus Dei from Mass XVIII, and Ite missa est from Mass XI). To fill up the time, the hymns Veni Creator Spiritus and Adoro te devote were sung at Offertory and Communion; whilst, as processional and recessional, "Sweet Heart of Jesus, fount of love and mercy" and "Holy God, we praise Thy Name" were sung in English.

Unfortunately, the church organ is in disrepair, and the two horrible Wurlitzer-type machines at the back are worse than useless, so there was no other music provided, but the newly formed choir acquitted itself well. They will sing again in a fortnight's time, and again after that in another two weeks; the plan is thereafter to sing on the 3rd Sunday of each month, and otherwise have Low Mass.

The collect of the day - with the BCP translation thereof:

Deus, qui diligentibus te bona invisibilia præparasti: infunde cordibus nostris tui amoris affectum: ut te in omnibus et super omnia diligentes, promissiones tuas, quæ omne desiderium superant, consequamur. Per...

(O God, who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as pass man's understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that wee, loving thee [pre-1662: in all things] [and] above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through...)


This seems to allude to I Corinthians ii, 9 - "But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him." - which is St Paul quoting the Prophet Isaias: "From the beginning of the world they have not heard, nor perceived with the ears: the eye hath not seen, O God, besides thee, what things thou hast prepared for them that wait for thee." (Is. lxiv, 4.)

More directly still, the opening phrase echoes the last part of St James ii, 5 - "...which God hath promised to them that love Him" (quod repromisit Deus diligentibus se).

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