There will be a fine and interesting event in the Basilica of St. Peter on 10 October. Read on in this piece from Style Magazine, a monthly for men published by Corriere della Sera (the NYT of Italy).
My translation.
L’organo del Papa
di Alessandra BorgheseIt’s been around a hundred years, since the time of Anton Bruckner, that a Mass dedicated to a Pope has been composed. The very first, Tu Es Petrus, produced specifically for Benedict XVI, premiered in the Cathedral of St. Hedwig in Berlin last April to celebrate Pope Ratzinger’s 80th birthday. Among those present was the Chancellor Angela Merkel. This coming 10 October, in the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome, there will be presented again, for an Italian premier, the Mass dedicated to the Pope. The creator of this symphonic project is Wolfgang Seifen, organist of note, once a student of the reknowned Regensburg Domspatzen directed for over twenty years by Georg Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI’s big brother). Tu Es Petrus will be performed by 240 musicians making up both orchestra and choir, all students of Humboldt University in Berlin, none of whom are professionals, many non Catholic, some in fact atheists. It is thus a project with strong spiritual force.
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In the Extraordinary Rite?
Father,
I apologise for this detour, but this is very important news for the Diocese of Charlotte NC.
From,”The Crescat”:On Friday October 5th at the aproval[?]of Bishop Jugis, Diocese of Charlotte NC, the Tridentine Latin Mass will be celebrated by Father Samuel Weber OSB. at the Davis Chapel of Wake University,Winston Salem. Father Weber asks the faithful to be at the chapel at 6:45 pm.
God bless you.
Obviously this is not my Web log, but mentioning Father Weber on a thread about sacred music does not seem very off-topic to me. Ad multos annos.
“It’s been around a hundred years… that a Mass dedicated to a Pope has been composed.”
An odd claim to make, since closets in choir lofts around the country are filled with Masses dedicated to John XXIII, Paul VI, and variously numbered Pii … Piuses … aw, popes with the name Pius.
Dan, continuing your off topic, I STRONGLY urge you if possible to attend this Mass. Fr Weber is a saint in the making, and I imagine the request for early arrival is to insure that the congregation is musically and otherwise prepared to participate in the Mass to the very fullest.
(Save the Liturgy, Save the World)
Dan,
My father is Grand Knight of the KofC chapter at St. Lawrence Basilica, in Asheville. Three weeks ago Bishop Jugis was there for confirmation. He sat with my parents at dinner. My father eagerly questioned him about the Extraordinary Use. The bishop was very receptive. He also told my folks “Wait until you read my announcement in the next issue of the diocesan paper. You’ll be very pleased.”
Dad also questioned the bishop on an eventual Mass at St. Lawrence, which, as you probably know, is just the setting for it. http://www.romanticasheville.com/basilica.htm Bishop Jugis replied that if Dad could get a few people interested, he’d gladly encourage it.
Things certainly have improved since the days of Curlin!
Geri: Maybe it should read “…that a GOOD Mass dedicated to a pope has been composed.” :P
Q1 Will this be broadcast on EWTN and/or made available on-line?
Q2 Will it be video-recorded in any format and made available for purchase of internet download?
The St. Lawrence cathedral is beautiful. I saw it when I went to see the Biltmore house. But it really should have been the other way areound: drive to Ashville to see St. Lawrence’s and then stop of at the Biltmore before you go.
Please, folks: Let’s not pick on Bishop Curlin. Once again, from the top: The ONLY people now who could and would kill the MEF are its very supporters if they don’t keep their grumpy tonality sotto voce.
Bishop Curlin was a fine bishop, was and is a very holy man, was and is a very kind man, and was the best giver of spiritual conferences whom I ever met save only Benedict Groeschel. Bishop Curlin cleaned house in Charlotte and brought in the winds of change, including an remarkable number of holy priests, some following him to Charlotte, some ordained by him. What he did plant, now is blooming; soon we’ll have the harvest.
Re: Dan’s comment
Dan, what wonderful news! We go to the Basilica whenever we are in Waynesville, three or four times each year, and it would be the most perfect setting for Holy Mass in the Tridentine Rite. Bishop Jurgis’ comments are a far cry from the time, not so long ago, when we actually heard the use of Latin in the liturgy derided from the pulpit.
Will this be broadcast on EWTN and/or made available on-line?
Folks: this provides an opportunity to remind everyone to send donations to EWTN (they have not asked me to say this…).
It costs a fortune to televise things from remote locations, and they operate solely on donations. If you want to encourage them to televise more EF Masses and other things, send generous donations with letters of encouragement.
It is good to see that Benedict is following the ideal of Vatican II that the art of our time be given free rein in the Church. He is disappointing those who want no liturgical innovation at all, including no new music.
As an Italian, let me say that the Catholics or the Catholic Church is a constant concern for the Italian media. (Please, note that in Italy we do not say Roman Catholic. Roman refers to a different concern, like Washington, DC. ) This is implyed even in these few lines: “Students of Humboldt University in Berlin, … many non Catholic, some in fact atheists. It is THUS a project with strong spiritual force.” On the other hand they fail to mention – among other composers – a composer who belongs to our national culture: mons. Lorenzo Perosi (1872 – 1956), who was Mestro di Cappella first to Leo XIII, then to Pius X and the following 3 Popes. He perhaps was was the most influential composer of the Cecilian Movement. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenzo_Perosi) But of course it is a Catholic contribution to the culture, thus it is not worth mentioning.