Lay Participation

Oddly enough, this topic came up the other day. It isn't a debate between my husband and myself, or even with extended family members (those who are Catholic, that is).

The organist/director of the schola for the Traditional Mass at a downtown church is bringing it up. He seems to think that a document written in the early 1900s by Pope Pius X had a single sentence indicating that the faithful should somehow participate in the gregorian chant. During the Kyrie, Gloria, etc. He's way wrong, by the way.

Our parish priest had responded to this idea by saying "During the prayers after Low Mass, or when we say an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for our parish, I can hear what that sounds like. No one is together, and the whole process sounds very messy. Try doing that with the Gregorian chant." (this is not an exact quote, by the way). It just doesn't work.


Anyway, my dear, awesome, smart, witty husband (yes he reads this, but he's still all that and more) said:

"I'm all for lay participation when it comes to mowing the cemetery."

He said more, but I just wanted to write that quote. It may be bumper sticker worthy, or maybe a post in a blog, or something. So, all these words for his few concise ones.

Thanks honey, you're the best!