Page 24 - LOTN Advent issue 57

FAITH AND CULTURE

to have taught the students in the schola cantorum in goal was ‘to organise the bodies of chants from diverse
Rome himself. So it may well be that he did compose some traditions into a uniform and orderly whole for use by the
chant melodies, but this cannot be proved. The mediaeval entire western region of the Church’. This is what became
paintings showing him dictating under the influence of known as Gregorian chant. Whether or not St Gregory
the Holy Spirit are more likely to represent him dictating composed some, or none of it himself, he was certainly
prose works, as he was a prolific writer. His works included responsible for its spread and influence, eventually all over
learned commentaries on Scripture, around 850 letters, and the world, so it is surely appropriate that it bears his name.
even a handbook for Christian rulers. As regards the chant, This link https://youtu.be/6VdF6xsMxhk leads to an
according to the musicologist, Donald Jay Grout, Gregory’s interesting performance of the Advent chant ‘Rorate Caeli’.

Bridgettine Mass Christian life, along with the enriching prefecture of
affirming quality music. Pope Francis, in his Apostolic
letter Desiderio Desideravi (2022), entreats us to deepen
capturing a sense our appreciation of the Church’s profound liturgical
patrimony, beseeching us to ensure that each and every
aspect of the Mass is thoroughly prepared. This most
of the sacred certainly includes the provision of liturgical music at the
holy sacrifice of the Mass.
A professional recording of A Bridgettine Mass was
his Mass setting was commissioned by made on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, 8 June 2023, at
th
the Bridgettine sisters, Maryvale Institute, St Patrick’s Church, Huddersfield, Yorkshire. It is sung by
TBirmingham, in the year 2011 to commemorate the choir EXSULTEMUS and conducted by the composer.
the centenary of the foundation of their order. The
apostolic life, through which the sisters of the Order CDs can be purchased by contacting dmeiklejohn@rcda.scot
of Saint Bridget engage in the modern world, has as well as any enquiries concerning purchase or
diverse forms. Central to its apostolic charism is reproduction of the score. It is also available on Spotify and
hospitality, traditional to all monasticism, which in Amazon Music.
its Bridgettine form translates into the provision of
guest houses where individuals and groups from all
Christian traditions, or none, are warmly welcomed.
Originally composed for unison voices with organ
accompaniment, it was sung by the Bridgettine Sisters
from Maryvale, Iver Heath, London, and St Winefride’s
House, Holywell, in North Wales. A special Mass was
celebrated on 8 September 2011 with Principal Celebrant
The Right Reverend William Kenney, Auxiliary Bishop of
Birmingham.
The Mass setting has now been remodelled for SSATTBB
choir. While still primarily intended for congregation
unison singing, this revised version allows for additional
vocal support providing a richer musical texture to be
appreciated by the singing assembly in worship.
The revised version was produced to commemorate
the 21 Anniversary of the Aberdeen Diocesan Choir
st
in a Thanksgiving Mass held on the Memorial of Saint
Hildegard of Bingen (1098 – 1179) on 17 September 2022
at St Mary’s Cathedral, Aberdeen. The Principal Celebrant
was The Right Reverend Hugh Gilbert OSB, Bishop of
Aberdeen, to whom this Mass setting is dedicated.
Several factors have contributed to releasing A
Bridgettine Mass at this time. As the debate over the
use of the sung Latin Mass continues, it is important
to endeavour to capture a sense of the sacred in the
vernacular too. Successive Popes have reinforced
the central importance of the sacred liturgy in the

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