Rex Olandi Rex Cledendi

I have read that both Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti said a prayer to St. Cecilia before each performance. That encouraged me to start searching for an appropriate prayer; one full of meaning. Finally, I found Cecilia, volgi un sguardo, and in particular, two selections within it: "Tu, armonica Cecilia" (tenor recitative) and "Splenda l'alba in oriente" (tenor aria). PDF HTML

Here they are, both in English, and in the original Italian:

Recitative

You, harmonious Cecilia,
who ravished with your singing,
who enchanted with your playing,
let it be granted to this gathering
of your worthy followers
that they may imitate your merits,
for a noble birth becomes obscure
without Virtue to match.

Tu, armonica Cecilia,
che rapisti col canto,
che incantasti col suono,
fa pur che sia concesso
a questo stuol de’ tuoi seguaci egregi
imitarne i tuoi pregi,
perché un nobil natale
si rende oscur senza Virtute eguale.

Aria

Whether the dawn shines in the east,
or the sun sinks in the west,
I shall always extol Virtue.
Let my voice be more melodious,
let my lyre be more harmonious,
beyond heaven and beyond the stars
I shall exalt
her high and beautiful glories.
Whether the dawn shines in the east,
or the sun sinks in the west,
I shall always extol Virtue.

Splenda l’alba in oriente,
cada il sole in occidente,
Virtù sempre esalterò.
Sia la lingua più canora,
sia la cetra più sonora,
oltre il ciel, oltre le stelle,
le sue belle
alte glorie innalzerò.
Splenda l’alba in oriente,
cada il sole in occidente,
Virtù sempre esalterò.

There is a nice rendition of "Splenda l'alba in oriente" by the American mezzo-soprano, Vivica Genaux.

I can't tell you the joy this day brings me, as we honor St. Cecilia on this her feast day - the patron saint of musicians in general, and vocalists and organists in particular.

Deepening my devotion to her has moved me to search for music dedicated to her. I found the major works: Hymn to St. Cecilia, by Benjamin Britten; An Ode for St. Ceclia's Day, by Georg Friedrich Händel; and Ode to St. Cecilia, by Henry Purcell.

May all musicians pay her the homage she is due. St. Cecilia, pray for us.

With the Holy Father's recent Motu Proprio on the liberation of the use of the traditional Latin Mass, we can't help but be pleased. This move validates the aspirations of millions of devout Catholics around the world. Here is an excerpt:

"Since time immemorial it has been necessary - as it is also for the future - to maintain the principle according to which each particular Church must concur with the universal Church, not only as regards the doctrine of the faith and the sacramental signs, but also as regards the usages universally accepted by uninterrupted apostolic tradition, which must be observed not only to avoid errors but also to transmit the integrity of the faith, because the Church's law of prayer corresponds to her law of faith."

[Via EWTN]

In the Holy Father's recent apostolic exhortation, entiltled Sacramentum Caritatis, we read again how he is trying to restore the use of liturgical Latin and Gregorian chant.

In order to express more clearly the unity and universality of the Church, I wish to endorse the proposal made by the Synod of Bishops, in harmony with the directives of the Second Vatican Council, that, with the exception of the readings, the homily and the prayer of the faithful, it is fitting that such liturgies be celebrated in Latin. Similarly, the better-known prayers of the Church's tradition should be recited in Latin and, if possible, selections of Gregorian chant should be sung. Speaking more generally, I ask that future priests, from their time in the seminary, receive the preparation needed to understand and to celebrate Mass in Latin, and also to use Latin texts and execute Gregorian chant; nor should we forget that the faithful can be taught to recite the more common prayers in Latin, and also to sing parts of the liturgy to Gregorian chant.

In the ars celebrandi, liturgical song has a pre-eminent place. Saint Augustine rightly says in a famous sermon that "the new man sings a new song. Singing is an expression of joy and, if we consider the matter, an expression of love". The People of God assembled for the liturgy sings the praises of God. In the course of her two-thousand-year history, the Church has created, and still creates, music and songs which represent a rich patrimony of faith and love. This heritage must not be lost. Certainly as far as the liturgy is concerned, we cannot say that one song is as good as another. Generic improvisation or the introduction of musical genres which fail to respect the meaning of the liturgy should be avoided. As an element of the liturgy, song should be well integrated into the overall celebration. Consequently everything – texts, music, execution – ought to correspond to the meaning of the mystery being celebrated, the structure of the rite and the liturgical seasons. Finally, while respecting various styles and different and highly praiseworthy traditions, I desire, in accordance with the request advanced by the Synod Fathers, that Gregorian chant be suitably esteemed and employed as the chant proper to the Roman liturgy.

[Via Damian Thompson]

In this article, Fr. James Farfaglia weighs in on this important and controversial topic.

In this article by Sandro Magister, we begin to see the fruit of Regensburg. Thirty-eight Muslim personalities accept the Pope's apologies unreservedly, and agree with him on the need to dialogue on the basis of reason. This is what the Pope was looking for - a starting point for respectful discussion. Looks like he was right all along.

The Holy Father has chosen neither to fall silent nor backpedal regarding is recent lecture, which has caused such an uproar in the Muslim world. Sandro Magister in this commentary gives the most cogent and coherent analysis of why he has done and is doing the right thing.

Here is one personal observation. When I saw pictures of Pope Benedict in his open-air car circling St. Peter's Square this past Sunday, I thought this is a man who is not afraid to die. In fact, I recalled his original hesitancy at being asked to ascend the throne of St. Peter. He was probably thinking to himself, "OK, Lord, I didn't want this job in the first place. Now that I'm in this predicament, I'll need you to protect me. If you want me to continue what I'm doing, You'll ensure I'm safe. If not, then this would be a perfect opportunity to cut my pontificate short. Thy will be done."

I'm not saying he is being reckless; rather, he is faithfully carrying out his mission with no earthly fear. Would that we have courage enough to take a page from his playbook.

Pope Benedict reinforces traditional liturgical music by organizing a concert conducted in the Sistine Chapel, on Saturday, June 24, by maestro monsignor Domenico Bartolucci.

Sandro Magister elaborates on the significance of this event in this www.chiesa article.

The criticism could have been leveled at any of a number of Western nations, but many Canadians are seeing red over Pope Benedict's observation that too many Canadians are living an utterly secular life. For these, there is no room for moral values founded on religious beliefs. It's the "me" generation taken to the extreme.

Roy Clancy's column provides the details.

Valentino Miserachs Grau, president of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, is calling for its revival. The Holy Father wants it too, but the path is full of obstacles. Sandro Magister has this report.