New Mass Ordinary: Missa Mater Dolorosa

Lent is quickly approaching, and as we normally do, we will change to a different Mass Ordinary setting as the liturgical season changes. When we change liturgical seasons, we try to highlight the changes within our celebration of Mass. This year, we’ll be singing our first ‘new’ Mass Ordinary since we learned the Mass of St Phillip Neri a few years ago.

Beginning on Ash Wednesday, we will sing “Missa Mater Dolorosa,” written by Fr. Michael O’Connor, O.P., who is the Director of Music at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary. One of our Diocese of Fargo seminarians, Deacon Taylor Ternes (you may remember Deacon Taylor was with us this past summer) is completing his studies and formation for the priesthood there under Fr. O’Connor’s tutelage! I think this setting offers a great example of being ‘practically singable’ for all, and marked with a sacred sound that fits the liturgical season quite well.

During the season of Lent, the Catholic Church asks us to make some changes to the music at Mass. For example, we do not sing the ‘Gloria,’ or ‘Glory to God’ during Lent, nor do we sing ‘Alleluia’ before the reading of the gospel. (GIRM 53 & 62) In addition, instrumental solos are not permitted during Lent. (MS 66) We may be tempted to say that the music becomes ‘muted’ during Lent, but that’s not quite accurate either! True, the organ does not sound at the heights of its volume and tones, but this should serve to emphasize the human voice– the instrument God created! In fact, GIRM 313 states “In Lent the playing of the organ and musical instruments is allowed only to support the singing.” So, we continue to play the organ in order to support the singing of all the people. Logically, we can then deduce that the Church wants us to keep singing and praying together, united in our sacred song. The organ may not resound with all of its might, but we still can! 

With that in mind, this setting of the Ordinary fits well, because there is a beautiful simplicity to the music that lends itself well to congregational singing. The repeated melodic ideas between movements make learning much quicker, and allow us to offer our voices up in prayer more readily, as a ‘sacrifice of praise.’ The rhythm is quite simple and the range of notes is only from E-natural at the bottom of the staff to C-natural just above the middle of the staff.