The Olympics have just concluded as I write this. Someone on an Internet mailing list commented that opening ceremonies were filled with symbolic ritual. That sparked a lengthy discussion of the role of symbol and ritual in the liturgy. I, on the other hand, was more impressed with the closing ceremonies. The opening event was carefully scripted, flawlessly executed, and filled with spirited, thrilling moments. It was a liturgist's dream.
The closing event was somewhat less perfect. The announcers often seemed lost, introducing the wrong performers at the wrong times. Some of the performances did not start on cue, leaving long moments of awkward dead time. And then an amazing thing happened. The athletes crashed the party. They leaped over the barriers, ran onto the field, and started dancing. And a key factor in this "chaos" was the music. Song after song, in styles ranging from country, to rock, to blues, inspired the full, conscious, and active participation of the assembly to such a degree that the directors (the "liturgists") lost control.
I'm not advocating we simply toss out the ritual and let people do as they will on Sunday. But I would like to be at a liturgy — maybe an Easter Vigil — at which the assembly becomes so moved by the music that they leap over the pews and swarm around the altar in joyous praise.
It is with that hope that this issue of ML encourages you to make prayerful, thoughtful decisions about the music resources in your parish. Joseph Swain and Alan Hommerding square off on the appropriateness of missalettes — or paper-bound worship aids (page 6 and page 9). And you can get an overview of the major hymnals on the market to see which is best for your parish (page 24). Maybe by the next Easter Vigil — or at least by the next Olympic games — your community will be ready to join the dance.
I'd like to thank M. D. Ridge for authoring the "Musical Liturgy" section of the Planning Guide for the last couple of issues. We now have a permanent author for that section. Actually, we have two. Julie and Tim Smith of Mesa, AZ, composers of the Remembering Heart collection, Eucharistic People collection, and several other works, will be giving advice to ML readers on musical selections for the upcoming seasons. To see what they have to say, turn to page 22.
ML also has new help in the advertising department. Geri Cardwell joined RPI to help out in the shipping room. She did such a great job of organizing all the boxes of extra MLs there that she was quickly promoted to Advertising Coordinator. Geri handles all the administration of the ad department. She shares the actual sales duties with long-time RPI employee, Tom Love. Tom has focused mainly on selling other RPI products and will now also turn his talents to selling ads for ML.
In the August issue (ML 23:6), the wrong person is credited with the review of God Shines on You: Music for Young People's Worship (page 44). The correct reviewer was Jeannette Oliver, a liturgical musician in Silver Springs, MD. ML regrets the error.