Oratory choir begins practice for the rededication ceremonies

Under the beautiful rose window in the choir loft at Our Lady of Sorrows church, featuring a  stained glass rendition of St. Cecilia (the patroness of church music), the Old St. Patrick Oratory choir last evening, began the meticulous preparation of one of the most comprehensive liturgical services that exist in the traditional Church.

All Catholic public churches and public oratories must be blessed in a consecration ceremony before the Sacred Mysteries can be regularly celebrated in them (Cong. of Rites, September, 1871).

The regular Oratory choir will be joined by other guest singers in order to provide a most beautiful rendition of the liturgy. Some of the repertoire to be included are:

• William Byrd's (c. 1540-1623) Mass for Three Voices
• St. Saens' Ave Verum Corpus
• Jaquet of Mantua's O Jesu Christe
• Pierluigi da Palestrina's Ave Maria
• Palestrina's Sicut Cervus
• Josquin des Pres' Ave Vera Virginitas

In addition a men's Gregorian chant schola will be formed to sing the Proper of the Mass and the voluminous chants of the dedication cermonies.

The members of the Oratory choir are greatly appreciated for this special effort, but mostly for their regular and dedicated service to the music of the Latin Mass on Sunday mornings.