Gloria in excélsis Deo

For someone who has violently opposed many of the practices and teachings of the Catholic Church, I find myself drawn to Gregorian chants more than I am to even normal worship music. I can’t describe in words how Salve Sanctus Parens lifts my spirit or how Veni Sancte Spiritus moves me to tears. There is a deep connection to God that comes through so clearly in the music. It makes me want to simply fall to my knees in worship. There is far more depth and meaning in it than could ever be explained.

I now see what my dad meant when he said that he wished the Mass was still conducted in Latin. There is power and intensity in the words of the Bible sung in Latin that cannot be matched by the watered-down, modernised English ones Catholics sing today to more complex music. I’ll just use a very well known doxology in the order of the Catholic Mass as an example – “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”.

Gloria in excélsis Deo
Et in terra pax homínibus bonæ voluntátis.
Laudámus te.
Benedícimus te.
Adorámus te.
Glorificámus te.
Grátias ágimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam,
Dómine Deus, Rex cæléstis, Deus Pater omnípotens.
Dómine Fili unigénite, Jesu Christe.
Dómine Deus, Agnus Dei, Fílius Patris.
Qui tollis peccáta mundi, miserére nobis.
Qui tollis peccáta mundi, súscipe deprecatiónem nostram.
Qui sedes ad déxteram Patris, miserére nobis.
Quóniam tu solus Sanctus.
Tu solus Dóminus,
Tu solus Altíssimus, Jesu Christe,
Cum Sancto Spíritu in glória Dei Patris. Amen.

This has now been translated and shortened further into what is a much simpler version which is sung in churches all over the world. It seems that to the average churchgoer the roots of the songs and prayers they say every Sunday are long forgotten. Not only does the Latin version sound much richer, it probably contains far more in its meaning that this-

Glory to God in the Highest
And peace to His people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, Almighty God and Father;
We worship you, we give you thanks,
We praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Son of the Father.
Lord God, Lamb of God
You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;
You are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive our prayer.
For You alone are the Holy One,
You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High Jesus Christ,
With the Holy Spirit in the Glory of God the Father. Amen.

I am sorry to say that if the church thought that by modernising things they could make this songs sound more appealing, they have failed miserably. I still remember singing this in church in a sombre atmosphere as though I was mourning the death of a distant, unknown person instead of celebrating my living God and Saviour. Isn’t that the whole point of the Gloria? Here is a beautiful song written to praise Jesus and today we sing it with such a lack of fervour that it loses its meaning. So what if the Gregorian chants were monotonous? They still carry far more passion than the modern songs. I’m not saying that Catholics should revert to the chants of old; I am simply saying that if they want to change things, they need to maintain and convey the same passion for their faith.

I could go on for days questioning what has become of the passion for Christ and salvation that the Antioch church had. All I can do now is challenge everyone who is a believer to act on their faith. I don’t care if all you have is the equivalent to a Gregorian chant. Even if you think you’re not as eloquent as someone else or you’re not as mature a Christian as everyone else you know, do what you can. Use what you have and put all the passion you can into it.

Jesus Himself told us what the greatest commandments are for us as believers – whether you wish to call yourself a Catholic or Christian or whatever else.

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these." Mk 12:29-30

We are called to love our Lord with ALL we have. Being a believer is not about a half-hearted faith where we are lukewarm. It’s about being on fire for God – full of passion. More than that, we are called to love people. If we love our friends, would we not want to see them in heaven with us in eternity? Why then do we hesitate to share what is the best thing we have in our lives? I myself am guilty of not taking opportunities to share the Gospel. Why don’t we all start today – right this instant. It’s time that our passion for Christ was made public – let it shine and don’t keep it hidden in your heart. There is no such thing as a passive believer, only a lazy one.