My Original Mass Setting - The Mass of Annunciation

I am a Catholic Christian singer/songwriter/composer. As such, I am supremely excited about this new project I've been working on for the past couple of months.

I have been composing a new setting for the Mass. The Catholic Mass is prayed in unison throughout the world. Regardless of what language, location, time, etc, there are specific elements of the Mass that are always present in a certain order. This is the Liturgy of the Word, in which the readings from the Old and New Testaments are proclaimed, as well as the Responsorial Psalm and the Gospel. This is followed by the Liturgy of the Eucharist, in which we partake of the True Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus. There can be no greater gift to us in our walk on this earth than the Eucharist. It sustains and strengthens us, gives us grace and peace. Without it, we are empty.

So I've been busily composing a light, energetic, uplifting, and joyful new mass setting. There's going to be changes coming down next year from the Vatican. Specifically, a lot of the responses that we Catholics have come to know and love are going to change, including the Gloria and the Holy Holy Holy. This is the reason as given by the USCCB: The Missale Romanum (Roman Missal), the ritual text for the celebration of the Mass, was promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as the definitive text of the reformed liturgy of the Second Vatican Council.  That Latin text, the editio typica (typical edition), was translated into various languages for use around the world; the English edition was published in the United States in 1973.  The Holy See issued a revised text, the editio typica altera, in 1975.  Pope John Paul II promulgated the third edition (editio typica tertia) of the Missale Romanum during the Jubilee Year in 2000.  Among other things, the third edition contains prayers for the celebration of recently canonized saints, additional prefaces for the Eucharistic Prayers, additional Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Intentions, and some updated and revised rubrics (instructions) for the celebration of the Mass.  To aid the process of translation of the Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued Liturgiam Authenticam, in 2001, an Instruction on the vernacular translation of the Roman Liturgy which outlines the principles and rules for translation.  In 2007, the Congregation for Divine Worship issued the Ratio Translationis for the English Language, which outlined the specific rules for translation in English.

So I figured, what better time to compose a new original mass setting than when everything has got to change anyways! So here it is.

I've decided to call my mass setting the Mass of Annunciation. This resonates with me on many levels, but particularly on two. I don't know if you've heard my song Fiat or seen my new CD which is titled let it be done unto me, but the occasion of the Annunciation, when our beautiful Mother Mary accepted the mission given her by God, is very important to me spiritually. My soul trembles at the thought of the Lord's plan for each one of us. He calls each one of us to proclaim Fiat, let it be done to me. He asks us to say yes to His will, often sight unseen. He calls for our sweet surrender to His plan for our lives, for each moment.

Secondly, I love the idea of the Mass as a whole proclaiming, or announcing the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. I even structured the mass setting to hone in on this anticipatory nature. The Kyrie Eleison begins the setting in a urgent, hushed, anticipatory state. Then the Gloria bursts forth exultant - We praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You, we give You thanks for Your great glory. It is triumphant: God is to be glorified above all. Next comes the Alleluia, which echoes the exultant tomes of the Gloria, although not with the same power. The next piece is the Holy Holy Holy, which comes after the completion of the Liturgy of the Word. This piece too echoes the Gloria. It is praise and worship, glorying in the Lord of Hosts, whom we are soon to receive into ourselves - oh glorious gift.

Then you have 3 new choices for the Memorial Acclamation. We will soon see the end of the familiar "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." I present 3 distinct melodies for the 3 new acclamations. All are different from the Gloria, yet still retain similar elements that tie them into the whole. I particularly like the "Save us, Savior of the world." The Great Amen follows, again picking up the theme from the Gloria, exultant and rejoicing in the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Finally, I close the mass setting with the Agnus Dei, or Lamb of God. With this final piece, I return to the melody we began with in the Kyrie Eleison. It is sobering, quieting, reminding one to be still and know the Lord is God. The third troph is in Latin, echoing the Kyrie Eleison, which was in Greek. We begin and end in a language beside our native tongue, joining with our spiritual fathers in praise and welcome of our God.

I hope that you are blessed by this original mass setting, as much as I was in its composition. It is offered to all parishes and music ministries openly and without any condition. Please use it. If you can, let me know what you think. I'd be honored and humbled to know I am contributing to the glory of God in your parish.

Below is a list of the parts of the Mass of Annunciation, along with links to the sheet music and demonstration videos. I ask for your patience as I finish each of these.
God bless you always, and praise Him in all things!

Kyrie Eleison
YouTube Video
Sheet Music

Gloria 
Sheet Music

Alleluia
YouTube Video
Sheet Music

Lenten Gospel Acclamation
Sheet Music

Holy, Holy, Holy
Sheet Music

Memorial Acclamation #1 - We proclaim Your Death, O Lord, and profess Your Resurrection until You come again.
Sheet Music

Memorial Acclamation #2 - When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim Your Death, O Lord, until You come again.
Sheet Music

Memorial Acclamation #3 - Save us, Savior of the world, for by Your Cross and Resurrection, You have set us free.
Sheet Music

Great Amen 
Sheet Music

Agnus Dei
Sheet Music

May the Lord shower you with joy and peace.



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