Liturgy

Masses with the St. Ann Choir typically follow the post-1969 form of the Roman Catholic liturgy in a fully sung format that honors the immemorial custom of celebrating High Mass. Worship in this manner is upheld and commended in the legislation on liturgy and church music that stemmed from the Second Vatican Council, yet it was widely abandoned in its wake. In this format the prayers and orations of the  priest-celebrant (and deacon when applicable) are chanted according to the traditional Gregorian tones as much as possible, as are the responses and scripture readings. In accordance with ancient liturgical tradition, sustained by the council’s directive that “the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 36), our masses are rendered in this authoritative language of Catholic ritual, with the exception of the readings and homily, which are conveyed in English. 

The music sung by the choir comes primarily from the Gregorian chant repertoire, which has endured as the traditional music of the Roman liturgy since the first millennium, and whose value has been reaffirmed by the Catholic Church in every age since. Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 1963) defines it as "specially suited to the Roman liturgy," and along with Musica Sacram, the 1967 instruction on music in the liturgy, describes it has having the "principal place" among liturgical music repertoires (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 116). More recently, Popes Benedict XVI, Francis, and Leo XIV have all reemphasized its preeminence. 

The choral chants sung at Mass consist of: the Mass Ordinary—Kyrie, Gloria (omitted during Advent and Lent), Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei. On regular Sundays the congregation is encouraged to sing these along with the choir, helping to fulfill the church's ideal, “that the faithful may also be able to say or to sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 54). The choral chants also include the complete Mass Proper, the more elaborate pieces that change with each Mass—Introit, Gradual, Alleluia (replaced by a Tract during Lent, and followed by a Sequence on certain occasions), Offertory, and Communion. These are sung by the choir. Additionally, the choir will usually incorporate 1-3 polyphonic compositions at Mass. Customarily, on high feast days the Mass Ordinary is replaced with a historic polyphonic setting of those chant texts.

This structure demonstrates the concept of the High Mass as an inherently musical event--its music articulating its various functions, organizing its flow, and giving rise to its overall shape--one whose stability of form is "conducive to an intelligent, deep, and sustained participation" (Mahrt, "The Musical Shape of the Liturgy, Part I: The Gregorian Mass in General," Sacred Music, 102 [1975], "The Gregorian High Mass and its Place in the University," Sacred Music, 101 [1974]). 

When permitted for special liturgical occasions, the St. Ann Choir is also glad to sing for Masses celebrated according to the traditional Latin liturgy that was in use prior to the changes of the 1960s and has been significantly revived since the mid 2000s.