Gregorian chant: A Sense of the Sacred

The Gregorian Choir of Paris had their Philippine tour last Feb.18 to Feb.27. Endorsed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the tour brought a spiritual and sacred message: the “world needs a form of silence that resembles a Gregorian chant.”

To echo what St. John Paul II wrote in his apostolic exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis (March 25, 1992) about “the supplement of the soul” which is music and St. Augustine of Hippo’s famous quote: “Qui Bene Cantat Bis Orat” (he who sings prays twice), the Gregorian Choir of Paris offered special moments in praying with Filipinos.

They accompanied the Sacred Liturgy in Latin as a special choir at the 5:30pm Latin Mass in Ordinary form at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Obrero, Davao City on February 27. The Mass was presided by Msgr. Paul Cuison, JCD, concelebrated by Fr. Russell Bantilles PhD and Fr. Randy Vergara, SSS.

In his homily, Msgr. Cuison said: “I try to remind you what they are going to sing today for sure would be Latin and I’m sure you would not understand and I hope that my Latin Mass would be appropriate and won’t add to our confusion.”

The Latin Mass Society of Davao is led by their Spiritual Director Fr. Russell Bantiles. They were tasked to prepare the responses of the Mass with translation in English that served as guide for the faithful who attended.

Msgr. Cuison also emphasized in his homily: “A good music expresses the worshipers’ yearning for the beyond opening their sense of all wonder and hopefully facilitating the most profound experience of being with God.”

“For the Gregorian music I believe it is easy to follow just allow yourself to hear its rhythm opening yourself to where it possibly lead you and towards the ultimate goal which is union with God,” Msgr. Cuison added.

During their final stay here in Davao (Feb.27, 2015), the Gregorian Choir of Paris was set to have a concert entitled “Virgo Mater Gloriosa” to reach the People and touch their lives through Sacred Music. The 26-member choir who performed in Abreeza Mall hails from France, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Colombia, Madagascar, Lithuania, Chile, and the Republic of Korea led by Fr. Guillaume Antoine and Carmelite Monk Fray Alejandro Tobón.

They started their performance by invoking the Holy Ghost singing the Veni Creator Spiritus (Come Creator Spirit) an 11th Century Music led and conducted by Mr, Charles Barbier. Other songs they chanted were: “Magnificat”, “Puer Natus”, ”Victimae Paschali Laude”, “Cibavit Eos”,”Filie et Filae” (DeoNostro), “Litaniæ Sanctorum”, “In Expectantis”, “Ave Maria Stella”, “Ave Maria”, “Christus Vincit” among many others.

The Choir was able to meet the different members and young individuals who fell in love with the great treasure of our sacred music from the Latin Mass Society of Davao and Catholic Faith Defenders.

It posed a challenge for us to continue to preserve the Sense of the Sacred that it may not be forgotten. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once said: “It is possible to modernize sacred music. But it should not happen outside of the traditional path of Gregorian chant and sacred polyphonic choral music.” (Joey Cabatingan)