Oh rather!!! That is one of the reasons for my enjoying the EF Mass. The study and knowledge of Classical Languages today is quite rare among the laity (AND clergy!! ). Therefore, the burden of singing the Mass is even greater on the Choir when all are sung in Latin. Mystery calls the soul to pursue with dogged desire; there must be a morsel of understanding, that of knowing that there is infinitly more to know, THIS is the 'carrot' on the stick. On the other hand there is a revalation which comes with good enlightened singing of a Mass text which cannot be put into words which sufficiently communicate the fullness of its meaning. But being intelligent human beings, we try.

SBpfu - Interesting. Then one needs to understand what 'meaning' is. Is understaning the text of the prayer a thoroughly academic thing? Or is understanding the text inclusive of both an event of the heart AND the mind?

But faith is a gift which might be given through either the heart or the mind, or both! "Lord I believe;help my unbelief" (St Paul). The mind apprehends the truth and the heart rejoices, the heart can intuit the truth and the mind's job, then, is to articulate the truth.

Truth left unarticulated is the death knell of faith, therefore, the gospel imperative to evangelise. To communicate the truth unto all men. The Liturgy is key in this effort, wherein music (the means of transporting the text from the pages to the minds and hearts of men) is key.

But the text contains words which are not magical formulae. Each word carries a meaning, each sentence a meaning and each strophe (in the case of the Salve Regina) deep Marian Theology.

Therefore, to communicate only the beauty of the music (aesthetics) without communicating the text, communicates nothing for the instruction of souls, save lovely sounds. This is a concert performance. On the other hand, to understand the words and sing them with faith communicates the deep Theology of the text and so offers instruction for souls. Herein lies the communication of truth for the nourishment of faith.

Now, can understanding of a text be separated from the articulation of same? When we read in church, do we not prepare to do so? Why? Therefore, it is necessary to understand with our mind what we are saying in order to communicate meaning unto the people we speak. It is the same thing when we sing. To sing without using ones voice to express the meaning of the text one is singing is not only futile, but quite inhuman and communicates nothing to nourish faith.

In fine, aesthetics are fine; in and of themselves, men repspond to beauty. Beauty lifts the mind and heart unto God (Sacrosanctum Concilium). But when the mind and heart are lifted unto God, what then? Herein lies the importance of the text. Therefore, to communicate the text beautifully, means to understand the text and USE music to commmunicate the meaning of the text. Now, is this meaning only the grammatical meaning of words and syntax? No, it is only the starting point. Herein is located the roots of Holy Mother Church's emphatic praise of music and highlighting for us the utter importance of music in the Liturgy. Music is able to communicate the deep meaning of theological truths in song and instrumentals directly unto the heart. Therefore, when we sing in Church, when the choir offers a motet or two, or the organist plays an improvisation, they all MUST be borne from a complete understanding of the purpose of the event, the text used and, of course, supernatural gift. BEAUTY of truth in sound and BEAUTY of thought spring from the same source, i.e. the mind and heart operating in concert.

Beautiful sounds.

Perhaps next time the videographer will be located in a position where there are no distractions from people sitting in the pews. My suggestion? Tell those who are in the way (4 or 5 in this case) what you are intending to do, ask for their kind cooperation and give them $5 each for the inconvenience of having to relocate to a different area of the church (slightly to the left of camera).

You would then have a GREAT video.