Oh boy. Holy Name Church in Toronto will be home to what’s called Missa Gaia or “Earth Mass.”
This from the parish bulletin:
Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts Music Department will present Missa Gaia at Holy Name Church Wednesday April 3 and Friday April 5 at 7 p.m. This concert will feature the combined choirs and select band/string performers of CCAA in an eclectic mix of traditional, contemporary and nature sounds all directed to praise Jesus Christ as Lord of all creation.
I’m not sure where Jesus really comes into it. Maybe it’s the sound of howling wolves? Who knows?
Now, the archdiocese mentions Jesus but is He really the focus of the Gaia Mass? Here’s a review of the work by EcoSpirit which says:
The ecosophical movement has its song in Paul Winter’s masterpiece Missa Gaia Earth Mass, for the Missa Gaia embodies a moving and convincing vision of the grace of nature and provides an opportunity for wonder and praise in the face of an interdependent cosmos.
That doesn’t sound very Jesus-y, does it? How about this part?
In Nissa Gaia the second meaning is expressed by means of a monumental initation journey into earth-wisdom, a journey that encompasses nearly the entire first-half of the Earth Mass.
Our musical initiation into the wisdom of the living earth begins in response to the cry of the chorus “Kyrie eleison,” “Lord have mercy upon us.” The response to this chorus is a solo “Beatitudes” accompanied by the chorus, the cathedral choisters (boys chorus)
and piano. The conclusion generates jubilant congregational clapping. “Beatitudes” is the answer to “Kyrie eleison,” affirming the blessedness of all of the earth’s inhabitants. The gift of mercy is here within the living earth. The mercy is this spiritualized biosphere.
As Toronto Catholic Witness writes: “it is outrageous that a Catholic church be used for a piece of work that draws its inspiration from gnostic pantheism. This underscores the grave crisis in the faith that we have not only in our local Catholic schools, but within the Archdiocese itself.”
The music reportedly includes the cries of the Alaskan wolf, the hump-backed whale, the harp seal and the loon.
I’m thinking the loon would feel very at home at this concert.
April 3, 2013 at 10:00 pm
Wait, are we talking howling wolves or Howlin' Wolf here?
April 3, 2013 at 11:07 pm
Oh, the springtime of Vatican II is my winter of discontent.
April 3, 2013 at 11:17 pm
Love this. The cacophony would mask my moans of despair. I would finally fit right in.
April 4, 2013 at 12:11 am
Anon at 6:27: "your creative writing abilities has encouraged me …"
Talk about self-pwnt!! LOL
April 4, 2013 at 1:21 am
In the old days people would have the decency to leave the church.
April 4, 2013 at 2:59 am
I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought he was talking about Howlin' Wolf.
April 4, 2013 at 4:16 am
Where wolf howls orc prowls
April 4, 2013 at 5:41 am
This is by far the most horrific collection of sounds I have ever heard. I'm scared to listen to anything else again. Ever.
April 4, 2013 at 5:42 am
This is by far the most horrific collection of sounds I have ever heard. I'm scared to listen to anything else again. Ever.
April 4, 2013 at 6:47 am
If it had been Howlin' Wolf I might have gone to it…well no but it would have been a huge improvement anyway.
April 4, 2013 at 6:48 am
It was blogger Vox Cantoris who broke this story:
http://voxcantor.blogspot.ca/2013/04/toronto-gaia-mass-update.html
Proper credit should be given.
April 4, 2013 at 6:51 am
One question…How do you know when it is time to go up for Holy Communion? And what do they serve, Kibbles and Bits?
April 4, 2013 at 8:46 am
So, we can assume that the archbishop of Toronto will discipline a few people for this, right? Right? I SAID, RIGHT???
April 4, 2013 at 8:47 am
The Catholic hierarchy has one thing in common with its mainline Protestant counterparts: They're both going to Hell, unless they repent of this nonsensical infatuation with intellectual fashion!!!
April 4, 2013 at 12:55 pm
A Mass dedicated to a pagan goddess.. at least it's not Ishtar?
April 4, 2013 at 3:21 pm
Silly Catholics, Gaia Masses are for pagans!
April 4, 2013 at 3:22 pm
Silly Catholics, Gaia Masses are for pagans!
April 4, 2013 at 5:45 pm
"Weeee neeeeed to FIIIIIND his son."
Reminds me of "Finding Nemo!"
– Elodie
April 4, 2013 at 7:06 pm
….and (satan's) TRIX are for kids!….by the way..
…
GOD'S NATURE, ITSELF,….not the demon, nissa gaia, is LEADING the revolt against man….
WHEN THE ABOMINATION OF SACRILEGE IS FOUND ON THE ALTAR OF GOD….
…..honey bees (helpers of man) are suffering "Colony Collapse Disorder!"…they are dropping dead (en mass) on the spot! Their populations are being decimated by satan and his minions!
For "HOLY MASS" candles have to be, at least 51%, beeswax to be on the altar!….PRAY!
April 4, 2013 at 8:44 pm
This was from 2009.
April 4, 2013 at 11:49 pm
…..cmon,
Call me naive, call me alot of things,…..but,……..in my recollections,
I've "NEVER KNOWN EVIL ACTS" to have an EXPIRATION DATE!…stamped on 'em!
Awe…cmon, what do you know that I don't….