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No 165 - 2002
10. From The Douai Magazine 100 years ago
We reprint an item from the issue of October 1902.
A Benedictine Holy Week
...everything was performed with dignity and accuracy, and the music was excellently rendered. The Tenebrae service was a treat, especially the harmonised Lamentations, the harmony being, I understand, the work of the Right Rev. Abbot (now Bishop) Austin O’Neill. The Benedictus, however, at Tenebrae, in the harmonised composition of Palestrina, was the most charming feature of the service. The plain Chant Mass on Maundy Thursday was particularly well rendered; and the same praise must be given to the singing of the various and continually varied responses, antiphons, tracts and other liturgical passages of the office of the last three days of Holy Week—no easy task for a choir consisting chiefly of boys. On Maundy Thursday we had the ceremony of the Mandatum, the places of the thirteen poor men usual in cathedral churches being taken by an equal number of the College boys, and the washing of their feet was performed by the Very Rev Prior, in the absence of the Abbot. On Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday a little more latitude was allowed, and a certain amount of figured music indulged in—Gounod’s Messe Solennelle being chosen, and I must say very devotionally rendered—the proper, however, being strictly given in the correct plain song. Also on these two days I had the pleasure of hearing for the first time the peculiar “Benedictine chant” for the Epistle and Gospel, the collects and preface. This is used only on first class feasts. It differs widely from the Roman chant, and is decidedly very sweet. It has also this peculiarity that it is accompanied throughout by the organ. The effect, especially at the singing of the Epistle and Gospel by sub-deacon and deacon respectively, is certainly novel. Altogether the accomplished choir-master (Fr Paul Rigby OSB) and his apt pupils are to be congratulated upon the copious success which has attended what must have been an arduous task for a small and limited body. For the rest, Douay College has always enjoyed a good reputation for its music. VIATOR
This paper appeared in The Tablet, 12th April (1902).
From the February 1902 issue
At the end of the Retreat, as many of the Fathers as were present assembled at Conventual Chapter, where among other things it was decided that, as long as circumstances permitted, the headquarters both of the College and of the Monastery should remain at Douai. The schemes for Malvern and for a new system of studies were likewise expounded.On the 28th of October (1901) the Douai Municipal Council graciously sent up to the Central Government a highly favourable account of our College, together with a strong recommendation for authorisation. We beg to record our profound gratitude for the interest which the Mayor and the Council have manifested in our behalf.”‡
Index
The Role of the Monastery in Today's Society A Layman's Viewby Sir David Goodall
100 Years at Woolhampton as seen from the pages of The Douai Magazine
The New Monastery Buildings by Oliver Holt OSB
A Low God is No God Reflections on latent atheism by Peter Bowe OSB
Go to index of Douai Newsletter.