Intended especially for the growing number of
multicultural, bilingual (Latino/Anglo) parishes and communities in the
United States,
Oramos Cantando / We Pray in Song is a hymnal
and service book that is comprehensive enough to satisfy the liturgical
needs of such communities, when they are worshipping in Spanish, in
English, or bilingually.
- Bilingual from the first page to the last. Organized to reflect the
liturgical life of the Church: morning, evening and night prayer from
the Liturgy of the Hours; the sacramental rites of Christian
initiation of adults, baptism of children, holy communion outside Mass,
eucharistic exposition and benediction, reconciliation of penitents,
anointing of the sick, marriage, and funerals; the Order of Mass;
service music; hymns and songs; lectionary responsorial psalms. All
ritual texts are from the English- and Spanish-language liturgical books
approved for use in the dioceses of the United States of America
- Seventy settings of psalms and biblical canticles in a variety of
styles, for use in the Liturgy of the Hours, at Mass, and in other
liturgical rites. Many employ Gelineau, Guimont, or Conception Abbey
tones. Standards from the “Celebration-style” repertoire by Haugen, Joncas, Haas, and others. All with Spanish and English texts
- ICEL chants for the Order of Mass, accompanied by the complementary
plainsong chants in Spanish. Five bilingual settings of the ordinary of
the Mass, along with one Latin and two English-only Mass settings; plus a
number of additional service music items to serve the liturgical needs
of Anglo/Latino parishes for many years to come
- A broad and stylistically diverse collection of nearly 550 hymns,
psalms, and inspired songs, containing the best and most beloved
traditional and contemporary music of Latino and Anglo communities, with
more than 300 items newly translated according to guidelines for
preserving meaning, rhyme, and meter
- Music from around the world, encompassing plainsong chants,
classical hymnody, contemporary scripture-based songs, Taizé chants, and
world music from Asia and Africa. Settings originally with Spanish
texts are from the United States, Spain, Mexico, Central and South
America, and the Caribbean
- Lectionary psalms with USCCB-approved refrains in both English and Spanish and verses from The Revised Grail Psalms and the salterio of Spain’s Conferencia Episcopal Española (CEE). These bilingual lectionary psalms have been included in the Sacred Song missalette program of The Liturgical Press since 2005
-
Eleven indexes: liturgical, topical, psalms and canticles, service
music, scripture references in hymns, hymn tunes, tune meters, musical
settings using languages other than Spanish and English, psalm refrains
set to music, common titles and first lines, and hymnal contributors
(composers, authors, translators, sources)
- A hymnal which not only addresses the liturgical experience of
today, but also opens the door to new possibilities in the future.
Fulfilling the statement of the American bishops: "Liturgical music
today must reflect the multicultural diversity and intercultural
relationships of the members of the gathered liturgical assembly. The
varied use of musical forms such as ostinato refrains, call and
response, song translations, and bilingual or multilingual repertoire
can assist in weaving the diverse languages and ethnicities of the
liturgical assembly into a tapestry of sung praise." Sing to the Lord, 60
