The Catholic bulletin., 1920-11-27
FRANCISCAN FATHERS USED MU.
SIC AS AN AID IN PROPAGAT-
ING THE FAITH.

In the territory now comprising the
United States, the early Franciscan
missionaries, notably in Texas and
California, took great pains to teach
Latin and Spanish hymns. Where the
converts could be collected in the mis-
sions, Indian boys and youths learned
to sing all the Masses in plain chant,
the vespers, and all Offices of the
Church. The old choir books of parch-
ment, in which the pages measure
nearly yard in length and the square
notes half an inch, are still in evidence
at various former mission churches
especially in Santa Barbara, Califor
MIA. A long list of Spanish hymns for
the different feast days of the year
were sung on all state occasions, Len.
ten seasons, etc. Litanies were among
the chief pieces. The evenings were
usually passed by the girls in singing
the numerous hymns of which all were
fond.
A pretty custom, peculiarly Span
ish obtained in the missions Of Texas
and California. This was the singing
of the Alabado. 1t may be traced back
to the year 1716, when the Franciscan
Fathers of the two missionary col
leges of Santa Cruz de Queretaro and
Guadalupe de Zacatecas for second
time entered the interior of Texas to
reoccupy the missions founded there
about twenty years previously. The
Franciscan Chronicler relates that on
the expedition every day the Alabado
was chanted as friarS were wont to do
in their monasteries. AlabadO means
praise. This Alabado seems to have
been the first music taught the Indian
converts; the text and air are sung at
Mission Santa Ines, and probably was
the melody used at all the missionary
establishments.
Ordinarily on occasions of note,
the TIE Deum Laudamus was chant
ed; but, unless two or more friars
the Alabado, which every one knew,
was substituted.
On a beautiful spring morning
one may follow the interesting serv
ice in Mission Conception, at old
San Antonio, and enjoy marvellous
scene in wild unsettled country.
The angelus bell summons the faith
full to greet the Mother of God. A
solemn procession advances with the
Holy Eucharist carried along amidst
clouds of incense waited by the per-
fume of strange wild flowers, escort
ed by hundreds of pueblanos and
rancheros bearing lighted tapers. This
imposing line stops at the temporary
affairs, or ermitas, to perform the serv-
ice suggested, while the melodious,
angelical salutation, the ''Dios TIE Sal
ve," falls on the listening ear.
The divine service begins in the
chapel with the holy music for the
"Misa de Angels (VII Del Kirial
Vaticano). The plain chants in the
Masses of various tones for various
feasts were used, eight or nine of
them. The Kyrie was first sung, fol-
lowed by the Gloria, the Credo, the
Sanctus, the Benedictus, and the Ag.
nus Del
Boys with good voices and with
some taste were taught the letters and
square notes, and trained to read and
sing notes, as no organs were avail
able at that time. A violin in the
hands of missionary led at practice
and rehearsals with good effect.
These boys in time became the choirs.
In addition to Masses in the morning,
the choir sang vespers in the evening,
also in plain chant, at which they in
time became very proficient. Even the
long Offices of Holy Week were sung
by the Indians at the missions. The
valuable work accomplished by those
worthy Fathers stands today as a
noble and lasting monument to their
memories.