Watts and Co., founded in 1874 has offered a special savings to readers on ChantCafe.com that we want to pass along. They have been long-time advertisers on the NewLiturgicalMovement.org website, supporting our work for many years.

Use discount code CCWATTS to receive an 8% discount on all their choir products. Just visit their website at wattsandco.com.

A little about Watts and Co.:

Traditional hand embroidery remains a key part of Watts & Co.’s offering.

Founded in 1874, Watts & Co. has grown from a small firm of Gothic Revival architects to the purveyor of the finest vestments, choir wear, fabrics, and furnishings to churches worldwide.

Heir to his fifth-generation family business, Robert Hoare, took on the prestigious mantle and continues to guide its growth into the 21st century.

Robert’s ancestor, Sir Gilbert Scott Jr, one of the founders of Watts, converted to Catholicism through his encounter with St John Henry Newman. Since then, Watts has seen its relationship with the Church blossom, supplying priests, parishes, choirs and religious communities worldwide with unique vestments, choir wear and liturgical fabrics of timeless beauty.

‘People who come to us discover a craftmanship here which has been carefully preserved from generation to generation,’ explains Robert. At the heart of Watts’ practice is the message of Pope Benedict XVI: beauty is not mere decoration rather an essential element of the liturgical action.

The Watts showroom in Westminster, London, England.

Celebrating its 150 years anniversary this year, Robert Hoare is passionate to maintain and develop the company’s mission of contributing to the beauty of the liturgy far into the future.

December 31, 2023 by Kathleen Pluth

Oremus pro invicem

December 26, 2023 by Kathleen Pluth

A hymn for the saint of the day

The martyr Stephen met his death–

Forgiveness in his final breath–

He interceded for them all

Whose cloaks lay at the feet of Saul.

The Father, hearing Stephen’s prayer,

Gave gifts for all the Church to share

When grace and mercy overflowed

In light upon Damascus Road.

Then bless the Lord of heart and mind

Who gives new vision to the blind,

Whose reign throughout the world extends,

Whose loving-kindness never ends.

November 10, 2023 by Kathleen Pluth

Official Hymn for the Eucharistic Revival

Last spring I joyfully and gratefully received the news that my hymn text was chosen as the official Hymn for the USCCB’s important initiative, the Eucharistic Revival.

After the editing process, the Hymn and also Diane Mahoney’s original composition, the official Theme Song of the Revival, are now available to parishes.

With its themes of salvation and glory, the hymn might well be useful to some during their celebration of Christ the King in a couple of weeks.

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Let+The+Earth+Acclaim+Christ+Jesus+-+Assembly+-+Hyfrydol

More versions of the Hymn, and the Theme Song, may be found here.

October 21, 2023October 21, 2023 by Richard Chonak

CMAA’s first event in New England

Last week (October 12-14), seventy participants came to CMAA’s Fall Sacred Music Workshop at St. Benedict Abbey in Still River, Massachusetts for three days of learning and performing chant and polyphony amid the beautiful hills of Central New England.

Starting on Thursday afternoon we prepared the plainchant Mass XII, which we sang on Friday afternoon for a votive Mass of the Sacred Heart, offered in the abbey’s chapel by Abbot Marc Crilly, OSB.

We also began to study Palestrina’s Missa Pater noster, a charming Mass taking the plainchant melody of the Pater noster as its main motif.

The Palestrina was sung at the workshop’s closing Mass on Saturday at Saint Cecilia Church in Leominster, celebrated by Worcester bishop Robert McManus.

More photos of the workshop are on CMAA’s member portal site.