Beatitudes composition by Rogers woman to be sung at papal Mass
Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/60854/
When she was a tiny girl in Cuba, she bent all the white keys up on a toy piano.
“ I wanted to see where that magical sound came from, ” Lourdes Montgomery said Wednesday, explaining how she has always felt about music. “ Since I can remember, I have loved the piano. ”
She and her family left Cuba when she was only 5 years old. After living in different parts of America, Montgomery now lives in Rogers and serves as director of music at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church here. She has written several sacred songs — for Mass in both Spanish and English — that are published in hymn books. One of her pieces was chosen to be used in the Mass presided over by Pope Benedict XVI during his historic visit to the United States.
“ I am so honored, ” Montgomery said. “ It’s such an honor to have my liturgical piece played anytime, much less for the papal Mass. I’m very happy, and I will be watching television, channel EWTN, at 9 a. m. Central (Daylight ) Time Thursday to see and hear the choir. I will be missing a meeting at church, but my supervisor said it was fine. Since we don’t have cable TV, I’m going to my friend’s house to watch. ”
Montgomery said her song will be sung by a 500-voice choir. According to information released by the Archdiocese of Washington, D. C., an orchestra of 45 musicians will play the music for the Mass and preludes. Tom Stehle, pastoral associate for liturgy and music at Our Lady of Mercy parish in Potomac, Md., along with a committee, submitted the music they selected to be played to the Vatican. Stehle wanted music that represents not only Catholic and Christian tradition, but the diversity of the Washington, D. C., church, as well.
Montgomery’s song, “ Bienaventurados” translates to Beatitudes or “ Blessed are those …. ” It’s among the six Communion hymns to be sung at Mass. Songs will be sung in English, Italian, Latin, Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Korean.
“ I wrote the song in 1999, ” Montgomery said. “ I wanted to write something based on the Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. That’s all the ‘ Blessed are the …. ’ I couldn’t find a song about the Beatitudes that I really liked. So I just sat at the piano and wrote ‘ Bienaventurados. ’ I never thought it would be performed for the pope. ”
Montgomery’s husband, Michael, is also a musician. He’s a bass player with the symphonies in Tulsa, Okla., and Fort Smith. Her daughter, Teresa, is 23 and will graduate from college soon. Right now, she’s working as an intern at Disneyworld. Montgomery’s son, 19-yearold Michael, is a student at Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville.
Montgomery said she lived in Little Rock from 1968 to 1971. She attended school at Our Lady of Souls when she was there. Following her time in Little Rock, she moved to Miami, Fla., and lived there until moving to Rogers a couple of years ago.
“ I love living here, ” Montgomery said. “ Everyone is so nice and so friendly. I guess it’s the Southern hospitality. It’s wonderful and I love working at St. Vincent de Paul. Everyone has been congratulating me about my song being sung at the papal Mass. I tell them, just like I told you, ‘ I’m honored, so honored. ’”