Jason,

I will agree with Jeff that you should identify the problems. Unless you do there is probably little or no chance that they will be fixed. I recommend documenting all that you find carefully and sending it directly to all four bishops. They probably will not respond but they will have seen it.

As to the texts of the troparia, yes, there are several that are grammatically incorrect. [Good men have put in a good, well-intentioned effort but have created a product with many flaws that need to be corrected.] The larger problem is that there are several that are just bad theology. There are one or two places where the update is so literally accurate that it is awkward. There are others where the change makes the text less accurate. And there is the politics of gender neutral language that is "theologically grave". And there is the issue with a lack of uniform style (one can almost pick out the fingers in the pie). While I would wish to see a real update (that makes the texts literally accurate and eloquent) if that is not possible a return to the older books would be an improvement over the Revised books.

As to the music, there needs to be an acceptance that even Europe has moved on from Bokšaj. The Church in America needs to put the text first and allow the music to serve the text (which would follow the example of how the Slavs originally took the Greek chant and adapted it for the new Church Slavonic text).

I am currently working to record the problems with the new texts and musical settings. When I am done I will send the result to the bishops. I encourage everyone to do the same. Many believe that the bishops don't really care, but we must remember that the Lord can indeed work wonders.

I routinely hear accounts of parishes that are doing their own pew books, and even of priests who have created their own liturgicons. I think the Church is speaking loudly.

John