Competition 2006-2007

Goals of Competition: Many have lamented the omission of the Saint Michael Prayer from Holy Mass, especially in this age when it is so sorely needed. Petitioning the bishops has been suggested as a way to re-instituting the prayer (http://smcenter.org/prayerhistory). Even assuming the bishops were so inclined, it is far from clear that re-instituting the prayer as prayer would be the most effective route to take. In the forty-odd years since Vatican II, Mass-goers have become accustomed to concluding Holy Mass with a closing hymn. Why interrupt this well-ingrained custom? Why not, rather, bring back the Saint Michael Prayer through music? And so, besides producing stately and beautiful works, a longer-range objective of this competition is to recast the prayer we now fail to recite after Mass into a hymn we shall be able to sing.

Rules of Competition:

  1. All serious artists, regardless of age or other classifications, are invited to submit an entry setting the Saint Michael Prayer to music.
  2. All entries shall consist of a musical score and a CD or audio tape, as well as an introductory letter which explains what effect the artist was seeking to achieve through the work.
  3. All entries shall be mailed to Gift of Faith Foundation c/o William Conroy, 31 Lake Claire Drive, Middletown, NY 10940 and shall be postmarked no later than May 8, 2007.
  4. An impartial Board of Judges shall select the five best compositions, a public concert shall take place, if possible, on September 29, 2007, the feast of Saint Michael, and the judges shall thereafter make their final selection. The winner shall receive a purse of $5,000, and the decision of the board is final.
  5. The Foundation shall reserve the right, without payment of fees, to photograph and to record all parts of the competition. Participants agree to allow production and distribution of these photographs and recordings for media and other purposes.
  6. All participants shall retain the rights to their works, but any winner must give credit in future publicity to Gift of Faith Foundation.
  7. All entries shall be returned provided an envelope with proper postage is submitted.
  8. By submitting an entry, participants agree to accept the aforementioned rules.