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Views from the Choir Loft

Freedom

Fr. David Friel · July 7, 2012

One of the things I believe I haven’t mentioned on this blog is my training as a Navy chaplain. Although I don’t presently do anything with the Navy on a day-to-day basis, I am, in fact, a Naval reserve officer.

I also have a number of friends who are active duty military chaplains. About two weeks ago, one of them—a Jesuit priest from Boston—retired from active service after 23 years. I went to his retirement ceremony, which was held at Quantico, and it had several inspiring moments. Perhaps the most inspiring, though, was when my friend read the names of about 15 young sailors he served with who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. There was silence and stillness in the room. It was a respectful, sorrowful, and solemn silence—a silence of gratitude and admiration. Among military personnel, there is nothing more sacrosanct than honoring the fallen—those who have died in uniform.

Many people in my parish (a blue-collar, row-home community in Northeast Philly) have ties to the police and fire community, and I sense that the same is true for them. Just the mention of someone killed in the line of duty arouses a sense of solemnity. Three months ago, our city lost two firefighters in a tragic fire, which evoked strong & emotional public response. One of our own parishioners, police Officer John Pawlowski, was killed in 2009, and I daresay his loss is still fresh in the heart of our neighborhood.

What is it about these deaths that inspires us? Why are we moved by their stories? May I suggest we look to a patriotic hymn for the answer? Look at the third verse of America the Beautiful:

O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!

It’s the self-control of our military & police & fire communities that leads to self-gift. As the hymn says, they are “heroes,” “who more than self their country loved.” Jesus, Himself, once said something similar: “Greater love hath no man than this: to lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). This is the extraordinary virtue that makes us respond with silence and stillness and solemnity. It’s fascinating and thrilling and inspiring. Why? Because, when people put the needs of others ahead of their own, they’re representing something much greater. They become, in fact, living images of Jesus Christ. Jesus, in an extraordinary gift of self, gave His very life so that we might become free. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, police officers, firefighters—and so many more—stand ready to offer the same gift: the gift of their very lives, in order that we might be free.

We would do a disservice to all those who have made a sacrifice of themselves if we were not to uphold and relish the freedoms we have been given. We are living in an age when some of our fundamental freedoms are being challenged and denied in many and various ways. As the bishops of our nation have reminded us through the Fortnight for Freedom observance, “To be Catholic and American should mean not having to choose one over the other. Our allegiances are distinct, but they need not be contradictory, and should instead be complementary.” Perhaps more than ever, we need to pray for our country. In particular, we need to pray that our freedoms will be secured, most particularly religious freedom, which is our first, most cherished liberty.

Religious freedom means more than the non-interference of government in the faith lives of citizens. It means the freedom of citizens to be governed first by their faith. Our religious freedom is all-important. Were it not for the freedom won for us on the Cross, no other freedom would matter. Our American freedom to witness publicly to the highest freedom, won for us by Christ, should never be challenged. Inspired by the example of all those who have given their lives so that we might be free, let’s offer prayers and sacrifices to God and ask Him to safeguard our country from the dangers around us.

God does, indeed, bless America. Let’s return the favor, and insist that we, as Americans, continue to be free to bless God as we so choose.

America! America! God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law!

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“It will not be Rome to tell you what you should do, no: because you have the charism. …you have the Holy Spirit for this. If Rome were to begin to make the decisions it would be a blow to the Holy Spirit, who works in the particular Churches.”

— Pope Francis (27 March 2023)

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