About this blogger:
Richard J. Clark
Richard J. Clark has served since 1989 as Music Director and Organist at Saint Cecilia Church in Boston, Massachusetts. He is also Chapel Organist (Saint Mary’s Chapel) at Boston College. For the Archdiocese of Boston, he directed the Office of Divine Worship Saint Cecilia Schola. His compositions have been performed on four continents.
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Much of the beauty of the older forms was lost and the hymns did not really become classical. We have reason to hope that the present reform of the breviary will also give us back the old form of the hymns. But meanwhile it seems necessary to keep the later text. This is the one best known, it is given in all hymnbooks and is still the only authorized form. Only in one case have we printed the older text of a hymn, number 57, “Urbs Jerusalem.” The modern form of this begins: “Caelestis urbs Jerusalem.” But in this case the people who changed it in the seventeenth century did not even keep its metre; so the later version cannot be sung to the old, exceedingly beautiful tune.
— Fr. Adrian Fortescue (1913)

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Not a movie. This was real.
published 15 April 2013 by Richard J. Clark

RAY FOR BOSTON. Trying to digest the magnitude of the explosions in Boston is difficult for everyone.

This attack happened within my parish. St. Cecilia Parish in the Back Bay section of Boston, is around the block from the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Additionally, several beautiful historic churches literally surround the finish line. So where is God in all of this?

The screams captured from the Boston Globe video capture real terror and fear. Not a movie. This was real.

We await word to hear from loved ones and those in our parish community to know of their safety. Authorities have urged people to stay home. This isn’t over yet. Early reports indicate that among the dead may be a small innocent child. So, again, where is God in all of this horror?

Today a friend stated, “Forgiveness is hard today. Can’t stop crying.” Truth, love, justice, forgiveness and peace are all connected. Forgiveness is the hard road ahead for Boston and for all those who carry a heavy cross. We must pray for each other, so that like Simon we may help each other carry the cross.

So where there is charity and love, God is THERE. God can be found everywhere in Boston.

News of runners changing course, running to Massachusetts General Hospital to donate blood is where God can be found. Those opening their homes to house and comfort strangers is where God can be found. The outpouring of love, concern—living out the Gospel—is proof of God’s presence in Boston. God is THERE.

After 9/11 we all saw the healing power of love that followed the most horrific attack this country knew. People WANTED to help. Right now in Boston there is the same desire to help any way possible.

Please pray for God’s protection and guidance. Pray for the intercession of Mary our Blessed Mother who knows great suffering. Please pray for those in great need of comfort and especially for those in need of God’s mercy, love, and forgiveness at this time.

Psalm 85: 11-12:
“Love and truth will meet;
justice and peace will kiss.
Truth will spring from the earth;
justice will look down from heaven.”




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