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Views from the Choir Loft

What can Men Do Against such Reckless Hate?

Andrew Leung · November 19, 2015

CTL France AST FRIDAY, I served as a Straw Subdeacon at a Solemn High Mass for the first time. It was a wonderful and prayerful experience! One of the servers informed us that a tragic attack happened in Paris during our prayerful Mass. I was shocked and very sad when I heard the news. It wasn’t the news I expected hear after a beautiful Mass. All I did was pray for those souls as I take off my vestments.

Fr. Michael Gossett, parochial vicar at my parish, quoted the second Lord of the Rings movie at Sunday Mass. He quoted King Theoden of Rohan and Aragon:

Theoden: What can men do against such reckless hate?

Aragorn: Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them.

These lines are from the conversation of the two characters as they face their enemies, who are attacking them not for their wealth nor land, but just wanting to destroy the world of men. We are facing a similar situation today. While most of us are not going to be the ones riding out to meet the enemies physically, we can all pray harder. That is what we do as followers of Christ.

We need to pray for the repose of the souls of those who were killed in the attack; for recovery and healing for those who are injured; for the families of the victims; for the leaders of the nations and those who are defending us physically from the enemies; for the conversion of our enemies and the grace of forgiveness; etc.

This is what the famous American conductor, Leonard Bernstein, said after the assassination of President Kennedy:

“This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.”

That is what we, musicians, can do in response to violence and hate.

CTL France 2 HERE WILL BE a Sung Requiem Mass according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite this Saturday at 8am at the historical St. Peter Church in downtown Steubenville, OH. Fr. Timothy Huffman, the pastor of St. Peter, will be offering this Mass for Souls in purgatory, especially for those who lose their lives in the Paris attack. Yours truly will be directing a choir formed by students of the Franciscan University of Steubenville. The repertoire will include traditional Gregorian chants for the Requiem Mass, excerpts of the Missa Pro defunctis (1583) by Tomás Luis de Victoria and pieces by Palestrina and Fauré.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

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 Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(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

“If a pope were only ever applauded, he would have to ask himself whether or not he was doing things right.”

— Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (2016)

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  • Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
  • (Rehearsal Clips) • Sacred Music Symposium 2025

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Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

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