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“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

The “Charism” of Saying “No”

Richard J. Clark · July 28, 2017

SENCE OF HUMOR regarding the liturgy and the Church will serve one well. A dear friend (and faithful servant of the Church) has no shortage of pithy phrases. He once expounded upon the virtues of a charism he refers to as the “Ministry of the Holy Hammer.”

There are many gifts of the Holy Spirit. We each have a special “charism”. In Greek: “χάρισμα” which means charisma. The ability to say “no” is an important gift of which much good can come, if used in conjunction with a certain gift of the Holy Sprit: Wisdom. And part of wisdom is the judicious use of mercy and kindness.

However, this “charism” of laying down the “Holy Hammer” when necessary, does not happen nearly often enough to our all too human liking.

NUMBERS 21 TELLS THE STORY of the people complaining against Moses and the Lord. The Lord sent a poisonous serpent who bit the people, and they died.

The sinner in me takes perverse pleasure in this part of the story. A dire consequence bestowed upon those who complain needlessly and without gratitude resonates deeply in my heart. Sinner that I am is disappointed by the following lines of scripture:

The Lord tells Moses to make a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole. Whoever was bitten and looks up on the bronze serpent shall live. This part of the story annoys me. (Clearly, I am a great sinner bereft of mercy and compassion upon those whom I judge to be most annoying.)

However, there is a ministry that can only be carried out by a few—a small number who are willing to take responsibility for decisions especially when it is far easier to simply capitulate.

Peter Kwasniewski was kind enough to write this article: Fidelity to Liturgical Law and the Rights of the Faithful. In it he brings for the right of every Roman Catholic to demand the Liturgy be authentic and free of abuses. This is not an extremist view. This is the right of every Roman Catholic. This article is also a very useful resource of various liturgical documents that make clear in no uncertain terms what is and what is not permissible in the liturgy.

A MOST SANE and reasonable example comes to mind: Dr. Jerry Galipeau, former Vice President and Chief Publishing Officer at J. S. Paluch Company and World Library Publications, gave a workshop in 2010 on the new translation of the Roman Missal at the Paulist Center in Boston. He said (I may be paraphrasing.) “The people deserve to have these words proclaimed well.” This stuck in my mind and my heart.

The people deserve to have these words proclaimed well.

Is that so hard? Sometimes, it seems that it is so—regardless of the translation—new or old.

The Mass cannot devolve into personal commentary. (Translation seems to have no bearing on this.) Disregarding the Roman Rite or the rite of the sacraments altogether is a gross dereliction of duty. It is depriving the people of the Living Word. It is nothing short of a betrayal of the people, for the prayers belong to them and not solely to the clergy.

• “Insidious Form” of Clericalism? A Jesuit Speaks Out

THIS LEADS TO TWO UNDERSTANDINGS of the word “pastoral.” The ability to make wise decisions in the best interest of the assembled community is vital. This is Pastoral Judgment which is one of the Three Judgments: One Evaluation found in Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship (SttL). But “pastoral” is often understood as an “out” to approve in the liturgy what is less than ideal—or blatantly not allowed. A pastoral decision to be flexible can be a healthy process if working toward the ideal. But it can be unhealthy if used to simply capitulate.

I propose another important understanding of the word “pastoral.” To strive and model model it whenever opportunity presents—is a pastoral decision. To do so is certainly in the best interest of the community. E.g., Striving to sing the Mass is a pastoral decision. Saying “no” to singing one’s favorite playlist at Mass can be a pastoral decision.

Saying “no” is difficult. But it can mean saying “yes” to something far greater. Offering to God one’s best is a positive pastoral decision.

• The People Deserve Better

THOSE WITH THE “CHARISM” OF THE “HOLY HAMMER” have a very special task and responsibility. In all seriousness, when saying “no” to something—e.g., a request of secular music for a funeral, or e.g., calling to task someone who invents their own prayers to the liturgy—it is never, never, never, never called for to be disrespectful, rude, condescending, uncharitable, etc.

The source is important. When dealing with lay people, the utmost charity is always called for. They are not trained in liturgy. Offer alternatives. Good ones! Be ready for anything, and be kind.

When dealing with another source—clergy—be kind, respectful, and charitable. For you do not know half of the burdens and responsibilities they carry, nor their background which called them to such a life of dedication to the Lord.

Ultimately, the “Ministry of the Holy Hammer” is something like Good Cop and Bad Cop. It comes from leadership. Be firm. Be clear. Set specific expectations. Enforce them with love.

In the mean time, teach by kindly example in how you live your life.

AMDG

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 Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —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

Some are called not to much speaking, | nor to conversations about the Church, | but, rather, to a deep silence | and to a life hidden in the heart of the Church, | far from wrangling tongues, from speculations, and discord. […] This is the essence of a Eucharistic monastic life.

— Fr. Mark Daniel Kirby (Meditation on Colossians 3:3)

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