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Views from the Choir Loft

The Triumph of the Cross

Fr. David Friel · September 14, 2011

The traditional Vespers hymn for the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross is Vexilla Regis, one of the greatest liturgical hymns in the Latin treasury.

I was reading over it last night to prepare a homily for today, and I was struck by the English translation given in the Mundelein Psalter. Although this particular translation actually adds a sentiment or two not present in the Latin, I found this line wonderfully enhanced: “Hail, holy altar . . . by which Life chose and welcomed death.” [Original: Salve, ara . . . que Vita mortem pertulit.]

Along with the many joys in your life, you can probably think of many crosses that have come your way. It’s not good enough, though, simply to have crosses in our lives. As Christians, we must “choose and welcome death.” Our crosses must become crucifixes!

We, ourselves, are to be the sacrificial victim. Jesus Christ is both Priest & Victim, and so must we be both. We must offer the sacrifice, and we must be the sacrifice. Only then, mysteriously, do our crosses become life-giving. We have to be able to say with St. Paul: “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me.”

Everyone who is baptized has been anointed Priest, Prophet, & King, so we have been given the power to lay down our lives (John 10:18)—the power to “choose and welcome death.” Insofar as we exercise that power—that is the Triumph of the Cross!

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 served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anselm Church in Northeast Philly before earning a doctorate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America. He presently serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

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“In accordance with the ancient tradition of the Church, institution to the ministries of reader and acolyte is reserved to men.”

— Pope Saint Paul VI (15 August 1972)

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