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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

A Reminder

Fr. David Friel · September 21, 2011

Just the other day, I met my first niece for the first time. It was an awesome experience. Like most babies, my niece captivated the attention of the whole house. We sat around our living room, charmed by every sound, every little movement she made.

There was a word that was used a number of times as we sat there together. It’s a word that people don’t use much—a word that I seldom say. But we couldn’t help ourselves from saying, over and over again: “She’s precious. She’s just precious.”

How often have you said that about newborn babies in your own families? It’s the perfect word, isn’t it? We don’t use it much. In fact, we almost reserve it to describe the indescribable beauty of a newborn baby. Children are “precious” because they are a gift beyond price. No amount of money could ever buy so great a gift. Scripture is clear that God alone is the One “Who gives life to all things” (1 Tim 6:13). I have often held signs proclaiming, “Life Is Precious,” while praying the rosary out in the streets, but hearing that word over and over again the other night made me think.

It made me think that there’s really only one other context in which I ever use the word “precious.” Outside of describing newborn babies, the only regular usage of the word “precious” I can think of is to describe the Precious Blood of Christ. What an incredible truth that reveals!

There’s something ineffably marvelous about a baby—its life and vitality! And there’s something even more ineffably marvelous about Christ’s Blood, which was shed to make possible our life! As the First Letter of Saint Peter testifies: “It was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from [your empty way of life] but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

We plead for unborn children and agonize over aborted children for this reason: because they were purchased at a price—the inestimable price of Christ’s Blood. The shedding of His Precious Blood for each one of us has made us, in turn, precious.

Seeing my niece was a stunning reminder for me of God’s tremendous love. She reminded me that every person ever born has shared in the image and likeness of God. She reminded me that every person ever born has been loved by God. She reminded me that every person ever born has been precious.

And the same is true of all the people who, sadly, were never born. May our reverence for the Precious Blood of Christ be an inspiration to the world for how to reverence one another!

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

Random Quote

When Christ gave the bread, he did not say, “This is the symbol of my body,” but, “This is my body.” In the same way, when he gave the cup of his blood he did not say, “This is the symbol of my blood,” but, “This is my blood.”

— Theodore, Bishop of Mopsuestia, writing in the 5th Century

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