• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

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

  • About
  • Symposium
  • Hymnal
  • Jogues Missal
  • Site Map
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Follow the Leper

Fr. David Friel · November 24, 2011

Six months and three days ago, I received the greatest gift I’ve ever received when I was ordained a priest of Jesus Christ. What an extraordinary experience it has been! I wanted to be a priest for a long time, but I never could have imagined what a blessing it would be. I have never had more to be thankful for in my entire life than I do this Thanksgiving.

We can never be too grateful. St. Paul says that he gave thanks to God “always” (1 Corinthians 1:4). Always is a lot.

Are there things in life for which we’re not grateful? Sure. Why do we have to sit in traffic? Why do we have to put up with telemarketers & junk mail? Maybe someone very close to us died this past year. Perhaps someone’s addiction or anger or immaturity has complete rule over your life. There are things in everybody’s life for which we’re not real thankful. But—just as surely—there are things in everybody’s life that are worth our thanks.

The story of the ten lepers who are healed in Luke 17 proposes two ways in which we can respond. In this Gospel story, although Jesus heals ten lepers, only one leper comes back to the Lord to express thanks. What happens with the other nine? I imagine that each one of them used an excuse. They probably thought of something they had to be ungrateful for, instead of thinking of the awesome gift of the Lord.

The one thankful leper likely had plenty of things that he, too, could have groused about. After years as an ostracized leper, he probably had no money, nowhere to live, no food. He surely would have had no friends or family to rely on. But he’s not blinded by what he doesn’t have or by the problems of his situation. He takes a moment to go back to Jesus, to thank Him, to just be grateful.

Every year, as Americans, we follow the example of that one leper. Even though things might not be perfect in our lives, we take a moment to go back to the Lord, to thank Him, to just be grateful. We give Him thanks and praise.

The last six months and three days have been the most extraordinary time of my life. How has this last year been for you? What are the gifts you’ve received? What are the things in which you’ve succeeded? What are the good things God has done in your life?

For all of those things: Deo Gratias!

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe to the CCW Mailing List

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).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

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
7 June 2022 • FEEDBACK

From Chelan, Washington: “CCWatershed is a God-sent resource that I can’t function without! Such great work by the team to bring beauty back to our liturgy!” From Gainesville, Florida: “I am so appreciative of the work, of my brothers and sisters in music!” From Troutman, North Carolina: “Keep up the excellent work in service of the Liturgy!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Before any seminarian is accepted for ordination, he must not only strive for chastity but actually achieve it. He must already be living chaste celibacy peacefully and for a prolonged period of time—for if this be lacking, the seminarian and his formators cannot have the requisite confidence that he is called to the celibate life.”

— Archbishop Viganò (16 February 2019)

Recent Posts

  • “Exceeded Every Expectation!” • Mr. O’Brien’s Review
  • “81 Photos” • Sacred Music Symposium 2022
  • Photograph • Dom André Mocquereau (d. 1930)
  • “I Found Myself Weeping, Almost In Disbelief…”
  • Our Daily Prayer • Sacred Music Symposium 2022

Copyright © 2022 Corpus Christi Watershed · Gabriel Lalemant on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

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.