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Views from the Choir Loft

Luke’s Second Book

Fr. David Friel · April 19, 2013

UKE KNOWS HOW TO TELL A STORY in high drama. In Acts of the Apostles, chapter 7, he mentions that Saul is present at the stoning of Stephen, observing and consenting. In Acts, chapter 8, he tells us about Saul rounding up Christians for imprisonment. Then, in Acts, chapter 9, Saul is converted to Christ and starts preaching the Good News.

This was an astonishing development. It would be like if Richard Dawkins—the avowed atheist who denounces God & religion at every chance—suddenly became a tele-evangelist, appearing on Sunday morning network programming. It was seemingly impossible.

The dramatic reversal was incomprehensible to the people of the time. Luke introduces into the story a man named Ananias, who was just one of the Christians in Damascus. The Lord appeared to Ananias and told him to go lay hands on Saul. Ananias fervently protests because of the impossibility of the matter: “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem” (Acts 9:13). In other words, “You couldn’t possibly want me to go near Saul. Everyone knows he is beyond help.”

Or was he? Given the life story of Saul, the notorious persecutor turned Christian, we have to concede that no one is beyond redemption. No one is beyond conversion. The truth of Christ, when spoken clearly and received humbly, is irresistible. Nothing will be impossible for God.

“Go out to all the world and tell the Good News” (Mark 16:15). We have nothing to lose, but many souls to gain for Christ.

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

14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • Gorgeous Book

If there is a more beautiful book than Abbat Pothier’s 1888 Processionale Monasticum, I don’t know what it might be. This gorgeous tome was today added to the Saint John Lalande Online Library. I wish I owned a physical copy.

—Jeff Ostrowski
Sound Familiar?

1 June 1579: “The chapter passes a rule that anyone ascending to the new organ without official permission shall be fined a month’s pay.”

26 October 1579: “The altar boys remain always separate and distinct from choirboys—the one group learning only plainchant and assisting at the altar, the other living with the chapel-master and studying counterpoint and polyphony as well. Father Francisco Guerrero postpones his departure for Rome and instead spends the entire year in Seville making ready for the trip. In the meantime he neglects his choirboys. On 16 November, after considerable complaint against their unruliness and ignorance, he engages an assistant, Bartolomé Farfán.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

But the revisers did not leave them altogether untouched. Saint Ambrose had to be “corrected.” The Iste confessor was greatly altered and the hymn for the Dedication of a Church, which no one ought to have touched, was in fact completely recast in a new meter.

— Father Joseph Connelly

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