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Views from the Choir Loft

Judas Iscariot

Fr. David Friel · May 14, 2013

ATTHIAS WAS OSTENSIBLY CHOSEN to replace Judas Iscariot among the Twelve Apostles. Yet, as Matthias probably understood better than any of us, it’s not really possible to replace another person. We can fill their position and assume their duties, but that is a long way from truly replacing the person.

This is a lesson our world needs to learn. A couple of weeks ago, in Boston, the senseless marathon bombings took the lives of 3 spectators. Each of those lives was unrepeatable and irreplaceable.

Yesterday, here in Philadelphia, we heard of the guilty verdict for Kermit Gosnell, who was convicted for the murders of three babies born alive. (The verdict, of course, doesn’t even take into consideration the thousands of unborn babies he also murdered.) Every one of those lives was unrepeatable and irreplaceable.

In two more weeks, our nation will commemorate all the men & women who have died fighting for our country at war. Every one of those lives lost was unrepeatable and irreplaceable.

Matthias was chosen to take over the duties of the twelfth Apostle, but he could never actually replace Judas Iscariot. We ask for the special prayers of St. Matthias today, that we and all the world might have a renewed appreciation for the preciousness of every human person.

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 and teaches liturgy at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Hymn by Cardinal Newman
    During the season of Septuagesima, we will be using this hymn by Cardinal Newman, which employs both Latin and English. (Readers probably know that Cardinal Newman was one of the world's experts when it comes to Lingua Latina.) The final verse contains a beautiful soprano descant. Father Louis Bouyer—famous theologian, close friend of Pope Paul VI, and architect of post-conciliar reforms—wrote thus vis-à-vis the elimination of Septuagesima: “I prefer to say nothing, or very little, about the new calendar, the handiwork of a trio of maniacs who suppressed (with no good reason) Septuagesima and the Octave of Pentecost and who scattered three quarters of the Saints higgledy-piddledy, all based on notions of their own devising!”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Catholics in America have been the heirs of a sentimental and subjective hymn tradition that, for some reason or other, has taken a deep and fast hold on the fancy of the average person.”

— Fr. Francis Brunner (1953)

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