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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

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

    “Glory To God” • (For Choir + Congregation)
    I wish to thank everyone for the nice comments I received vis-à-vis my Glory To God setting for Choir & Congregation. A gentleman with a musical doctorate from Indiana University wrote: “Love this setting so much. And I will pray, as you asked, for your return to composition more fully. You are very very good.” A female choir director wrote: “I love your harmonizations, your musicality, and the wonderful interplay you have with dissonance and consonance in your music. So fun to listen to, and great for intellect, heart, and soul!” A young woman from California wrote: “Thank you for releasing your new Glory To God in honor of Saint Noel Chabanel. I'm enjoying reading through the various parts and listening to your recordings.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    William Byrd • “Mass for Five Voices”
    Our volunteer choir is learning the “Sanctus” from William Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices. You can hear a short excerpt (recorded last Sunday) but please ignore the sound of babies crying: Mp3 recording. We still have work to do—but we’re on the right track. Once we have some of the tuning issues fixed, I desire to use it as an example proving volunteers can sing complicated polyphony. — One of our volunteer choirs also sang that SANCTUS on 24 September 2023, and you can listen to how that came out.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Baptism” • A Unique Hymn
    Father Christopher Phillips is the founding Pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church. One of his hymns is unique and (in my humble opinion) quite beautiful. His hymn is basically a prayer to the Holy Trinity but also speaks of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. It would be an ideal Communion hymn on Trinity Sunday or the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. You can hear live recording from last Sunday by clicking here.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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“The scholar who lives only for his subject is but the fragment of a man; he lives in a shadow-world, mistaking means for ends.”

— Msgr. Ronald Knox (1888-1957)

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