Views from the Choir Loft

Heart of Jesus

Fr. David Friel · June 7, 2013

ECENTLY, I ATTENDED the ordination and first Mass of Thanksgiving of a friend of mine. It was a weekend filled with great joy and zeal and hope. The Church’s liturgy is always powerful, but, for such occasions as these, the wonder of it all often seems more palpable. This was especially true during the homily at the Mass of Thanksgiving, which my friend celebrated and preached.

It was the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, and he was preaching about the incomprehensibility of God’s love for us. To demonstrate how awesome this love is, the newly minted priest shared a quote from our Pope Emeritus. On the occasion of the Inauguration of his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI said this:

“Only when we meet the living God in Christ do we know what life is. We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary. . . . There is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him. The task of the shepherd, the task of the fisher of men, can often seem wearisome. But it is beautiful and wonderful, because it is truly a service to joy, to God’s joy which longs to break into the world.”

In the middle of this quote, my friend had to stop. It was a very pregnant—about eight months—pause. After nearly a full minute of gathering himself, he continued. This wasn’t a moment of flashy drama or trite histrionics. It was a moment in which he communicated and the entire congregation intuited that this preacher had, in fact, personally experienced the profound love about which he was preaching. It seemed, to me, most appropriate. After all, the love of God is ineffable—literally, unspeakable.

Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, a day on which we specially consider the Lord’s love and tender compassion. I love this feast day. Wouldn’t it be wonderful, though, if every day we could be moved to tears by the enormity of God’s love for us?

As the newly ordained priest paused during his homily, I was reminded of St. John Vianney’s insight that “priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus.” If that is so, my friend is off to a good start!

About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served for five years as Parochial Vicar at St. Anselm Parish in Northeast Philly. He is currently a doctoral candidate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

“Abraham” • Guerrero Imitates His Teacher

Father Francisco Guerrero (d. 1599) studied music with Father Cristóbal de Morales circa 1545. He taught himself the organ. On 3 April 1542 he was engaged as a contralto by Seville Cathedral at an annual salary of 12,000 maravedís. He remained there until 1546, when, at the age of only 17, he was invited—on the recommendation of Father Morales—to become mæstro de capilla of Jaén Cathedral. He was entrusted with the boarding, lodging, and instruction of the six choirboys; but he neglected this duty and was sentenced to be dismissed on 30 August 1548. However, he was absolved and reinstated on 3 November. I think you can see (perhaps) a little homage to his teacher on the word “Abraham.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Too much music!

Choosing music for the Sacred Music Symposium requires careful consideration. We make sure (always) to have great variety. Because the schedule is so full, there’s never sufficient time to discuss the music fully—indeed, we could easily do a month-long seminar on each piece! For example, last year Dr. Calabrese conducted a setting of the Magnificat by Father Guerrero (d. 1599). It is one of the most magnificent (pardon the pun) pieces ever written, and I wish I had time to point out the brilliant way he syncopates the word “dispersit,” which means “He has scattered” or “He has dispersed.” Superb!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Sharing Is Caring”

I would like to share a message from a highly respected scholar. (His articles appear in distinguished journals such as Études grégoriennes and Oxford’s Early Music.) He wrote as follows:

The Brébeuf Hymnal is very tastefully done. Your team has exquisite literary and musical taste. I see from my copy of the hymnal that you also set Ex more docti to “Rockingham” (one of my favorite melodies for “When I survey the wondrous cross”). I especially appreciate the background information at the bottom of the page. When I played at the Lutheran church, I would always have a little note about the music, sometimes about a hymn, if the “Hymnal Companion” offered something of interest. The church we attend has battered Worship II hymnals (one per pew), but almost nobody seems to want to sing. I congratulate you on the staggering amount of work it took to produce the Brébeuf hymnal: excellent contents and production.

—Jeff Ostrowski

These prayers were not peculiar to Good Friday in the early ages (they were said on Spy Wednesday as late as the eighth century); their retention here, it is thought, was inspired by the idea that the Church should pray for all classes of men on the day that Christ died for all. Duchesne is of opinion that the “Oremus” now said in every Mass before the Offertory—which is not a prayer—remains to show where this old series of prayers was once said in all Masses.

— Catholic Encyclopedia (1909)