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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

What’s so good about growing up?

Veronica Brandt · August 3, 2013

HERE I WAS IN A CROWDED ROOM at our local Community Health Centre, hoping my boys were being suitably well-behaved, trying to think how to represent my volunteer mothers’ group with the local health professionals. I recognised a nurse I had sat next to a few years ago, with a crinkled face and purple hair, whose twinkling smile drew me in like a tractor beam. After the usual questions about the baby in my arms she said “I have the best job in the world.”

She is a Child and Family Community Health Nurse. Her job is to keep in touch with new mothers, checking up on the baby and generally supporting them. I can imagine that a job looking after babies is pretty sweet, but the “best job in the world”?

“I get to watch people grow.” Of course she got to measure babies growing, but this was only a small part. She described how she watched the parents get stronger. Faced with the demands of a new baby, they had to confront their own short-comings and grow. While helping new parents with all the obstacles that pop up along the way, she could see these people, already physical adults, mature into real grown-ups.

What is it that we mean by “growing up”? In a world where “youth” ranges in age from about 13 right up to 35, we seem to have forgotten about helping people grow. So much is dumbed down so as not to present any obstacles to youth. We bend over backwards to make things easy for young people — and not-so-young people.

Think about things that make you feel like saying “Oh, grow up!” Things like emotional outbursts, over-reactions, cowardice, smutty jokes and gossip. Generally they are cases when passions or emotions get the better of reason.

Michael Voris says Feelings are Meaningless, but that may be over-stating the case. Our feelings or emotions can help us do right when guided by reason. We can even do our work better when our heart is in it. Human passions and emotions are running riot in the world today, but they were made to serve the rational animals.

Where the world has confusion, the Church has clarity. The psychologist Dr. Conrad Baars uncovered a gold-mine of good thinking on the relation between emotions and reason in St. Thomas Aquinas. I quote him at length in Integrating emotion, reason and will. With time and patience and love, humans can learn to handle their emotions and this will help them live more authentically human lives.

Plant an act; reap a habit.
Plant a habit; reap a virtue.
Plant a virtue; reap a character.
Plant a character; reap a destiny.
(remember the roots of the word “Virtue” are in manliness and power)

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 Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 22nd in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 31 August 2025, which is the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “The Worm That Dieth Not”
    My pastor asked me to write a column for our parish bulletin with reflections on the sacred liturgy and church music. In my most recent article, I discuss “The Worm That Dieth Not.” At this website, you can access it conveniently; simply scroll down to the one dated 31 August 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    A Nice Hymn In Spanish
    In my humble opinion, this is a really beautiful hymn in Spanish. If I practice diligently, I’ll be able to pronounce all the words properly. If you’re someone who’s interested in obtaining a melody only version (suitable for your congregational ORDER OF WORSHIP) you can steal that from this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

Goupil deserves the name of martyr not only because he has been murdered by the enemies of God and His Church while laboring in ardent charity for his neighbor, but most of all because he was killed for being at prayer and notably for making the Sign of the Cross.

— St. Isaac Jogues (after the martyrdom of Saint René Goupil)

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