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Views from the Choir Loft

Reason for Encouragement

Richard J. Clark · August 9, 2013

NCE IN A WHILE, we have experiences that give us reason for encouragement, or even hope, if perhaps just a small glimpse. In life, as with sacred liturgy, we may perceive many reasons for discouragement. But God knows when to build us up so that we may have the strength to forge on with his mission and His will. Then, in times of difficulty or challenge, we must remember to trust in God’s will and be faithful to His will and not simply our own. True faithfulness to God is tested in the difficult times.

However, today, I want to share a recent liturgical experience, and one that opens a window of encouragement. I recently had the opportunity to direct music for three liturgies for the USCCB Diocesan Pro-Life Leadership Conference in Boston. (His Eminence Seán Cardinal O’Malley is the Chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities.) In addition to supporting a vital cause, I had a wonderful opportunity to meet lay leaders from around the country.

While in the planning stages with the Office of Divine Worship (Fr. Jonathan Gaspar’s presence there is great encouragement for us all) I was instructed to choose music that was specifically varied: traditional hymns, ICEL Chants, and polyphony for one liturgy, contemporary music for another, and for a third on the Feast of the Transfiguration, I was to chant the propers. This was a very thoughtful and pastoral approach, as the people in attendance probably had quite varied experiences in their home parishes.

However, I was not sure how well the polyphony, ICEL chants, and propers would be received by a diverse group of Catholics from around the country. However, what transpired was reason for great encouragement:

• These Diocesan Pro-Life leaders can really sing!

• The ICEL Chants were sung quite robustly by the congregation, to the point of slowing down the schola. I find this most intriguing. While their use was mandatory for a short time in the Archdiocese of Boston and are used for Archdiocesan liturgies, one can only speculate how much use they get in typical parishes around the United States. Perhaps the ICEL Chants have had more staying power than expected? This is highly encouraging.

• We sang the Introit, Offertory and Communion propers including settings by Adam Bartlett from the Lumen Christi Missal. These were included in the worship aids, so after a verse or two, the congregation began to sing, with more and more voices being added as the verses progressed. This was more than encouraging! In fact it was quite joyful to hear the scriptures being sung in this context.

With this kind of singing, that means there is not only a lot of willingness on the part of the congregation, but it points to a lot of great work being done by music directors and pastors all over the country. This work is mostly thankless and unseen, but know that your influence and reach may be much farther than you will ever dream or know.

ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY to meet and speak with Msgr. James Maroney, the new rector of St. John’s Seminary in Boston.

A past chairman of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, he was Executive Director of the USCCB Secretariat for the Liturgy from 1996-2007. He serves as Executive Secretary to the Vox Clara Committee. As a frequent lecturer on liturgical matters, he spoke to me passionately about his experiences teaching the ICEL chants in workshops around the country, and more importantly, about singing the mass. He spoke about using in his workshops the ICEL Chants training videos videos I was fortunate to assist with.

Certainly, now in his role as rector of the seminary, we have another advocate for teaching priests the treasure that is singing the mass. To put icing on the cake, he spoke of moving forward with fund raising for a new pipe organ for the beautiful seminary chapel.

These are all reasons for encouragement for the sacred liturgy. However, let us be mindful of our constant calling to be faithful to God’s will for us. Most times, there is challenge. That is why we are called.

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 Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“In older times we referred to humans as the human race, but according to this foundation we are being classed with the animals on the farm, the cow, the horse, the mule […] According to this foundation, I have no right to be born, for I am the youngest of 16 children, and God bless my mother for every one of them!”

— Archbishop Schrembs (d. 1945) vs. a foundation promoting artificial contraception

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