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“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Living with Uncertainty

Richard J. Clark · January 3, 2014

RJC_912_Prodigal_Son from “The Return of the Prodigal Son” (Rembrandt) O MATTER WHO YOU ARE, life brings uncertainty. But as the saying goes, there are two things that are certain: death and taxes. There is also a third: the Cross. We all carry crosses, some unique that no one else will possibly understand. Yet we serve God and each other through the very crosses we carry. Here is what is certain: we will carry one cross or another until we die. This is not morbid, but rather a joyful reminder that through suffering, we serve God and each other all the days of our lives.

This week, a busy time during the Christmas Season, one may reflect upon events past and hope for the future. One week alone, no less an entire year, may bring a roller coaster of emotions. This has been such a week.

Christmas day brought the tragic news of the death of a family member, much too young and much too sudden. So my liturgical preparation has included not only my job, but now my family. My family lifts a heavy heart alongside an ever-increasing appreciation for the gift of life.

But blessings come and go. Crosses are plentiful. Uncertainty makes life scary. No one is immune from ultimate uncertainty. Yet, there is a certainty to be found in God: No matter who you are, rich or poor, lowly sinner or saint, these words are prayed (hopefully sung) in the funeral mass:

May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem. May choirs of angels welcome you and lead you to the bosom of Abraham; and where Lazarus is poor no longer may you find eternal rest.

Be certain: God’s welcome is the same for everyone, especially for the lowly. I find this beautifully astounding every time I sing these words. In the funeral mass we pray for the deceased. Those of us on earth must continue to pray unceasingly. But like the father of the Prodigal Son, God welcomes the sinner, who like Lazarus, is no longer poor and finds eternal rest. Know that God, who is the Lover of Souls, is infinitely merciful.


HE MUNDANE CAN BRING redemption and lift the spirit. Composing often heals a heavy heart, as does the work of liturgical preparation, strangely enough. Although last minute, I hope the offering below may be of some service. As the Wise men looked East, they encountered uncertainty in their search for the Newborn King. They encountered uncertainty in a dream to avoid Herod and return another way. At the center of this uncertainty was faith in the certainty of God.

Free Download:
PDF • Vidimus stellam | Communion Antiphon | Epiphany of the Lord | for Schola, SATB, Organ

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Requiem, Singing the Mass 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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“The free space which the new order of Mass gives to creativity it must be admitted, is often excessively enlarged. The difference between the liturgy with the new liturgical books, as it is actually practiced and celebrated in various places is often much greater than the difference between the old and new liturgies when celebrated according to the rubrics of the liturgical books.”

— Cardinal Ratzinger (1998)

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