• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“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)

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • Ordinary Form Feasts (Sainte-Marie)
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

Homily: 6th Sunday of Easter (Year A)

Guest Author · May 25, 2014

N TODAY’S GOSPEL Jesus makes a very simple statement when He says, If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And then towards the end He somewhat repeats Himself by saying, Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me.

Observing the Commandments: Observing the commandments is a rather straightforward thing. We presumably know what they are and what they entail. They tell us what we should do and what we should not do. And if we go against them, then we are sinning. And in the manner or degree that we sin, that is the manner or measure in which we do not love Jesus. There is no getting around this.

No Picking and Choosing: I’ve entitled the next part of this sermon as “no picking and choosing.” And the reason I’ve done this is that it is not unusual for me to meet people who will say, “Oh, I’m Catholic, but I don’t agree with what the Catholic Church says about birth control or abortion.” Or, “I don’t agree with the Church about women’s ordination.” And on down the line. And this can also refer to things the Church teaches about which we must believe. We are told that only thirty percent of Catholics really believe in our Lord’s real presence in the Blessed Sacrament. Well, what does that say about the other seventy percent? St. John Paul II has definitively taught that the Church does not have the authority or authorization from God to ordain women, and yet I know priests who don’t believe it.

The Holy Spirit and Truth. Jesus also speaks about sending the Holy Spirit who will teach you all truth. We know that Jesus kept this promise first of all on Pentecost when He descended on the Apostles (we will be hearing about that two Sundays from now). Jesus also promised that this Holy Spirit would be with His Church till the end of time. The fact that His Church is still in existence is proof that He has kept His promise. There have been many bleak moments in the history of the Church, and yet, somehow or other the Church has always come through. And it will always come through because of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Second Reading: In the second reading from the First letter of St. Peter, he admonishes the early followers of Christ that the world around them will probably wonder why they always seem to be so full of hope. He tells them that they should calmly let people know that they are trying to live like this Jesus taught them to live. Who knows, but that this might have a good effect upon them? St. Peter tries to console us by saying it is better to suffer for doing what is right than to suffer for doing what is wrong. This reminds me of the repentant thief on the cross who said that he and the other one crucified with our Lord were suffering for the wrong they had done, but this Jesus was suffering even though He had done no wrong.

First Reading: I would probably be remiss if I did not mention something about the first reading; how it is a veiled reference to the Sacrament of Confirmation, which is distinct from the Sacrament of Baptism. Apparently the people in Samaria had already been baptized (probably by deacons or presbyters). But only the Apostles like Peter and John or other bishops could give them the Holy Spirit by laying hands on them, which is essentially what the Sacrament of Confirmation is. Thus we see already in the early Church that a distinction was made between Baptism and Confirmation.

Conclusion: To me it is interesting how the Communion verse for today combines both the Gospel and the first reading. It says, “If you love me, keep my commandments, says the Lord, and I will ask the Father and He will send you another Paraclete to abide with you forever.” We keep the commandments to show that we love Jesus, but we do that mainly through the help of the Holy Spirit whom we especially receive in the Sacrament of Confirmation.


We hope you enjoyed this homily by Fr. Valentine Young, OFM.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —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

By far, the event that caused the biggest increase in requests for indults from the morning Mass requirement was the Second World War. The unusual requirements of providing Mass during wartime led to some unique legislation accommodating the time of Mass. Already in 1940, Pope Pius XII issued a motu proprio addressing the situation of holding Mass in countries where a “Black-out” had been ordered.

— Father Shawn P. Tunink

Recent Posts

  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • The Tallis Scholars
  • Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
  • Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!

But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”

We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.

Our president has written the following letter:

President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)

Are you able to support us?

clock.png

Time's up