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Views from the Choir Loft

The Paradox of Liturgical Reform Amidst Human Suffering

Richard J. Clark · August 15, 2014

IKE THE WALL OF JERICHO, so it seems the world is crumbling. Certainly, there is always unrest in the world. We are accustomed to the point of indifference. But from most any perspective, there is currently a heightened degree of unspeakable human tragedy in too many parts of the world. The persecution and suffering is heartbreaking and deeply sobering. Even Pope Francis in his August 13th letter to the United Nations calls for unprecedented concrete action:

I write to you, Mr Secretary-General, and place before you the tears, the suffering and the heartfelt cries of despair of Christians and other religious minorities of the beloved land of Iraq…I encourage all the competent organs of the United Nations, in particular those responsible for security, peace, humanitarian law and assistance to refugees, to continue their efforts in accordance with the Preamble and relevant Articles of the United Nations Charter.

This lends somber perspective.

How important is the liturgy in light of grave events? A phrase that is often heard is that following the rubrics is like “rearranging the chairs on the Titanic.” At times this could ring true. In 2013, Pope Francis famously likened the Church to a “…field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars! You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else. Heal the wounds, heal the wounds….” The Pope understood that the Church is in crisis and the priority is to “heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful.” (Interview with Antonio Spadaro, S.J.)

So it is an easy leap to conclude that the mass or its finer details are insignificant or may be discarded. While I do not believe for a moment this is what Pope Francis was getting at, here enters the paradox. When the soul in distress, so terrified that the only possibility is to give oneself over to a power greater than oneself, particular words and form rarely matter. Yet, the mass is our greatest prayer. Such times demand even greater reverence.

N THE FACE OF EVIL AND UNSPEAKABLE SUFFERING, action is required from the Christian soul. This action not only includes but demands prayer. For those of us who are powerless to assist except to pray, our prayer must be with earnest intent. In doing so, we do well to remember this: following the rubrics or enacting the GIRM is not the ends. It is a means towards which we find immediacy with God in prayer and therefore healing for humanity. The rubrics and the GIRM are in service to the celebration of the Eucharist. Their importance lies in what they achieve. This is why we do not dismiss them or render them unimportant. Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi demands that our prayer has a direct connection with how we live out our lives. We pray as we believe, and therefore live.

Perhaps now is a good time to pray as we never have before.

“In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.” – Romans 8:26

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Pope Francis 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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Quick Thoughts

14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • Gorgeous Book

If there is a more beautiful book than Abbat Pothier’s 1888 Processionale Monasticum, I don’t know what it might be. This gorgeous tome was today added to the Saint John Lalande Online Library. I wish I owned a physical copy.

—Jeff Ostrowski
Sound Familiar?

1 June 1579: “The chapter passes a rule that anyone ascending to the new organ without official permission shall be fined a month’s pay.”

26 October 1579: “The altar boys remain always separate and distinct from choirboys—the one group learning only plainchant and assisting at the altar, the other living with the chapel-master and studying counterpoint and polyphony as well. Father Francisco Guerrero postpones his departure for Rome and instead spends the entire year in Seville making ready for the trip. In the meantime he neglects his choirboys. On 16 November, after considerable complaint against their unruliness and ignorance, he engages an assistant, Bartolomé Farfán.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Every experienced choirmaster’s work is founded on the following three axioms: (1) Few boys have a really good natural voice; (2) No boy is able to control his voice and produce good tone without training; (3) Most boys have a good ear, and considerable imitative capacity. It is on the last of these axioms that the choirmaster must begin his work.”

— Sir Richard Runciman Terry (1912)

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