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Views from the Choir Loft

Good Cop, Bad Cop

Richard J. Clark · September 26, 2014

N RECENT MONTHS, my young children have been obsessed with Legos and the movie. Like many shows or films made for children, they are designed to part a parent with their money; it’s all one big advertisement.

And it works. So recently, I’ve been roped into helping my children put together some rather intricate Lego designs that recreate scenes from the movie. With countless tiny pieces, it even tries the patience of an adult—at least it tried mine. I found myself strangely understanding why the dad in the movie—(a.k.a., “Lord Business”) wanted to use the “Kragle” on everything to keep all the millions of pieces in place.

Five-year-old boys are very rough with their toys. Now my son is playing with a toy comprised of hundreds of tiny, delicate pieces that took a couple of hours to put together. The pieces fall off everywhere, and he demands that it be put back together every few minutes. Where’s the crazy glue? (Yes, I went there in my mind.) I now understand Lord Business. Everything must be perfectly in place!

But behind the end result is where the true lesson is hidden. Children want so badly to discover certain things for themselves. While they may need a lot of direct help with something, the thing they try to do themselves (and sometimes fail) are the lessons that take the deepest root. Additionally, it is my presence with my children that makes the most difference, not simply the end result.

HAT TAKES LASTING ROOT in liturgy are the things we discover for ourselves, just as a child does. But this does not mean we do not teach and catechize. In fact, the importance of the liturgy demands it. But do we teach by demanding that everything be perfectly in its place, or do we lead by example and with our continued loving presence? If we do the latter, we might crack open a door for someone to discover something beautiful they did not realize before.

So, when there is deviation from the Roman Rite—whether knowingly or not—it is very tempting to use the “Bad Cop” approach, but it never works. In fact, it will cause damage. It must always be accompanied with the “Good”. Albeit with a bit of finesse, it is with a firm hand, at times we need to remind others of not only the particulars of the Roman Rite, but perhaps also the “why” behind it. This may not yield immediate results, but a firm (bad cop) but loving (good cop) approach will then yield lasting fruit.

ERHAPS THE MORE SUBTLE, yet effective approach in catechesis is demonstrated by Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son. Henri Nouwen writes of the disparity of touch in the two hands the father places upon his son. One is firm; the other, gentle.

The father’s left hand touching the son’s shoulder is strong and muscular….That hand seems to not only touch, but, with its strength, also to hold….How different is the father’s right hand! This hand does not hold or grasp. It is refined, soft, and very tender…it wants to caress, to stroke, and to offer consolation and comfort. (Prodigal Son, pg. 111, Henri Nouwen)

The father’s approach is simultaneously firm and gentle. His hands offer direct guidance as well as safety. Ultimately, it is his presence that teaches. We are called to do the same.

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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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
    14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —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

“Been to Catholic church and heard Mass. Execrable music! Organ played by a young girl who made impossible harmonies. Sermon very long. The preacher screamed loud enough to tire his lungs. The congregation was affected.”

— Louis Moreau Gottschalk (8 May 1864)

Recent Posts

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  • “My First Year with the Latin Mass” • A Music Director’s Perspective
  • Boston Auxiliary Bishop: “In offering the Traditional Mass for the first time, after removing the vestments, I knelt in the back pew and wept.”

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