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Views from the Choir Loft

To God Who Giveth Joy To My Youth

Cynthia Ostrowski · September 15, 2015

LAST SUNDAY’S Communion antiphon said “O God, from my youth thou hast taught me.” At the beginning of Mass, the priest prays: “I will go in to the altar of God; to God, who giveth joy to my youth.” Here’s a beautiful reflection on these words:

EHOLD THE YOUNG PRIEST with the holy oils fresh upon his consecrated hands. The moment for which he has been longing has arrived: he stands before the holy altar. He signs himself with the sacred Cross and the first exultant words that escape his lips are: “I will go unto the altar of God, unto, God, who giveth joy to my youth!”—beautiful expression of a soul that has clung to God, who has led him to the mount of sacrifice; heavenly expression of love for God, for whom he has despised all worldly and sinful pleasures, to find his joy in Him.

Day after day these words surge up from the heart of the minister of God. Years pass. Maturity is reached with its experience, and perhaps, honors. Old age steals on, with its rich harvest and its peculiar trials, yet the same lips pronounce the same exultant words: “I will go unto the altar of God, unto God, who giveth joy to my youth.” And when the Anointed of the Lord shall stand at the threshold of eternity, when the vision of the Immolated Lamb shall break upon his purified soul in all its dazzling beauty, his lips will once more exclaim: “I will go unto the altar of God, who giveth joy to my youth!” But now his feet must still tread the weary paths of earth; and mindful of his own weakness, the priest continues the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar…

The following pictures which remind of youth’s joys:

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: 1936 The Heart Of The Mass Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Cynthia Ostrowski

Cynthia Ostrowski holds a bachelor's degree (2005) in Geographic Information Science and a minor in Computer Science from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski
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

Random Quote

The “jolly good guy” kind of pastor can be an irritant. […] Ministers of the Gospel are not used car salesmen whose heartiness is a mile wide and an inch deep. A bemused layman told me that a bishop joked with him, but turned away like a startled deer when asked an important question…

— Fr. George Rutler (7 August 2017)

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