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Views from the Choir Loft

Jesus Played Marbles

Veronica Brandt · February 6, 2016

Jesus Played Marbles large E KNOW PEOPLE LEAVE the Church for all kinds of reasons. It’s sad when people say they leave because of the music – and we know how hard it is to keep everyone happy there. It’s sad when people leave because of romantic entanglements at odds with Catholic moral teaching. It’s sad when people just don’t get along. In many cases there is no easy solution.

Some of the saddest stories are of young adults, fresh out of Catholic school, cast into confusion by someone pointing out Bible verses which apparently contradict their understanding of the Catholic Faith. But this is one of the most preventable tragedies.

In this age of instant access to information it seems mad that so much ignorance persists – and yet, we cannot leave it up to people to search Catholic Answers themselves. We need to teach people, most especially our own children!

Joseph's Turn So, here is the book Jesus Played Marbles, written as a children’s book, a simple story, introducing the youngsters who are known in the Bible as Jesus’ brothers. Each is introduced as the game of marbles proceeds. A separate box on the page gives the background information on each of the historical figures, especially showing, where possible, who their parents were and how we know this. Even though it doesn’t give this information for each future disciple, it does show that these “brothers” were rather what we would call cousins. The Catholic teaching that Joseph and Mary had no natural children of their own is upheld.

Jude's turn As well as the historic and apologetic value of the book, the story is also has a warm moral to it about friendly games. There is a trade off between playing to win and playing to grow in love and compassion.

Jesus Played Marbles also provides food for meditation on Jesus hidden life as a boy in Nazareth. Like gazing on Jesus in the manger, Jesus as a young boy is a bit of a mystery. In the words of the carol “Christian children all should be mild, obedient, good as He.” It is good to ponder this, especially when guiding our own children to follow Jesus.

I’m sorry the quality of my photos is so bad. The printing of the book is excellent and the major titles are hand lettered.

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 Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(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

“I left music college swearing never to write another note again … It was during the mid-1980s when esoteric and cerebral avant-garde music was still considered the right kind of music to be writing.”

— James MacMillan

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