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Views from the Choir Loft

Les Misérables and the Year of Mercy

Andrew Leung · April 21, 2016

VERY YEAR, there is a Women’s Appreciation Dinner at my parish in April and I was asked to sing a few solos this year. I have decided to sing a few pieces that are related to the Year of Mercy but would not be heard at Masses. The pieces that came to my mind first are from the Broadway musical, Les Misérables. I haven’t thought of it since the release of the movie in 2012. What a great story for the Jubilee Year of Mercy! It is a perfect story that help us to reflect and understand what mercy means.

Jean Valjean set some great examples of being merciful to others. At the beginning of the story, he received mercy from the bishop and the Church, and he was able to bring the grace to people around him. Like Jean Valjean, we have all received the love and mercy from God, through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confession, and we should be merciful to others. Fr. Robert Barron, who is now an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, made a commentary on the Les Misérables movie back in January 2013:



My suggestion is: to watch or listen to Les Misérables (movie or musical) during this Year of Mercy. I think that would be a very effective and enjoyable way to pray, especially for music lovers.

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 Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

It was thought important that the song should actually accompany the distribution of Communion. A Carolingian explanation of the Mass remarks that during the Communion “soft melody should touch the ear [of the faithful] so that hearing this sound they would busy themselves less with distracting thoughts and … their hearts would be moved to humble love for that which they receive.”

— Father Josef Andreas Jungmann

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