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Views from the Choir Loft

Musical Works of Mercy

Andrew Leung · April 28, 2016

CTL Musical Works of Mercy AST WEEK, I suggested an enjoyable way to pray during the Year of Mercy; and this week, I would like to make some suggestions that are not as relaxing, but require active works from us. As followers of Christ, we are all called to sanctify ourselves and others around us. One way to do that, especially during this Jubilee Year of Mercy, is to perform the works of mercy. Works of mercy are acts of both penance and charity, and they help lead us and others to greater holiness. There are two categories of works of mercy: corporal works of mercy which concerns the material needs of others and spiritual works of mercy which concerns the spiritual needs.

My suggestions are based on the seven spiritual works of mercy. Sacred music is for the glory of God and the sanctification, the edification of the faithful, just as St. Pius X said. Here are a few ways that we, church musicians, can help others spiritually through music:

1. To instruct the ignorant – Through doctrinal and orthodox liturgical music, we can help people learn more about the Catholic faith. This can be accomplished through singing the Creed and traditional hymnodies. Even though hymnodies come from the Protestant tradition, they are very effective in this regard. And of course, the Creed is our believes and singing the profession of faith help us to think more deeply on the text.

2. To counsel the doubtful and to admonish sinners – Through the sacred scripture in the church music, those who are doubtful can be counseled. We can also help people to listen to the Word of God, to reflect on their own lives and to live more like Christ. We perform this work of mercy every time when we chant the propers.

3. To bear wrongs patiently and to forgive offences willingly – As musicians, we are constantly being judged by others. When we face negative comments, let’s try to be polite and stay positive. We are called to be charitable to others even when they offend us with words.

4. To comfort the afflicted – Through the beauty of the Church’s music, we can bring the afflicted brothers and sisters comfort and lead to God, who is the source of all beauty. True sacred music can heal wounded souls and feed spiritual hungers.

5. To pray for the living and the dead – I have stressed the importance of prayer many times. Prayer is the key element of sacred music. We must remember to make our singing prayers to God. And when we pray, don’t just pray for ourselves, but also for those who are around us and the Church Suffering.

Hopefully, most of us are already doing these works of mercy as we provide music for liturgies. But it is never too late to start!

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” — Luke 6:36

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

President’s Corner

    Is the USCCB trolling us?
    I realize I’m going to come across as a “Negative Nancy” … but I can’t help myself. This kind of stuff is beyond ridiculous. There are already way too many options in the MISSALE RECENS. Adding more will simply confuse the faithful even more. We seriously need to band together and start creating a “REFORM OF THE REFORM” Missale Romanum so it will be ready when the time comes.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Common” Responsorial Psalm?
    I try to avoid arguing about liturgical legislation (even with Catholic priests) because it seems like many folks hold certain views—and nothing will persuade them to believe differently. You can show them 100 church documents, but it matters not. They won’t budge. Sometimes I’m confronted by people who insist that “there’s no such thing” as a COMMON RESPONSORIAL PSALM. When that happens, I show them a copy of the official legislation in Latin. I have occasionally prevailed by means of this method.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 5th Sunday of Easter (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 5th Sunday of Easter (18 May 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The Communion Antiphon was ‘restored’ the 1970 Missale Romanum (a.k.a. MISSALE RECENS) from an obscure martyr’s feast. Our choir is on break this Sunday, so the selections are relatively simple in nature.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    When to Sit, Stand and Kneel like it’s 1962
    There are lots of different guides to postures for Mass, but I couldn’t find one which matched our local Latin Mass, so I made this one: sit-stand-kneel-crop
    —Veronica Brandt
    The Funeral Rites of the Graduale Romanum
    Lately I have been paging through the 1974 Graduale Romanum (see p. 678 ff.) and have been fascinated by the funeral rites found therein, especially the simply-beautiful Psalmody that is appointed for all the different occasions before and after the funeral Mass: at the vigil/wake, at the house of the deceased, processing to the church, at the church, processing to the cemetery, and at the cemetery. Would that this “stational Psalmody” of the Novus Ordo funeral rites saw wider usage! If you or anyone you know have ever used it, please do let me know.
    —Daniel Tucker

Random Quote

“Oh, the happy choir director who is hired to start work on a brand new choir, or who walks into his first rehearsal a total stranger to the existing group—what a fortunate man he is! The new choir director who is a former member of the choir, or a member of the congregation, or the nephew of the alto soloist, or a former altar boy, or otherwise well acquainted with the choir, is in for a few headaches.”

— Paul Hume (1956)

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