• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • Ordinary Form Feasts (Sainte-Marie)
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

Music for the Year of Mercy

Dr. Lucas Tappan · October 25, 2016

LMT Suor Angelic S WE ENTER THE LAST WEEKS of the Year of Mercy I thought I would share with you the story of Puccini’s operetta Suor Angelic (Sr. Angelica), which so beautifully portrays the incredible love and mercy our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. To be honest, I hadn’t heard of this opera until a couple of months ago when the local university contacted me and asked if 12 of our choristers would sing the role of the opera’s angelic choir (which they did very well last weekend). Little did I know how much the whole project would touch me.

The opera revolves around the goings-on of an Italian convent near Sienna in the late 16th century, and especially around the life of one Sr. Angelica. One evening during recreation the sisters are reminiscing and asking each other if any has any desires for things outside the convent. One sister, who had been a shepherdess, admits that she would love to cuddle a little lamb once more. The questioning turns to Sr. Angelica who unconvincingly informs the sisters that she has no desires. In truth, Sr. Angelica has not heard from her family in the seven years she has been at the convent and would love more than anything to receive news from home. However, her wish is soon granted.

Sr. Angelica’s aunt, the Princess, arrives at the convent and coldly asks Sr. Angelica to sign away her claim to any family inheritance, the entirety of which the Princess plans to give to Sr. Angelica’s blood sister, who will soon wed, as a dowry. Sr. Angelica is happy for her sister, but when she asks for other news of home, we learn through the cold and unforgiving Princess that Sr. Angelica had disgraced the family by having a child out of wedlock (the reason for her entering the convent). Sr. Angelica tries to convince her aunt that she has repented and has offered many sacrifices in reparation for her sin, but her aunt is unaffected. Sr. Angelic begs for news of her son and after a short silence the Princess informs her that two years prior the boy had become gravely ill, and although the family did everything it could to save him, he ultimately died. Sr. Angelica falls to the ground and sobs, and after her aunt leaves sings the famous aria, Senza Mama. The words are hauntingly beautiful.

Without a mother, my baby, you died! Your lips, without my kisses grew pale and cold! And you closed, my baby, your beautiful eyes! Not being able to caress me, you folded your little hands in a cross! And you died without knowing how much your mother loved you! Now that you are an angel in heaven. you can see your mother, you can come down from the sky and I feel you fluttering about me … You’re here, you’re here, you kiss me, caress me … Oh, tell me, when shall I see you in heaven? When shall I kiss you? Oh, sweet end to all my sorrows, when can I join you in Heaven?­ When shall I die,oh, when shall I die? Tell your mother, pretty baby, with a tiny twinkle of a star. Speak to me, my beloved, my loved one.

By the end of the aria. Sr. Angelica is hysterical and delirious with longing to see her son, and using her knowledge of herbs, concocts a poisonous drink which she consumes, thinking she will soon see her son.

Immediately after downing the potion she returns to her senses and realizes that she is damned because, as she sings in Italian, she has “given herself death” and she will die in mortal sin. In desperation, she throws herself before our Blessed Mother and implores Her to have mercy, singing:

O Madonna, Madonna, save me, save me! For the love of my child! I have lost my reason! Do not let me die in damnation! Give me a sign of Thy grace, Madonna, save me!

Here the choir of angels (the children’s chorus) implores the Blessed Mother,

What Eve sadly took away you restore to the precious seed:  Let the mourners enter the realm of stars, Open the gates of heaven! O most glorious of virgins, hail Mary!

As Sr. Angelica dies amid the angelic invocations from the Litany of Our Lady of Loretto, our Blessed Mother appears to Sr. Angelica with her son and encourages the boy to go toward his mother. As the boy is about to embrace Sr. Angelica, she breaths her last and we are left with the certainty that the embrace takes place in eternity.

In less capable hands, the story could have easily slid into mere sentimentality, especially considering the era in which it was written, but Puccini’s music allows us to glimpse in the libretto the love of a Father, Who doesn’t merely sit on the 50 yard line waiting to see which side of the eternal line we might die on, but Who fights for the souls of each of His children, as any good father would.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Dr. Lucas Tappan

Dr. Lucas Tappan is a conductor and organist whose specialty is working with children. He lives in Kansas with his wife and four children.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “What Martin Luther Said…”
    My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —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

An Indult of the “Commission for Russia” (25 November 1929) authorizes Bishops and Administrators Apostolic in Russia to permit the celebration of Mass and the reception of Holy Communion in the afternoon or evening, on condition that a Eucharistic fast of four hours from noon be observed.

— Sacred Congregation of Rites, 25 nov 1929

Recent Posts

  • “What Martin Luther Said…”
  • “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • Worship the Lord in Holy Attire
  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!

But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”

We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.

Our president has written the following letter:

President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)

Are you able to support us?

clock.png

Time's up