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Views from the Choir Loft

Art is an act of love.

Richard J. Clark · December 16, 2016

OD SENDS US different kinds of people in our lives. Sometimes, he sends difficult people who remain with us for a long time. Then he sends others, who like angels remind us that “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Ps. 23:4)

Or perhaps more portentously, “There but for the grace of God go I.”

Not only do we survive, but thrive. And the difficult people? They are angels as well to make us much better at what we do. Or they offer clarity in making life choices. Another blessing. Or they hearken us deeper into prayer….yet another profound blessing.

Difficult people, especially in roles of leadership, often make for difficult times. For an artist, this may yield a mixed result, as it often has shown in history. It may feed into a determination to create more fully. It may also make one more grateful for not just talented people, but instead genuinely good-hearted people—thus clarifying more life choices.

At certain times, an artist requires refuge, as Jehan Alain wrote of his “Le jardin suspendu” calling it the “inviolable refuge”. Taking refuge in prayer, the act of composing sacred music is a sanctuary no one can take away. Perhaps like adoration before our Lord, composing on the Word of God is time spent just being with God. It is an act of supreme love. Like accompanying a lifelong friend, one’s child or spouse, just being with God—whom we love—is more important than anything else in the world. It is more important than accomplishing anything society deems important.

Difficult situations, difficult people, any difficulty can place a person into a distressed state of mind, ranging from clinical depression to simply ordinary unease. Each of us carries a unique cross. This can feel lonely, but recall that God has chosen a cross for each of us to carry.

Some of us may feel called to turn the cross into sacred art, and therefore, prayer. Also, let us not forget to turn joy into prayer! This prayer may refine and focus a further calling, a further decision. But that is secondary to simply being with the God who loved us before we were born. Ps. 139: “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Create art.
Create art in prayer.
Create love.

Art is an act of love.

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 Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(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

“The authority of the Pope is not unlimited. It is at the service of Sacred Tradition. Still less is any kind of general ‘freedom’ of manufacture, degenerating into spontaneous improvisation, compatible with the essence of faith and liturgy. The greatness of the liturgy depends—we shall have to repeat this frequently—on its lack of spontaneity.”

— Josef Cardinal Ratzinger (2000)

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