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Views from the Choir Loft

7 Points • “The Joy of Lent”

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · February 23, 2017

339 Ash Wednesday OME PEOPLE SEEM to dread the season of Lent. I’m not sure why that is exactly, but I can guess. Perhaps they think there is too much focus on negative things, like sin. Maybe they don’t want to think about depriving themselves by fasting, or going without meat on Fridays. Maybe the Lenten hymns aren’t uplifting or “happy” enough for them, or maybe they’re uncomfortable with extra silence during the Mass. I’ve even had priests tell me that people just tend to be in a really bad mood during Lent, and that complaints about all sorts of things, especially the music, are going to start pouring into the church.

Well, I don’t buy it. If we help people to understand all the positive aspects of Lent, the more they will appreciate it. In fact, the more I think about it, I think that Lent just might be my favorite time of the Church year.

Some of the reasons I look forward to the Lenten season:

(1) Great choral music

There is so much passionate, expressive, moving, and just plain GREAT choral music that really only makes sense during Lent. From Allegri’s famous Miserere (not to mention settings by Lotti, Byrd and Palestrina) to Morley’s Nolo mortem peccatoris, Tu solus qui facis mirabilia by Josquin, Byrd’s In jejunio et fletu, Anerio’s Christus factus est; the list is endless and I haven’t even mentioned the great anthems in English! Joy in both singing and listening.

(2) Hymnody

Unmistakable tunes like HEINLEIN, ST FLAVIAN, ERHALT UNS HERR, PASSION CHORALE, and ATTENDE DOMINE are so associated with Lent that we are immersed in the flavor of the season immediately upon their sounding, while their hymn texts are like little mini-homilies, leading us through the Biblical and theological highpoints of our Lenten journey.

(3) The Rites of Christian Initiation

Each week we welcome and get to know our brothers and sisters who will soon be in full Communion with us in the faith. That’s pretty uplifting if you ask me.

(4) A return to the confessional

Many parishes and dioceses put a renewed emphasis on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Extra penance services are held and people are encouraged to make a good Lenten confession before Easter. Lines for confession get longer and more people seem to take their faith more seriously. A reason to rejoice!

(5) Time for reflection

The restriction of the organ and other instruments to only accompany singing leaves more time for silence. As I mentioned earlier, this extra silence might make some people feel uncomfortable. But we can learn to use this time as a chance for extra prayer and active listening. How wonderful to have the opportunity to heighten our internal joy even as we place limits on our external pleasures.

(6) Increased use of chant and Latin

During Lent many parishes will sing a Latin Agnus Dei or Sanctus. Some choirs may include a chanted Introit. And in some fortunate places, the priest may even sing more of his parts! While these things certainly should take place all year ‘round, this is still a positive sign for which we should all be thankful.

(7) Laetare Sunday

Rejoice, Jerusalem! We are closer than ever to our Easter joy.

As I mentioned above, there is so much great choral music from which to choose during Lent, and I love that process. I am thrilled that I will get to share that process and some of my favorite pieces at the Sacred Music Symposium 2017 this coming June. In the meantime, have a listen to one of my favorite English anthems for Lent:

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 Dr. Alfred Calabrese

Dr. Alfred Calabrese is Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas, TX. He and his wife have two children.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    Vespers Booklet (4th Sunday of Lent)
    The organ accompaniment booklet (24 pages) which I created for the 4th Sunday of Lent (“Lætare Sunday”) may now be downloaded, for those who desire such a thing.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Vespers Booklet, 3rd Sunday of Lent
    The organ accompaniment I created for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (“Extraordinary Form”) may now be downloaded, if anyone is interested in this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Weeping For Joy! (We Hope!)
    Listening to this Easter Alleluia—an SATB arrangement I made twenty years ago based on the work of Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel—one of our readers left this comment: “I get tears in my eyes each time I sing to this hymn.” I hope this person is weeping for joy!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“After a discussion lasting several days, in which arguments for and against were discussed, the Council fathers came to the clear conclusion—wholly in agreement with the Council of Trent—that Latin must be retained as the language of cult in the Latin rite, although exceptional cases were possible and even welcome.”

— Alfons Cardinal Stickler, Vatican II ‘peritus’

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