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“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)

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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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —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

“It is the choir that can make the most valuable contribution to the liturgy; it is through the choir that significant numbers of the congregation can make a significant and valuable offering in the community’s act of worship. The choir links directly academic excellence, artistic creation, disciplined attention and self expression in the making of something fitting for the worship of God.”

— Father Daniel Higgins, Choirmaster at Saint Edmund’s College, Ware

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