Views from the Choir Loft

Holy Purity & Anger

Jeff Ostrowski · December 6, 2017

JUST RECEIVED a call from the owner of a vehicle store who cursed at me, yelled at me, and then hung up. My only offense was doing business with him in the past. I chose not to respond to his evil words with anger. I simply said, “If that’s the way you wish to conduct yourself, so be it.” Someday, this foolish and dishonest bully will be forced to answer before God for his actions.

Jesus loved His enemies, who did Him great harm. Jesus wants me to love this bully. I must confess that I don’t have that love yet—but hopefully someday I will.

Musicians tend to be sensitive people.

Very few musicians (in my experience) are foolish and dishonest like that bully.

But musicians doing the Lord’s work are often subjected to bad treatment. And because musicians tend to be sensitive, a bully can wreck our whole day. When someone acts inappropriately, our minds keep dwelling on the imbecilic behavior. It echoes in our brains, and we ask: “How could this person think it appropriate to act like that?”

Let me share something that can help:

When we were young, our seminarians and priests taught us about “captivity of the eyes.” This means that whenever you see something that can cause temptation against the holy virtue of purity, you avert your eyes. Moreover, when thoughts against the sixth commandment come into the brain, you learn to block them out.

When a foolish bully tries to ruin my day, I apply the same rules.

When his foolish voice and curse words pop into my head, I do not allow myself to think about them. It’s difficult, but that’s the only way I know how to deal with this nonsense. ¹

I hope you will email me, letting me know how you deal with injustice and bad behavior.

NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1 It can also help to recall examples of what the Jesuit martyrs suffered. Or, it can help to laugh—my priest just laughs when people act evil toward him.

About Jeff Ostrowski

A theorist, organist, and conductor, Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004), and did graduate work in Musicology. He serves as choirmaster for the new FSSP parish in Los Angeles, where he resides with his wife and children.

“Daily I sat in the temple, close to you…”

Fulton J. Sheen always said the “very best translation” of Sacred Scripture was the version by Monsignor Ronald Knox, and here’s what Knox had for the Passion read today (Pre-1955 Palm Sunday): “And Jesus said to the multitude at that hour, You have come out to my arrest with swords and clubs, as if I were a robber; and yet I used to sit teaching in the temple close to you, day after day, and you never laid hands on me.” (Mt 26:55)

Did you catch that? Our Lord sat close to them! He was near them! The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity touched them, and was friendly toward them! Truly, the people who can hurt us the most—and betray us the most—are those whom we have loved.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Sacred Music Symposium • “What We Avoid”

I wish we had to time to discuss artwork at the Sacred Music Symposium, but there’s just not enough time. At this year’s conference in June, we will sing an absolutely incredible Magnificat setting by Father Francisco Guerrero (d. 1599). If you examine the part books, you will notice a marvelous aesthetic desire to avoid the same capital letter—for the sake of beauty. Do you see how the Part Books find a way to avoid repeating the Capital G twice, by using the word “Superius” (which is roughly analogous to “Soprano”)? Breathtaking!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Abraham” • Guerrero Imitates His Teacher

Father Francisco Guerrero (d. 1599) studied music with Father Cristóbal de Morales circa 1545. He taught himself the organ. On 3 April 1542 he was engaged as a contralto by Seville Cathedral at an annual salary of 12,000 maravedís. He remained there until 1546, when, at the age of only 17, he was invited—on the recommendation of Father Morales—to become mæstro de capilla of Jaén Cathedral. He was entrusted with the boarding, lodging, and instruction of the six choirboys; but he neglected this duty and was sentenced to be dismissed on 30 August 1548. However, he was absolved and reinstated on 3 November. I think you can see (perhaps) a little homage to his teacher on the word “Abraham.”

—Jeff Ostrowski