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Views from the Choir Loft

Repetition at the School Mass: “Do it again!”

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · January 30, 2018

90542 Christ Saves HAVE written before about the pedagogical components of the all-school Mass and how to prepare for it. One of the things, it seems, that confronts those responsible for the music for these Masses is the constant cry for variety. This commentary comes almost exclusively from adults, for whom monotony is anathema. All sorts of interesting bits of advice come one’s way, such as, ‘change the music every week or they’ll get bored,’ or ‘make it more fun,’ or ‘they won’t pay attention if you do the same things.’ But listen to what Chesterton had to say about children and repetition:

“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”
― G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy


Building up a reliable core of good, solid, orthodox music is not only important as a catechetical tool, but clearly helps with the idea of participatio actuosa. Any congregation—especially one composed primarily of children—feels more comfortable with things that they know, and if they grow to love them, they will rejoice in their repetition. The same holds true for the ars celebrandi of the school Mass. When priests try to entertain, when they try to win over their audience at the expense of the liturgy, and when they see their role as your best friend instead of in persona Christi, they do no one any favors.

A gentle and flowing stream runs its same, monotonous and joyful course day by day and year by year. It’s a beautiful thing. And over these days and years it smooths and polishes the river rocks in its bed so that they become perfected, like gems. So too the Mass, if it remains true and on course, will flow over these children, honing and polishing them to become beautiful and shining Christians.

So stay the course. Develop a strong core of excellent music and build a school repertoire. Perhaps a seasonal psalm on a month-by-month basis will work for you. Or choose just a few Mass settings, assigning each to a liturgical season, and put them in rotation. Repeat Entrance or Communion hymns once every three weeks or so. And don’t be discouraged. If something you’ve chosen doesn’t go well, don’t scrap it—try it again, and again, and see what happens. Some people might complain that you’re being formulaic or lazy. But just think of daisies, and don’t get tired of making them.

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

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). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —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 replies to this committee (of which Mgr Bugnini was the secretary) reveal a desire to reform the liturgy. In what sense? Out of 2,109 responses from bishops, just three expressed the desire to restore Communion under both kinds. There was a sizable demand for limited use of the vernacular, but only one French bishop wanted the entire Mass in French.”

— Fr. Dominic Allain (2019)

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