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Views from the Choir Loft

Listening and Mission

Richard J. Clark · April 20, 2018

HE MOST difficult and most important aspect of having a conversation is listening. Few things are more annoying than speaking with someone who looks past you, talks over you, and is more concerned about making their next point. Or wants to fix you, when you simply need to be heard. They are not listening. I’ve had more scintillating conversation with a brick wall.

And perhaps I am guilty of this at times, and I need to be less self-absorbed. For when we truly listen (and keep silent for a time) we then know how to respond. This response may or may not be in the form of words, but in action—or simply being in that person’s presence—which may mean everything.

Likewise in prayer and in music, listening is most important. Listening to each other in an ensemble allows us to cultivate a beautiful musical “response.” Cultivating a congregation’s voice, and then supporting their singing requires listening. Otherwise, we are that annoying person who just wants to dominate the conversation, the music, the microphone, the agenda.

ITH REGARD to agenda, God is in change. Sempre. One of the hardest lessons I’ve needed to learn is to trust God and God alone. (Psalm 118: “Better to take refuge in the LORD than to put one’s trust in mortals.”) This requires loss and sacrifice, and strangely enough, only this leads to happiness. (Perhaps such sacrifice for God is no sacrifice at all.)

Ultimately, anyone who makes a life in sacred music, especially in parishes, has probably been listening to God on some level. They have already sacrificed much—time with family, financial security, and quite likely no small amount of sanity from time to time. God has called them to do this work and accomplish his mission. But we can still get lost, thinking it’s only about music, prestige, or ego. People can get lost. Parishes can get lost, overlooking God’s mission.

All that matters is God’s call of service—God’s agenda. This mission of service is primary. Service is a form of love.

OMETIMES WHAT God asks us to do changes, grows, evolves. To keep pace, we need to listen. What do you do best that has the greatest impact on people’s lives?

Service may even require doing what comes naturally and doing what we do best—perhaps something we love to do—what God built us to do. This is often coupled with things we don’t necessarily want to do, but must for the sake of carrying out God’s agenda. Discerning this grows form listening to God, trusting God (and God alone), and getting past the fear of sacrifice required of us.

Maybe God’s trying to tell you something. Listen.

Soli Deo gloria

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

President’s Corner

    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —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

“Young people have entrusted me with their absolute preference for the Extraordinary Form… […] But, above all, how can we understand—how can we not be surprised and deeply shocked—that what was the rule yesterday is prohibited today? Is it not true that prohibiting or suspecting the Extraordinary Form can only be inspired by the demon who desires our suffocation and spiritual death?”

— Cardinal Sarah to Edward Pentin (23 September 2019)

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