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Views from the Choir Loft

God will not be outdone in generosity.

Richard J. Clark · April 9, 2020

Y DEAREST musicians, colleagues, and friends: And so it begins. The sacred Triduum begins amidst enormous uncertainty and suffering. Previously, I voiced some concerns for all of you. Many concerns are turning into painful reality.

Many grieve and mourn the loss of making music each week with people they love and cherish. I am certain we all know someone who has been laid off, on furlough, or received a pay cut. No one is immune, myself included. Ironically, this comes in the midst of the holiest—and busiest—time of year. I’ve been greatly pained in recent days by such inevitable events and timing.

Some of us are fortunate to live-stream Mass on a regular basis continuing to serve in prayer and song. This fulfills a sacred mission for each community. Every community is suffering and hungers for connection.

Some are actively serving during Holy Week despite diminished income. I know quite well, that preparing only one liturgy under such circumstances is potentially more difficult and time-consuming than several at normal times—especially for a vastly revised Holy Week!

And so also begins some extraordinary pastoral leadership, done so with love and charity, and out of a heightened sense of mission.

Here’s what I’ve seen:

Music ministers seeking out and implementing new ways to stay connected with the faithful they serve. Directors are finding ways to rehearse or keep musicians engaged, trained, and developed. I’ve witnessed every effort made by colleagues to keep their children’s choirs singing—if at home and if apart. This heightened sense of creative service even comes from those with reduced incomes.

If that were not enough, some who have been laid off or have had pay cuts have expressed kind words of charity, hope, and support. This is not expected in such circumstances.

For everyone working and striving under such trying situations, you have my deepest admiration, and gratitude!

People are hungrier than ever for the Gospel. This is a great blessing, and a turning point in our lives and ministries.

I’ve learned much from all of you. Recently I‘ve discovered I am not accustomed to trusting God as much as I should. Doing so makes me exceedingly uncomfortable. Many of you, through your generous and creative service, are teaching me how to trust God more. Thank you for this.

Likewise, a choir member reminds me:
“God will not be outdone in generosity.”

You have modeled God’s generosity in serving and persevering through this difficult trial.

Cardinal O’Malley reminds us that Easter is so important that we celebrate the Lord’s resurrection every Sunday! We are both Good Friday people and Easter Sunday people. Our current Good Friday of uncertain duration will assuredly transform into the boundless joy of Easter Sunday. God’s generosity in granting joy will not be outdone!

Know that I am praying the rosary for each of you every day and for your intentions.

Oremus pro invicem
Let us pray for each other.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: April 9, 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

    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
    “Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)
    I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.
    —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

“The plan to definitively abolish the traditional Tridentine Mass … if it is true, seems to me to be an insult to the history of the Church and to Sacred Tradition, a diabolical project that seeks to break with the Church of Christ, the apostles, and the saints.”

— The Vatican’s chief liturgist (appointed by Pope Francis) from 2014-2021

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Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

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