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Views from the Choir Loft

“Homily for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM

Jeff Ostrowski · September 4, 2020

This coming Sunday (6 September 2020) is the 14th Sunday after Pentecost in the Extraordinary Form. The following is a homily by Father Valentine Young, OFM, who died on 17 January 2020. We received permission to post these homilies, as well as to correct “grammatical errors, etc.” To learn more about Father Valentine, scroll to the bottom of the page. These homilies were all delivered sometime between 2013 and 2020.

Homily • 14th Sunday after Pentecost

NE OF THE HARDEST—if not the hardest—thing that Jesus told us to do is contained in these words of today’s Gospel: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice and all these things shall be added unto you.” In perhaps plainer and more ordinary English, Our Lord Jesus Christ is telling us to put God first in our lives. If we do that, everything else will be taken care of.

Hardest Commandment: I say this is the hardest thing that Jesus has told us to do. It is (relatively speaking) easier to observe the commandments and to refrain from sinning in general than it is really to put our trust in God. We might say we do—and we might even try to do so. But then there is always that urge to step in there and see what we can do, in case God doesn’t come through. I don’t think Jesus could have used a better example than birds flying around to prove his point.

Birds: Just think of the birds, the simplest, un-prettiest and least desirable of any of them. It makes no difference. You see them flying around from place to place, apparently stopping here or there for food or water. Do you think any of them are ever worried about where they are going to find their next food or water? I’m not a bird-psychologist, but I am rather sure the answer is no. I know nothing about the life span of a bird, but apparently they live as long as God intended them to live, at least under ordinary circumstances. Now don’t you wish you could live like that? We might not include the flying part.

First Suggestion: I’ll offer only two suggestions although I’m sure there could be more. One is that it is very important to live and enjoy what God has given you here and now. Remember: in the LORD’S PRAYER, Jesus did not tell us to pray for next year’s bread, but for today’s bread or sustenance. If things are going fine for you now, why ruin it by looking ahead at some uncertain event in the future?

Second Suggestion: The second suggestion is to be aware of the foolishness of worry. If worry did any good, I would advise you to do it—but it is wasted time and energy. Worry is usually best handled by accepting the fact that you can only do what God makes it possible for you to do; and so when it comes to other people and what they do (even if they be close relatives), little good is done by worrying about them. Pray for them, certainly. But don’t let that time of prayer become a time of worry. I’ll bet that most people, including myself, have suffered more from things that never happened than from things that actually did happen. Giving up our happiness by suffering for things that never did or will happen is an awful price to pay for the loss of our happiness.

Being Thankful: Today we are being especially thankful for the fact that the Latin mass has been celebrated here at ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC CHURCH for ten years. I think most credit should go to Monsignor Schulte. To speak a bit philosophically, I would say he was the prime mover. Also thanks to our Bishop—especially for his presence today and encouragement throughout the years. I think I can say that (for many of us) we were like birds flying here and there before we finally found our nesting place. Maybe at times we didn’t have too much confidence. All we can say is that our heavenly Father was looking out for us. And we are grateful to our present pastor, Father Matthew Cushing. Thanks to our visiting choir members who helped to enhance the singing for today. Saint Francis of Assisi used to say that the birds praised God just by their flying around. We as “trusting birds” are hopefully praising God by our presence here today at this Mass.

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

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Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Valentine Young SERMON Last Updated: September 4, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(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

“This chapter hereby extends the prohibition of 13 June 1561 against loaning singers or instrumentalists on any account whatsoever to include even the humblest choirboy.” [From “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]

— Sevilla: Chapter Resolution (10 June 1562)

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