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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

“Vespers of the Dead” • Most Elaborate Book of Hours I’ve Ever Seen

Jeff Ostrowski · October 22, 2022

Y COLLEAGUE, Andrea Leal, sent to me something absolutely remarkable. It’s a “Book of Hours” containing Vespers of the Dead—but created with breathtaking attention to detail. Every letter, every accent, every illumination is far and away the most ornate version I’m aware of. I don’t know much about Vespers of the Dead, but I’m told it was often prayed by monks in addition to the office of the day. So it seems to have been a special prayer for someone who died, for benefactors, or for the holy souls in Purgatory. Bishop Fulton J. Sheen once exclaimed: “Have you noticed how uncomfortable modern man is with death? At a memorial service, he does not know how to extend condolences. The atheist has this world and nothing else.” Sheen was correct; our forefathers were much more comfortable with death.

*  High Resolution • “Book of Hours” circa 1493AD

A wonderful excerpt from Archbishop Sheen:

Things were once seen as signs of outward expression of the unseen. […] The gargoyle peering from behind a pillar in a cathedral reminded us that temptations are to be found even in the most holy places. Our Blessèd Lord—on the occasion of His planned entrance into Jerusalem—said that if men withheld their praise of Him, “the very stones would cry out”—which they did as, later, they burst into Gothic Cathedrals. Now the stones are silent, for modern man no longer believes in another world; they have no story to tell, no meaning to convey, no truth to illustrate.

Memento mori.

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured Tagged With: Memento Mori, Vespers of the Dead Last Updated: October 23, 2022

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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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    “Glory To God” • (For Choir + Congregation)
    I wish to thank everyone for the nice comments I received vis-à-vis my Glory To God setting for Choir & Congregation. A gentleman with a musical doctorate from Indiana University wrote: “Love this setting so much. And I will pray, as you asked, for your return to composition more fully. You are very very good.” A female choir director wrote: “I love your harmonizations, your musicality, and the wonderful interplay you have with dissonance and consonance in your music. So fun to listen to, and great for intellect, heart, and soul!” A young woman from California wrote: “Thank you for releasing your new Glory To God in honor of Saint Noel Chabanel. I'm enjoying reading through the various parts and listening to your recordings.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    William Byrd • “Mass for Five Voices”
    Our volunteer choir is learning the “Sanctus” from William Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices. You can hear a short excerpt (recorded last Sunday) but please ignore the sound of babies crying: Mp3 recording. We still have work to do—but we’re on the right track. Once we have some of the tuning issues fixed, I desire to use it as an example proving volunteers can sing complicated polyphony.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Baptism” • A Unique Hymn
    Father Christopher Phillips is the founding Pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church. One of his hymns is unique and (in my humble opinion) quite beautiful. His hymn is basically a prayer to the Holy Trinity but also speaks of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. It would be an ideal Communion hymn on Trinity Sunday or the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. You can hear live recording from last Sunday by clicking here.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Some are called not to much speaking, | nor to conversations about the Church, | but, rather, to a deep silence | and to a life hidden in the heart of the Church, | far from wrangling tongues, from speculations, and discord. […] This is the essence of a Eucharistic monastic life.

— Fr. Mark Daniel Kirby (Meditation on Colossians 3:3)

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