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Views from the Choir Loft

Which Hymnal Did Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Endorse?

Jeff Ostrowski · January 8, 2023

ROADLY SPEAKING, most church musicians are paid very little. Some are not far from becoming destitute. But you know what? It turns out that’s okay. Fulton J. Sheen often spoke about how “God in the form of man shared the poverty of mankind.” In the Old Testament, the traditional offerings for purification were a lamb and a turtledove (if the parents were rich), and two doves or two pigeons (since they were poor). Our Lady had to use the POVERTY OPTION—although we don’t know whether she offered turtledoves or pigeons. Bishop Sheen adds: “Thus the mother who brought the Lamb of God into the world had no lamb to offer—except the Lamb of God.”

Sheen’s Favorite Hymnal? • If Fulton J. Sheen were alive today, I believe he would endorse the Brébeuf Hymnal. First of all, his whole life was dedicated to evangelization, and Father Brébeuf (and his companions) were among the Church’s greatest evangelizers. Moreover, Bishop Sheen drew his teachings from the exact same sources as the Brébeuf Hymnal. Consider Sheen’s teachings about the feast of the Epiphany. That was taken directly from a 4th-century hymn: O Sola Magnarum Urbium. [It would take too long to explain, so please see pages 288-289 in the Brébeuf Hymnal.]

During Rehearsal • Here’s an English translation of that 4th-century hymn. We recorded this during our rehearsal last Thursday night. The choir is 100% volunteers, and fewer than three (3) of them read music. However, because of the masterly way the Brébeuf Choral Supplement prints each verse, they can sing SATB parts very well. Notice how we alternate between unison and SATB:

M To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

Missing His Voice • If only our Church still had a powerful voice like that of Archbishop Sheen. When he was on television during the 1950s, he received 15,000 letters each day—can you imagine that? When Sheen was in good form, his way of speaking was hypnotic. Even the way he pronounced simple sentences was unforgettable. For instance, Sheen would say: “If you pour water in blue glass, it looks blue. If you pour it into a red glass, it looks red.” Whereas, if I were to say those words, nobody would listen.

Your Voice Can Be Louder • Thursday evening, I took the men outside so we could rehearse something. The ladies stayed behind and spent time learning the Introit for this coming Sunday, which is the Feast of the Holy Family. When I came back, I head the women singing this Introit, and its beauty almost knocked me off my feet. I’d never heard something so gorgeous, so powerful, so arresting. I realized that musicians can have a more powerful voice than even the legendary Fulton J. Sheen! The recording taken during that rehearsal doesn’t show how sublime it sounds in real life, because no microphone can accurately reproduce the complex and luscious choral sound:

“Cemeteries Are Full…” • By the way, at the last second, I asked one of my friends to accompany that Introit on the organ, using the NOH. She did an excellent job—as you can hear—and I am so proud of her! Church musicians must remember to let others “have a chance,” because before we know it our life on earth will end. As Father Alan Heet used to say: “The cemeteries are full of people who thought they were indispensable.”

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured Tagged With: Bishop Fulton J Sheen, Epiphany Hymns, Father Alan Heet OFM, Feast of the Holy Family, Nova Organi Harmonia, O Sola Magnarum Urbium Last Updated: January 8, 2023

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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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Quick Thoughts

    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
    Don’t You Agree About These?
    If you want to make Jeff Ostrowski really happy, send him an email with effusive praise about the individual voice recordings for hymn #296. [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass] They came out dazzlingly sensational, don't you agree?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
    Here's a live recording of one of the choral “warm-up” exercises my choir enjoys. It was taken during our rehearsal on 27 January 2023. It’s good to make sure each chord is perfectly in tune and balanced before moving to the next one. That only happens when each singer has the correct vowel. If you like, you can freely download that vocal exercise.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

It’s good that you are in the USA, otherwise who is going to—in the best sense—make music?

— Ignaz Friedman writing to Josef Hofmann (4 January 1940)

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