Paying the $4.95 monthly fee
gives each subscriber full access
to every part of our website.
HAVE BEEN PRAYING in front of the BLESSED SACRAMENT in thanksgiving because our transition to ‘subscription’ website access has gone swimmingly. The unknown has always unnerved me, so the coming change had me totally on edge, frazzled over how it might all shake out. For twenty years, we gave everything for free—but owing to a recent decision by the board of directors, a tiny monthly charge is now required for those who use the website. A few of the international transactions have been blocked (because banks are wary of such transactions), and I’ve reached out to those people, doing whatever I can to help.
Please Take Note! • There has been one problem, experienced by many users. They receive an email from WORDPRESS, but it ends up in their SPAM folder by mistake. On the telephone, I remind them that the SPAM folder is different from their ‘junk’ folder. When they finally look in their SPAM folder— which is not the same as their ‘trash’ folder—everything works out perfectly.1
Donors vs. Subscribers • We still need donations, and many have continued to donate in addition to subscribing. On the other hand, several donors canceled their recurring donations in favor of a subscription—and this is only natural.
Good Comments • Broadly speaking, the comments received during this transitional period have been warm and encouraging. I share one with you (below) but to understand it, you must realize that axios is a Greek word meaning “you are worthy.” Here’s the message we received, from an American choir director:
Dear Corpus Christi Watershed:
I wanted to express my (enthused) support at your decision to switch to a subscription model. You have generously offered free material at your own expense of time and energy, and it has graciously gifted the Body of Christ in the field of sacred music. But as our Lord has said, “the laborer deserves his wages.” You are COMPLETELY justified in requesting/requiring payment for what you offer. And yet, you are still keeping it cheap. Gesturing as an expression of gratitude for your previous generosity and desire to support your apostolate, via the subscription itself and via donation I have opted to technically relinquish double that of what you require for your resources! I say this not to give myself accolades—after all, $9.90 is still not a lot of money—but so that you know the donation of the same amount was not a mistake on my end. God bless you, as “you are worthy.” AXIOS!
Opposition • Since launching our subscription program, several contributors have received screenshots of ugly accusations against CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED—defamation both shameful and baseless. I forwarded one screenshot to a friend who teaches Renaissance polyphony at an Ivy League university. His reply: “That proves you’re doing excellent work.” We’ve also received several venomous emails from fakers (people who think we don’t know their true identity). Messages like those sharpen our gratitude for the encouraging notes we receive from those who value our efforts.
1 Years ago, I was responsible for arranging a lunch between a cardinal and the head of the PONTIFICAL INSTITUTE OF SACRED MUSIC in Rome. There was a confusing mixup, which caused me great anxiety. Specifically, the cardinal’s emails were ending up in my SPAM folder. In all the years prior, his emails had never once ended up in my SPAM folder. (Nor did they ever get sent there afterwards.) Who among us can untangle the dark arithmetic of computers?
