Music and the Imagination
Along the “via pulchritudinis” (the way of beauty) they will come to know Him Who is Beauty itself.
Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”
Dr. Lucas Tappan is a conductor and organist whose specialty is working with children. He lives in Kansas with his wife and four children.—Read full biography (with photographs).
Along the “via pulchritudinis” (the way of beauty) they will come to know Him Who is Beauty itself.
I told Cardinal Burke that is was a blessing for us to sing for the Mass and assured him of our prayers.
Beauty will return to the Sacred Liturgy when we once again turn our hearts to the Lord.
A misguided belief states that the quality of our liturgical music should be sacrificed on the altar of good intentions.
Children can and should be taught Gregorian chant by hearing and repeating—but this binds them to singing only what they have memorized.
I think we can slay the current and popular belief that by making the liturgy, and by extension liturgical music, “relevant” to people we will somehow bring them back to God.
Keep the flame of the true Christmas spirit burning brightly and carol to your heart’s content.
It’s hard to implement a program of truly sacred music, focused on the Lord, when so many of our Masses and other services are celebrated as if God were a side note…
Unfortunately we live in a society in which parents can no longer allow the culture to help form their children, and in most instances are forced to fight such an un-cultural leviathan.
If Christmas day arrives and you haven’t been to confession, your daily prayer has suffered, and you haven’t eaten supper with your family at least five nights a week during Advent, you’re in too far.
Msgr. Marini recently spoke to a group of Italian musicians as part of a choral festival.
I also want to say “thank you” to all of you who play the organ during the sacred liturgy. We owe you a great song of gratitude!
Puccini’s music allows us to glimpse the love of a Father, Who doesn’t merely sit on the 50 yard line waiting to see which side of the eternal line we die on…
“While it is true that children can make beautiful music, it is more important that music can make beautiful children…”
Even more exciting were two developments I learned of while in Detroit.
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.
The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!
But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”
We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.
Our president has written the following letter:
President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)
Time's up