Carpeting Is the Enemy of Congregational Singing
The removal of carpeting is the most effective way to improve many aspects of the liturgy. Externally, what benefits most is congregational singing.
“If we do not love those whom we see, how can we love God, Whom we do not see?” Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. He is also Chapel Organist (Saint Mary’s Chapel) at Boston College. His compositions have been performed worldwide.—Read full biography (with photographs).
The removal of carpeting is the most effective way to improve many aspects of the liturgy. Externally, what benefits most is congregational singing.
As musicians, what sustains us? Certainly, good music is a requirement. Not just good music, but beauty itself.
A dilemma for parents that has resurfaced many times is how to manage raising children in the faith while working for the Church, and I have no idea how to solve it.
Like the Creed, the Preface is a unique place in the Mass where dogma of the Church is expressed. Furthermore, it expresses thanksgiving for the work of salvation.
Weddings, with all of their challenges offer an important chance to evangelize. God calls us to be fishers of women and men. That’s the most important catch of all.
Perhaps the recent commercial success of sacred music is indicative of humanity’s natural hunger for transcendent union with the Divine.
“I encourage you to make music at the highest levels possible in your parishes. Our people deserve it and our God is worthy of the highest forms of praise.” — John Romeri
Anyone who knew him expected no less. But it was extraordinary to witness.
Two free resources for the Pentecost Sequence, “Veni Sancte Spiritus”
The more knowledgeable a musician is about the Roman Rite, the Vatican II documents, and the GIRM, the more likely that musician is to be labeled “conservative” in their views. This is nonsense.
if we do not sing the antiphons proper to the day—and the corresponding Psalm verses—we risk having a narrow view of the Psalms.
Would that our church and school budgets reflect this profound importance, our praise of God would be greater, our churches fuller, and our relationship with the Lord and each other deeper.
That this resource—and a flood of new ones—are becoming available, points to a new awakening in the Church.
Sometimes everything comes together. How is this achieved? Here are a few ways.
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.
We’re under tremendous pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”
We don’t want to do this. We believe our website should remain free to all. It’s annoying to have to search for login credentials (e.g. if you’re away from your desk).
Our president has written the following letter:
* Thirteen Men & Coins (Holy Thursday Appeal)
Traditionally on Holy Thursday, the priest washed the feet of thirteen men. Theologians held various opinions regarding whom the “13th man” represented. Before the liturgical changes of Pope Pius XII (which changed the number from thirteen to twelve), the priest washed each man’s feet, kissed his foot, and gave him a coin.
This “coin” business seems providential—inasmuch as our appeal begins on Holy Thursday this year.
Time's up