Beauty and Liturgy | Pope Saint John Paul II’s Letter to Artists
Saint John Paul calls artists to a great responsibility–but also gives a warning.
“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).
Saint John Paul calls artists to a great responsibility–but also gives a warning.
“Leave it to the ignorant and stupid who judge by counting only the faults. I can be grateful, and so must you be, for even one note, one wonderful phrase.” — Pablo Casals
Progress is never made by making declarations or quoting the Liturgy Documents. It doesn’t work and never will. So what will?
Following the rubrics or enacting the GIRM is not the ends. It is a means towards which we find immediacy with God in prayer and therefore healing for humanity.
Some mainstream resources are geared towards maximizing market share; there are a number of others, perhaps lesser known that have the words of St. Pius X and “Sacrosanctum Concilium” in mind.
Are we bringing forth treasures? Are we cultivating these treasures or do we leave them in the back of the storeroom?
“Easy feelings and superficial affections do not, in the long run nourish the life of the believer; we need solid food of the word of God and the Eucharist, which have been from the beginning the only solid and substantial nourishment of the Christian.” — Goffredo Boselli
Turn off the microphones. This can be a challenge when many parishes and even some cathedrals are enamored of carpeting – to say nothing of seat cushions!
If the ICEL chants (or another Gregorian setting) are used at all the masses in a parish, it develops unity. It also helps a parish refrain from being multiple communities under the same roof.
In some cases, the Introductory Rites are among the most misunderstood and mangled part of the mass.
It is striking to even consider that Jesus has his own “thoughts” or “designs” within his own Heart.
The biggest problem in Roman Catholic liturgical music is the prevailing misunderstanding of its very purpose.
As Gregorian Chant was arguably “dead” during much of his pontificate, Pope Saint John Paul II’s strong words on Gregorian Chant are therefore quite notable.
Here is a truth of human nature: When we can’t have something we want it. When something is forced upon us, we often reject it.
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.