Is Liturgy Essential?
A mother recounts her son’s yearning for a return to Holy Communion and she reflects on our absolute necessity for the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass.
Articles
Wedding Homily (7 min) by Fr. Valentine Young
“The late Archbishop Sheen once pointed out how the Greeks in their language had three different words for love…”
Pain, Trauma, Caution in the Choir World
Fallout from the recent NATS/ACDA webinar: A Conversation: What Do Science and Data Say About the Near Term Future of Singing.
Stunning Harmonies! • “Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above” (Hymn #783)
This has been called the “incomparable and indispensable” hymnal for Catholics.
Blog Contributors Speak About A “Favorite” Piece
This is a good way to get to know several contributors a little better!
What Makes a Great Conductor?
At the heart of the great conductor is one who is born in wonder, one who stands in awe and amazement of heaven’s divine gift of music.
“Pange Lingua” translated into English • Hymn by Saint Thomas Aquinas
I predict this smooth harmonization will go down in history—it fits the voice perfectly.
Bring Your “Lost Motets” to Life
I can think of at least five reasons to use the current downtime as an opportunity to educate your parish about sacred music. And it doesn’t take much work.
Throwing Away Our Birthright of Beauty
Thoughts from St. Athanasius the Great
Unveiling the songs of hope: fr Timothy Radcliffe op
One of the most significant thinkers in the Church today shares his thoughts on, and experiences of, music as a source of hope in the darkest of times. When we face death, we respond in song.
Saints Stories from 3 Priests in Australia
Three priests taking their teaching ministry online during the current restrictions.
The best 5 seconds in Gregorian Chant…
“No concession should ever be made for the singing of the Exultet, in whole or in part, in the vernacular.” — Fr. Augustin Bea
Can Sacred Music Be Saved? • (How exactly?)
I know of no greater composition than this one—and it was written by a devout Catholic priest.
Audiation for Choristers
The reality in any great liturgical choir is that there is simply too much music to learn by rote.
For Shame! • Collegeville blog says looking at Crucifix “skirts the edge of idolatry”
The Roman Missal explicitly tells the priest to look at the Crucifix at various times during the Holy Mass.