CAPG's Blog 

Saint Cecilia, Public Domain

"Let's pray to Saint Cecilia on her feast day, so that music in our churches will once again be an instrument of elevation to God, not a profanation of the sacred." Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Nov. 22. 2020.

"A noble virgin of Rome; who being instructed in the faith of Christ, gave her heart to Him from her tender years, chose Him for her spouse, and took holy resolutions of living ever a virgin. But being afterwards, against her will, given in marriage to Valerian, a heathen, she informed him of her resolutions; likewise of her being in custody of an angel. This strange language surprising Valerian, he promised to acquiesce in her proposals, upon condition that he might see the angel. Being baptized for this end, he saw the angel, and was so confirmed in the Christian faith, that soon after, he suffered martyrdom for the same, together with his brother Tiburtius, who had been gained to Christ, by the discourse of St. Cecilia. Upon this, she was apprehended; and having stood out with constancy against all the arguments of the governor, she was commanded to be burnt. The flames, however, not touching her, an executioner was ordered to behead her; who, after three strokes, leaving her half dead, she, on the third day, gave up her soul to the heavenly spouse, under Alexander the emperor, in the year 230. Pray for all in the state of virginity; especially those, who by vow have engaged themselves to God; that He would be their protector, and deliver them from all snares and violence.

Pray for those, who have any thoughts of changing their state; that they may advance nothing in it, but by consulting Heaven, and taking the advice of those, whom God has placed over them for their direction, and by whom He speaks to them. Pray for a clean heart; and that you may be preserved from all that might defile it. Have courage under such trials and temptations, as fall to your portion. While you are ever on your guard to resist, yet submit with as much patience to the trouble, as you would desire to do to the torments of a persecutor. If you can hold out without dejection, and glorify God in your sufferings, the devil, envious of your good, will leave you in peace." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

Music in the Church.

"In the early Church. We known very little concerning the music of the primitive Christian Church. On account of many circumstances that Church was restricted in its religious manifestations, for the greater part of the first three centuries was a time of bitter persecution, when Christians worshiped God in secret and in peril of their lives. Tertullian tells us, however, that in his day psalms were sung in the divine service, and the pagan Pliny knew that Christians honored their God before dawn by the chanting of hymns. The extensive use of music in church ceremonies came later, and is to be largely attributed to St. Ambrose, the great Bishop of Milan, who introduced the singing of psalms "after the manner of the East." Under the fostering care of our Church sacred music developed most wonderfully during the succeeding centuries.

St. Jerome, who seldom failed to criticize when criticism was needed, speaks of singers of his day in words to which some of our modern choirs and church soloists may well hearken: "Let the servant of God sing in such manner that the words of the text rather than the voice of the singer may cause delight, and that the evil spirit of Saul may depart from those that are under its dominion, and may not enter into those who make a theater of the house of the Lord." Can it be possible that the prophetic soul of the Saint foresaw the evils of some of the church music of today, wherein hymns to the Blessed Sacrament are chanted to the dulcet strains of "Juanita," and the sublime words of the Credo are sung to the liveliest melodies of Offenbach?

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The Gregorian Chant: This is the distinctive song of the Church, the interpreter in melody of her prayerful devotion. It is so called from its great founder, St. Gregory the Great, and is also known by the names of Plain, Roman or Choral Chant. It is a grave melody, usually solemn in nature, sung in unison, that is, without harmonizing parts, set to the rhythm of the words, and without strictly measured time.

As a prayer is an utterance by the believing heart, expressing its faith, so the chant, which is the more solemn mode of liturgical prayer, owes to faith its power and its beauty.

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The Beauty of the Chant: As regards the tone used, the ecclesiastical chant is full of variety, for it was created for the purpose of beautifying the Church's services, which are of many kinds. Adoration, thanksgiving, supplication, sorrow, joy, and triumph find in the Gregorian tones their fitting expression. The melody accommodates itself to the word and phrase, to the spirit of the Church, and to the nature of the prayer and praise which are being offered to God. Whether it be the Gloria, the jubilant song of the Angels - The Sanctus, in which we here on earth join in adoration with the celestial spirits - the Agnus Dei, the appeal for mercy addressed to Him Who has taken away sin - the Libera, which is the intercessory prayer for the faithful departed - in each of these the spirit of the words and the devotion of the Church are brought out clearly by the grand and simple melodies of the Gregorian Chant. How beautiful in its solemn and reverential strains is the Preface of the Mass, in which the priest offers the Church's thanksgiving and homage before the throne of God! How replete with sadness and sorrow is the chant of the Lamentations in the office of Holy Week! How expressive of fear and desolation are the mournful notes of the "Dies Irae"! All there varying moods of the Church's praise and prayer are portrayed in the Gregorian Chant without any of the artifices of vocal or instrumental harmonizing that are employed in secular music. Its melodies have sprung from the minds of Saints, singing from the Spirit of God." The Externals of the Catholic Church: Her Government, Ceremonies, Festivals by Rev. Fr. John F. Sullivan 1917

"Besides prayer and other acts of devotion there are practical good works we can perform for the relief of the suffering souls. Alms-giving is one of the most prominent, for this, being a work of mercy, is especially efficacious in obtaining mercy for the holy souls. Not the rich alone are able to give alms; the poor can do so as well; since it is not the value of the gift, but the good intention with which it is bestowed, that is acceptable in the sight of God. We also shall one day be numbered among the suffering souls, and who is in greater need and poverty than they? The most miserable beggar in this world can at least complain of his wants and ask others to assist him. But the souls in Purgatory cannot do even this, for the instances in which they are permitted to implore aid of the living are exceptional cases and very few are on record. What consolation it will afford us when in our own great time of need, the poor whom we have befriended and comforted upon earth, in company with the holy souls whom we delivered by offering this work of mercy for them, shall come to our assistance by their prayers and supplications! Therefore, says Holy Scripture: "Do good to the friend before thou die; and according to thy ability, stretching out thy hand to give to the poor." (Eccl. XIV. 13.)"

Prayer: Lord, graciously look upon the alms we offer for the redemption of the captive souls in Purgatory. Bestow upon them the full merit thereof that they may be able to discharge their debt; accept, we beseech Thee, this boom of charity, that delivered from debt and penalty Thou mayest lead them into Thy heavenly kingdom. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Priests in Purgatory: My Jesus, by the sorrows Thou didst suffer in Thine Agony in the Garden, in Thy Scourging and Crowning with thorns, in the Way to Calvary, in Thy Crucifixion and Death, have mercy on the souls of priests in Purgatory, especially those most forgotten and who have no one else to pray for them. I wish to remember all those priests who ministered to me, the priests my heart has never forgotten, and for those that I no longer recall due to my frailty of memory. Do Thou deliver them from the dire torments they endure; call them and admit them to Thy most sweet embrace in Paradise.

Pope Saint Pius X and Saint John Vianney, pray for us and especially for our priests. Amen

Special Intercession: Pray for the souls of those who upon earth gave alms for the relief of the suffering souls

Lord grant them eternal rest, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. (Three times)

Practice: Bestow a gift upon a poor person, and offer the merit for the souls in Purgatory.

Invocation: My Jesus, mercy!

Source: Manual of the Purgatorian Society, Redemptorist Fathers. 1907

The Introit Gaudeamus omnes

"To the Editor, THE ECCLESIASTICAL REVIEW.

Every well instructed Catholic knows the meaning and the importance of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Without the graces emanating from this Sacrifice and without those granted by the Eucharistic presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, the Church established by Christ on earth would not have been able to withstand for 1900 years the attacks aimed at her by the powers of hell. Through the daily renewal of the unbloody Sacrifice, and through the frequent reception of Holy Communion, the Catholic receives sufficient strength to overcome the temptations of the flesh, the world, and the devil.

Christ's words, "Behold! I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world," are an assurance that the bark of St. Peter will not succumb to any storm.

In their satanic hate, the enemies of Holy Church have attempted by trickery and by the enactment of prohibitory laws to render the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass impossible. We hope and pray that their efforts may never succeed either in this or any other country.

Knowing the infinite fruits of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Church has issued certain rules for an appropriate celebration of it. Although the so-called Low Mass and a solemn High Mass are the same renewal in an unbloody manner of the Sacrifice on the Cross, the ritual stresses the importance and style of music to be used in the latter ceremony. The late Pope Pius X, of blessed memory, issued special instructions in regard to this. He was solicitous to have the singing and the music of Mass appropriate to the solemnity and holiness of the sacrifice.

As a result there has been a reform of our church music and, although many abuses have been eradicated, perfection has not been attained. In order to obtain better and more satisfactory results, it occurs to me, three things are necessary:

1. The firm wish and will of the pastor to promote good church music.
2. The ability and the desire of the organist to use none other.
3. The cooperation of talented members of the parish who have good voices and who are at the same time zealous, imbued with a spirit of self-sacrifice, willing to join the choir and to attend rehearsals regularly.

Even though the pastor and the organist do all in their power in this respect, our organists experience great difficulty in obtaining new members for their choirs. This is no doubt due to the spirit of frivolity and the desire for pleasure which have taken possession of many of the younger generation of Catholics. This is especially true in our city parishes, while in the country the fact that many members live too far from the church is offered as an excuse.

One would naturally think that the increasing number of daily communicants would effect a change in these conditions.

Is it not logical to conclude that among those who receive their Eucharistic Lord frequently there should be many who would be willing to utilize their voice for making the divine services more solemn and edifying?

Unfortunately, there is an increasing number of complaints from organists that they find it difficult to get additional singers, or even to retain those who have been members of their choirs. It is but natural that such choir directors become discouraged and finally seek some other means of livelihood.

But in addition to this prevalent spirit of frivolity and the selfish pursuit of pleasure, there must be another reason for this deplorable condition.

In the writer's opinion, it would be unjust to place the blame entirely upon the organist and director.

Even though the pastor must devote his time to the more important duties of administering the Sacraments, conducting divine services, preaching, imparting instructions, etc., it devolves upon him to take also an active interest in the choir. Not only should he be a critical observer of all things pertaining to it, but he should also cooperate heartily with the organist and director.

The pastor's authority is indeed superior to that of the organist or choir director.

In what way can the pastor and his assistants help to cooperate in this movement?

1. By frequent attendance at rehearsals and there encouraging the singers and the organist.
2. By granting them special favors, such as, taking them on an outing or an excursion, or providing other forms of pleasure and amusement, even though it require a financial sacrifice on the part of the parish.
3. By occasional reference to the reward which the singers earn by the sacrifices made and by their participation in the divine services, which they help to make more solemn and impressive and thus edify those in attendance. Reference might be made to the fact that those who persevere as singers in the church choir may one day join the heavenly choir in singing God's praises.
4. By encouraging the parochial school children who have good voices to join the children's choir, whence later on they may be advanced to the adult choir. The director of the children's choir is in a position to observe those gifted with musical voices and talent who later on may be acceptable as members of the adult choir.

A word from the pastor would be sufficient to keep the child interested. A child would be highly elated if, for instance, the pastor should say: "John, I expect that some day you will be a member of our big choir. Continue to be the same good boy, diligent and attentive, and later on you may help our good organist to have a fine choir," etc.

Words of encouragement should be imparted frequently so that the children may learn the significance and the importance of a good choir.

The writer is not a confirmed optimist, but he is convinced that there will be a marked improvement in our church choirs, if the pastors cooperate harmoniously and actively with the organist and director. The writer is one of many who have experienced the trials and tribulations of A CATHOLIC ORGANIST."

Source: American Ecclesiastical Review, Volume 72 Herman Joseph Heuser Catholic University of America Press, 1925. p 633