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Temptations To Good. Any considerate theologian will acknowledge the maxim: “Grace builds on nature.” One of my favourite saints, Father John Vianney, usually echoed that concept in his sermons. The Curé of Ars would forcefully remind his congregation: “even the heathen admits the great thing about the Christian life.” Despite what we learn within the newspapers (which celebrates every new weird perversion of our tradition), I’ve noticed a large number of “common” Americans who nonetheless reverence Catholic issues: a mom with younger kids, a person caring for a handicapped mother or father, or a priest coming into the grocery store in his soutane. The backside line: A standard, wholesome particular person shall be attracted by what is gorgeous, good, and true. These are the “temptations to good” Fulton J. Sheen spoke of with such eloquence.
Those Who Dress Up. I as soon as knew a younger man who insisted he may by no means reside in Kansas (the place I grew up). Specifically, he declared: “I’d by no means stay amongst such uncultured hicks, three hours away from a good symphony orchestra.” But alone in his room, this man continually listened to “Death Metal” at a decibel stage so excessive the home windows shook. The exact same man who claimed it was a requirement to stay “close to a good symphony orchestra” had no real interest in Mozart, Tchaikovsky, or Mendelssohn! Musicians consult with this as “DUS” (Dress Up Syndrome). People that suffer from DUS like to put on fancy garments to the opera; however they don’t love opera. People with DUS gown as much as attend a symphony live performance; however they don’t respect symphonic music. People with DUS will even go to the theater with pals; but they couldn’t care much less about William Shakespeare. They love dressing up and performing “cultured,” however they derive no pleasure, pleasure, or delight from that which is “cultured.”
Honesty Is Key. It is silly to faux to understand one thing for the only objective of creating others consider you’re “cultured.” One ought to be trustworthy about that which one loves. For instance, I’ve listened to Bach’s Kunst der Fuge for twenty years, but it retains getting higher and higher! I wish to share it with everybody I meet—as a result of those that don’t respect this masterpiece are lacking out on such pleasure!
Sitting At The Master’s Feet. I don’t faux that each one masterpieces ought to be instantaneously accessible to each man, girl, and baby. We will need to have the humility to “sit on the ft of the grasp” and study. Indeed, one should strategy the nice composers with this perspective: “I’ll not instantly respect this, however I’m going to pay attention repeatedly for a time period, and admiration for this music will develop.” It’s truly type of enjoyable! One is embarking upon a journey that may present a long time of pleasure. By the best way, “classical music” is multifarious; it’s not all the identical. For occasion, sure composers lack depth. An instance is Franz Liszt, who wrote items like Gnomenreigen, Mephisto Waltz, Feux Follets, and Fusées. These are thrilling items—but they don’t have the musical depth of Bach, Guerrero, or Palestrina. To put it mildly, there are a lot of totally different kinds of music!
Church Music Today. Most Catholics by no means studied musicology on the college, but they instinctively understand the music sung at Mass is inappropriate and improper. It simply “feels” secular, goofy, shallow, uninspired, sentimental, and unworthy. Sadly, they’re appropriate! After Vatican II, church music entered an terrible section—and we should repair it. On EWTN, Dr. Robert Skeris (a really holy priest) famously requested the query: “Why does a lot of our church music sound like a toothpaste industrial?” He then reminded us that Vatican II insisted that each liturgical celebration is an actio sacra praecellenter (“preeminently sacred motion”).
Moving Forward. Complaining is simple; however how can we make progress? The celebration of Mass ought to be dignified and holy; it ought to by no means really feel embarrassing and foolish. I’ve been requested to put in writing a collection of articles explaining how we are able to repair the state of affairs—and a theme I’ll come again to regularly is the great thing about choral singing. Most Catholic clergymen have by no means heard a good choir directed by a certified choirmaster. If solely they may expertise this, it might change every little thing! Professor William Mahrt of Stanford has noticed that the sacred liturgy ought to be a supply of “delight”—and he’s completely appropriate.
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