Monday, March 28, 2005
CHRIST IS RISEN! GLORIFY HIM
To the Paschal Victim let Christians offer their praises!
The Lamb has redeemed the sheep;
Christ the sinless one, has reconciled sinners to the Father.
Death and life have engaged in a wondrous conflict: the slain leader of life reigns alive!
The bishop's Easter Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in Columbus was wonderful--faithful to the rubrics, reverent, dignified. The choir is outstanding, and the selection of hymns included some Latin. The Cathedral Brass played along with the organ. It includes a drum. I know, I know, sounds secular. It was truly beautiful. The cathedral is made of stone, with high arches. The sounds bounce off the walls and rise up to the peaks. Since the choice of music is very formal, it really is glorious to hear, and lifts your soul as your eyes travel up the arches to look at the second set of stained glass windows above the first. An altogether uplifting experience exactly right for getting the Easter message across.
Bishop Griffin retired recently, and Bishop Campbell came in from Minnesota. My daughter is a member of the Cathedral parish since she is even less tolerant of liturgical tinkering than I am. The change in leadership had me concerned that liberalism would move in. It would appear that it was wasted worry. She is quite positive about Bishop Campbell. He shook hands with the congregation after Mass, and he seems friendly and approachable. I got the impression he is a pleasant man.
Something I haven't heard before was done at Mass this morning. During communion the choir was silent while the organist played. After communion the communion hymn was sung. I don't know if this is allowed, but I certainly hope that it is. It permits a time for private reflection after receiving that is important to full and active participation in liturgy, because if we are just going through the motions, there is little point to participation. It must also include a personal commitment which is best made after receiving the Eucharist.
We have much to be proud of and thankful for in our artistic heritage, from the architecture, to the stained glass windows, to the music, Christ has inspired beautiful things. As I listened to the choir this morning, it struck me once again that music must have been given to man for the purpose of praising God, because music is at its best when it is used for worship.
There was only one thing I would have changed. At the consecration I would add the bells, since it is the high point of the Mass and the bells emphasize that. The sounds of Catholicism are unique and should be treasured along with the smell of incense (which was there this morning) and the sight of gold, candles, statues and flowers. All of the sights, sounds, and smells combine to make liturgy come to life. It has worked for generations, so we must have gotten it right. Thank goodness there are places where this heritage is being preserved.
