The Word of Faith
First Sunday of Lent – C The notes on a page are not the song, the printed rhythms and rests, not the music. No rules of theory or knowledge of music history can be mistaken for the moment a melody … Read More
How to critically read blog posts and magazine articles about liturgy
The other day, someone asked me, “How do they know that the Bible is the most-read book in history?” “Who’s ‘they?’” I asked. “Everyone. I read it in a magazine article just the other day.” “What magazine?” I asked. It … Read More
Seven must-read liturgical documents for pastoral leaders
As I write this, the parishes in my area of the country are entering the fourth week of the stringent shelter-in-place regulations required for stemming the COVID-19 pandemic. And it looks like we could be under quarantine for at least … Read More
Consulting the Roman Missal when choosing liturgical music
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time The dialogues and acclamations are the church’s first preference for what is sung at Mass (see last week and “Sing to the Lord,” 115). But how do you choose everything else? You probably already know … Read More
Plan for self-care and gratitude in the new liturgical year
First Sunday of Advent When digital planners and calendars weren’t yet the norm, I always looked forward to the ritual cracking open of my brand-new liturgical calendar ordo and my pristine dayplanner to make my first calendar entry for the … Read More
Liturgical participation: if you’re not doing, you’re not learning
My grandmother’s kitchen was the kind of place where the family would gather when we went to visit. The kitchen was too small for all of us, but it was where Grandma spent most of her time. So if you … Read More
A five-percent challenge for liturgical musicians
Following on a previous post, I want to look at how parish music leaders can help turn Ordinary Time liturgy into an extraordinary experience of worship. There are two essential keys to making this happen: Yearn for the assembly to … Read More
The complete beginner’s guide to identifying the climax of the liturgy
When I was about six or seven years old, my mother made a big bowl of popcorn and sat down on the couch with me and my two brothers. CBS was airing The Wizard of Oz, and we watched it … Read More
Good liturgy can make the world a better place
Some days… Some days I just want to go home and pull a blanket over my head. I care about liturgy — a lot. I believe liturgy changes us. And when we are changed, we can change the world. But … Read More
Watching (ourselves) and waiting
The First Sunday of Advent It’s easy at Advent to become a bit overzealous with our rubrics around these four short weeks. Of course we should encourage one another to observe the distinct spirit of Advent and not let too … Read More