Surprised By Beauty
“The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn Liturgy.… Sacred music is to be considered the more holy in proportion as it is more closely connected with the liturgical action, whether it adds delight to prayer, fosters unity of minds, or confers greater solemnity upon the sacred rites.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium 112, 1963)
I was asked to speak at Holy Hill, WI during Lent. While we were getting ready for the evening of Adoration, Confession, my talk, Benediction and a social … I was told I would have a choir for Adoration. My first thought was that it would be some kind of “contemporary choir,” but I could not refuse, at that point. Shortly after Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, while we were on our knees in silence … these beautiful angels started singing this Ave Verum Corpus (video below). It’s tough for this “man” to admit, but my eyes began to well up, and I believe we all had a sense of God’s loving Presence in that moment. Thank you, girls!!!
These young ladies know many other beautiful pieces that adds to the sacred beauty of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians in Hubertus, WI.
For those who believe sacred music is beyond the talents of most typical parishes, I wanted to share this video of eight teenage girls from rural Wisconsin. They had virtually no professional training. Yes … they were self-taught. They just decided this was important, and proceeded to go about to make it happen. These young ladies are a living testament to the accessibility of sacred music in any parish in the world.
Where there is a will, there is a way!
