Musings
A monthly series on sacred music, liturgy, and the rhythm of the liturgical year by The CantaMuse
Monthly Series
Twelve essays exploring sacred music through the liturgical year
The Deep Silence
Why did God choose to enter the world so quietly? Why did he come “under cover of night”? There are two kinds of silence: the dumb, empty kind – and the rich, pregnant kind.
On the Sacred Word and Sacred Music
There is a sense in which spoken words are alive and written words are dead. Only words formed by the human voice have the delicacy and power necessary to stir the depths of the emotions.
Eros and Agape will Embrace
What are we to infer when Valentine’s day coincides with Ash Wednesday? Two kinds of loves – Man’s ascending, searching love and God’s descending, sacrificial Love – have met at a cross-roads.
Music from before the Dawn of Time
Every religion and culture has always enshrined its fundamental truths in poetry which was likewise sung. Is there a type of music that transcends our cultural boundaries?
The Lingua Franca of Paradise
A culture that primarily communicates by texting is twice removed from music. If Adam and Eve were “in tune” 24/7, why not resonate in unison? Music was the lingua franca of paradise.
The Sound of Mary's Voice
We know from Scripture that Mary sang at least once – the Magnificat. How did she sound? What was the colour and texture of her voice?
Ubi Spiritus
The Holy Spirit is the Freedom of God. God’s nature is not based on rules; it is based on Love. Where the Spirit of God is, there is Genuine Freedom.
The World is Getting Re-enchanted
What is it about music that so enchants us? In French ‘chanter’ means to sing. In Latin, the same verb is cantare, from whence we get names like Cantamus.
The Disappearance of Melody
There is a detail on the logo of the Catechism of the Catholic Church that we may never have noticed – the panpipes. The Good Shepherd leads by drawing the sheep to himself through melody.
Mary's Joyful Sadness
The Blessed Virgin always knew that her son would die. She was sustained like an ark floating on flood waters because she knew that his suffering would bring healing to the world.
The Great Cosmic Dance
Our Lord told the Pharisees that even if the children stopped singing his praises, “the stones themselves would cry out.” Year in and year out, the entire universe dances to the tune of its creator.
The Return of the King
Christ IS King. For this He was born and for this He came into the world. Our King has granted that during each Holy Mass, his “hour” IS brought forward.