Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Law Students Blogs -> Irish Law

Law Students

: Irish Law

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! This weekend my brother-in-law was confirmed into the Church, so we went to see him at Kansas, where he is a student. It was my first trip to that state and the campus seemed pretty nice - not unlike most other college campuses, but, surprisingly to me, hilly. The Catholic church on campus, St. Lawrence, was pretty stripped down, but it did have good artwork, a lovely organ, and important details such as, you know, having the tabernacle in the right place. It also had a hymnal I haven't seen before - the St. Michael Hymnal - which, while unfortunately retaining a few Haugen classics like "On Eagle's Wings" - mercifully kept those to a minimum and actually seemed very solid.* Quite a few chants were included, and several hymns were older Latin ones. It's great to have the options - sometimes I think that efforts to reform ordinary parishes are hampered just by the tools they have (you can't sing the Sanctus in any traditional settings, even if you want to, if the ubiquitous "Breaking Bread" doesn't even have it). The prayers for Stations were much better than those I've seen in recent years - no focus on how I'm feeling and what I'm doing, but rather almost entirely composed of Scripture and petition prayers. Following up on the strong musical and prayerful indicators here, Saturday's Vigil was absolutely beautiful. The choir and organist were amazing. I got a bit emotional both with joy at the power and beauty of the "Sicut cervus desiderat" (Psalm 42) in particular - and sadness at the fact that so many, many churches in this country are so far away from it. It was also unusual in that the seminarian, who is being ordained in just a few months, sang the entire introductory part of the Mass and the gospel as well. I usually only ever see that on EWTN with the Vatican Masses. He said afterwards that he is learning the Extraordinary Form but he is excited to be a part of the new generation of clergy that is truly restoring reverence to the Ordinary Form as well. What a blessing to the Church!

My brother-in-law picked St. Thomas More as his confirmation saint. I've always liked his motto of "The King's servant, but God's first." It was fitting for someone who wants to go into government. It was a great thing to witness his confirmation and the baptisms in the quiet of the darkened church. Christ is risen!

*Their website says "We believe that it is very usable in a parish that would like, without moving precipitously, to reclaim and restore some of the traditional music of the Church." So for the liberal parishes resisting traditional music, it keeps some contemporary hymns in there, but the majority is more solid. Sounds a bit subversive! That works for me :)

Full post as published by Irish Law on March 26, 2008 (boomark / email).