A good man has left us...for now

Deacon Adam Crowe, who was to receive priestly ordination this spring, has instead unexpectedly gone to his reward. He was in his final year of formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, PA. We pray for his family, friends and his brother seminarians. As you can imagine, this is a great and personal loss for our bishop and diocese.

While I was not personally a friend of Adam's (I had met him a couple of times), those who were had nothing but admiration for his wholesome "realness." We already had plans to "kidnap" him for next year's March for Life. How the youth love to have a young priest on their pilgrimage!

This is a sad reminder of our mortality, but also of the value of cherishing what is truly important.

Rest in peace, good man.

Some links to other tributes here, here, here and here.

Verizon Center youth rally and Mass

We attended the youth rally and Mass at the Verizon Center in DC just prior to the March for Life on Thursday. Both events were inspiring, however, something struck me hard during the Mass. It was a something I did not expect, but it dominated my thoughts for some time afterward.

I went to confession prior to Mass (I was cutting it very close!) and was on somewhat of the spiritual high I'm used to following that healing Sacrament. The music being played was provided by some very talented and faithful Catholic musicians. It was in the format we are quite used to for these types of events - modern instrumentation with guitars, keyboards, drums and the like. Very well received and provoking spirited joy and participation. When Mass began, the same musicians provided the music. I want to stress that these people are devoted to the Church and faithful to Her teachings - and very respectful to the liturgy and the faith. Throughout the Mass, they provided the entrance song, the preparation song and the parts of the Mass like the responsorial, alleluia, Sanctus, etc. with admirable musicianship. Here's the catch - my personal experience. For communion, again, the same format and musicians provided the backdrop.

Until THEY started to sing. THEY were the scholas of Mount St. Mary's and Theological College Seminaries. I do not know specifically what they had in their repertoire. They chanted. They sang in Latin and in English. It was captivating, inspiring, uplifting...holy. My interior demeanor made an instantaneous shift from "how nice to see so many young people" and "when will I have a chance to eat before the March" to "Lord, thank you for putting me in this place" and "This REALLY is the source and summit of the Christian life!" I did not expect it, but it was wholly welcome. Those voices of men completed the conversion of this sports arena into a sanctuary of the Living God.

I have wrestled before with the issue of what is appropriate music for liturgy. This experience proved for me why the Church insists that chant be given "pride of place." It is because it is not mundane, but sacred music that, by it's very design is made to lift up the soul to prayer. Deal Hudson offers a wider perspective.

To the men of those seminary scholas: thanks, guys.

No respect

As I predicted, the lack of respect shows on many fronts (Is this a smug "I told you so?"). They don't respect people with whom they disagree. They don't respect life. They assume that someone else will clean up after them. They literally trashed Chicago and now, in turn, our nation's capitol. Classless. Nice "change."

Pro-life Obama?

This week

We're going to the D.C. March For Life (for the 12th year in a row) this year - two buses, 90+ people, a full agenda and the daunting realization that BHO's inauguration is only two days prior. Is it too cynical to say that I fully expect the Obamabots to trash the place before we arrive? The MFLers, despite our consistent 100,000+ numbers year after year, leave a minimal environmental impact on the city. I guess respect for life goes hand-in-hand with other types of respect.

This is the first of my modest predictions on which I will probably fall flat. If I'm right, a smug "I told you so" is probably not in the cards. I'd much rather see a successful presidency that rescues the world from its every woe - something many believe. Unfortunately, that smacks of messianism and we already have a Messiah. He has already provided salvation, we only have to follow Him - something Obama has clearly decided NOT to do.