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St. Louis: Archbp. Burke creates an Institute of Sacred Music
With a tip of the biretta to St. Louis Catholic, I share the following great news:
TO: THE PRESBYTERATE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SAINT LOUIS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE ARCHDIOCESAN CURIA
FROM: ARCHBISHOP RAYMOND L. BURKE
REGARDING: CREATION OF THE INSTITUTE OF SACRED MUSIC IN THE OFFICE OF SACRED WORSHIP, AND APPOINTMENT OF FATHER SAMUEL F. WEBER, O.S.B., AS THE FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE
DATE: APRIL 4, 2008 – MEMORIAL OF SAINT ISIDORE, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
It gives me great joy to announce the creation of the Institute of Sacred Music in the Office of Sacred Worship of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. I am also happy to announce the appointment of Father Samuel F.Weber, O.S.B., as the first Director of the Institute of Sacred Music, effective May 12th next.
The Institute of Sacred Music is part of the Office of Sacred Worship and is under the supervision of Father William W. McCumber, Director of the Office of Sacred Worship. It has been established to assist me inproviding a fuller cultivation of Sacred Music for the celebration of the complete Roman Rite. Among the activities of the Institute will be the following: 1) programs of education in Sacred Music, especially Gregorian Chant, for parish musicians, musicians of other Archdiocesan institutions and interested individuals; 2) assistance to parishes with the singing of the Mass in English, for example, the Entrance Antiphon, the Responsorial Psalm and the Communion Antiphon; 3) assistance withthe singing of the Liturgy of the Hours; 4) assistance to parishes which wish to develop a schola cantorum for the singing of Gregorian Chant; 5) programs for the full implementation of the English translation of the Roman Missal in the Archdiocese; and 6) particular assistance to the programs of Sacred Music at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis and Kenrick-Glennon Seminary.
Every time I hear Apb. Burke mentioned, he’s raising the bar for the Episcopacy in the United States. Usually, the best thing to come out of St. Louis is Interstate-70. But Huzzah, Archbishop Burke! IMHO, if this continues, they should start sizing him for a red hat.
Comment by WhollyRoamin'Catholic — 4 April 2008 @ 2:26 pmThis is phenomenal! A true pastor who is bringing about a New Liturgical Movement. This is a bishop who actually knows how to take concrete steps toward ecclesial renewal.
Comment by James — 4 April 2008 @ 2:45 pmPretty Amazing!
I am sure that Bishop Burke will be rewarded in Heaven.
Comment by Pope Evaristus, Martyr — 4 April 2008 @ 3:14 pmThanks for the biretta tip, Father!
Comment by thetimman — 4 April 2008 @ 3:19 pmBurke, Bruskewitz and Burbidge are the best
Comment by peretti — 4 April 2008 @ 3:38 pmI cannot tell you how happy I am to hear this news. I am a member of the Oratory of Saints Gregory and Augustine in the St. Louis Archdiocese; we celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, and Fr. Weber has visited our parish twice (at Christmas and during Holy Week) to help with the high mass and the Triduum. He is truly an amazing priest and we will be lucky to have him here.
Comment by Marilyn — 4 April 2008 @ 3:58 pmI need to move south aways it seems. ;)
Comment by Jacob — 4 April 2008 @ 4:57 pmA blesing indeed. Apparently my move to the east is coming in the near future. I’m apparently in the wrong Archdiocese. Let us pray that he continues in true shepardship. I’ll definately be involved by taking many trips there.
Comment by Joe of St. ThĂ©rèse — 4 April 2008 @ 5:05 pmThis is wonderful news! Blessings in abundance upon His Grace and upon Father Samuel!
Comment by Don Marco, O.Cist. — 4 April 2008 @ 5:57 pmI hope Rome takes proper notice of the good Bishop. He’s a model for how the job should be done. May God bless him and holy Mary pray for him!
Comment by Melody — 4 April 2008 @ 6:35 pmWonderful indeed
!
Comment by Antonio — 4 April 2008 @ 6:56 pmA bishop doing what the Pope has asked: there should be a school of sacred music in every diocese.
Diocesan music schools, well or poorly implemented, are not so uncommon in Mexico. Here, there seems to be a lack of interest. All the more notable, then, is His Excellency’s action.
Comment by Daniel Muller — 4 April 2008 @ 7:03 pmAnother Archbishop Burke masterpiece: his homily at the ordination and installation of Bishop Vann Johnston can be found here: http://www.archstl.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=395&Itemid=1
Comment by Aelric — 4 April 2008 @ 7:23 pmSince Oct last I have been helping Fr. Weber as usher and communicator with the MEF at Davis Chapel, Wake Forest U, Winston-Salem. Our great loss in St. Louie’s great gain.
Comment by Sid Cundiff — 4 April 2008 @ 7:34 pmWouldn’t it be a blessing if this man became a cardinal! This is wonderful news. Archbishop Burke is a bishop who “gets it!”
Comment by TNCath — 4 April 2008 @ 7:55 pmPeretti wrote:
“Burke, Bruskewitz and Burbidge are the best.”
)(
Yes, but let’s not forget George of Chicago. He’s given two great churches to the Canons Regular of St John Cantius, and another to the Institute of Christ The King Sovereign Priest. :)
Oh, one more plug for Burke. He’s given a convent to Rosaland Moss of Catholic Answers and EWTN, to found her new traditional community. Yes, Rosaland is becoming a nun and already she has several candidates lined up. So cool.
======
Marilyn wrote:
“I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear this news. I am a member of the Oratory of Saints Gregory and Augustine in the St. Louis Archdiocese; we celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, and Fr. Weber has visited our parish twice (at Christmas and during Holy Week) to help with the high mass and the Triduum. He is truly an amazing priest and we will be lucky to have him here.”
Jacob wrote:
“I need to move south aways it seems. ;)”
Joe of St. Thérèse wrote:
“A blessing indeed. Apparently my move to the east is coming in the near future. I’m apparently in the wrong Archdiocese. Let us pray that he continues in true shephardship. I’ll definitely be involved by taking many trips there.”
)(
Sounds like St Louis or Chicago is the place to be, but at the same time, I’ll stick around here in Los Agonies and work at doing what one can to get things done here. When that day comes, it will be a great day. ;)
Comment by Matt Q — 4 April 2008 @ 8:20 pmEgads! What will Archbishop Burke think of next? He supports Orthodoxy, he supports the TLM, and now Sacred Music. I’m so happy for the good people of the St. Louis Archdiocese. I’m hoping Cardinal George will follow suit here in Chicago. I’m not complaining about Cardinal George who is also supportive of traditional Catholic worship but it would be a huge boost to the sacred music movement if such an approach were initiated here. Tom
Comment by TJM — 5 April 2008 @ 7:48 amTalk of Chicago and sacred music has me
wondering… exactly what is the relationship between the Archdiocese and GIA, otherwise the Acronym-That-Forgot-What-It-Stood-For?
(Save the Liturgy, Save the World)
Comment by G — 5 April 2008 @ 8:29 amMakes me wish I lived in St. Louis!
And even though I am not young, all the traditional music and chant
is totally foreign to me! Isn’t that sad? I feel as if I have been
denied my heritage.
It is my firm hope to be a part of a new FSSP community one day and to
Comment by magdalen — 5 April 2008 @ 1:54 pmrelish a greater fullness of faith in the Mass and the music.
God be praised for this Bishop!
Comment by Mary — 5 April 2008 @ 2:08 pmMatt: I definately agree, I’m thinking of moving east for formation for the priesthood.
Comment by Joe of St. ThĂ©rèse — 5 April 2008 @ 2:54 pmA very good idea, the Institute. The language and music of the Liturgy has been co-opted by misguided or malicious people for too long. Most people get their theological formation vis à vis the music. Let’s face it, the schlock that passes as music in parishes these days is barely Catholic and most often concerned more with neutering God and not offending anyone than properly leading people to Him. The sooner we rescue the Mass from the hands of people addicted to musical junk food and bad taste the sooner people will be restored to health on a diet of beautiful, God centred music.
Comment by Warren Anderson — 6 April 2008 @ 3:08 amAelric –
Comment by Jeremy — 6 April 2008 @ 10:00 amThank you SO MUCH for that link. I had emailed the St Louis Archdiocese and the Sprinfield/Cape Girardeu Diocese to see if I could get a text of it. I watched the live webcast and was amazed by it. Bishop Johnston even said, in his final remarks, that it was the best homily he’d ever heard.
I wonder if someone can get the audio for that sermon?
Comment by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf — 6 April 2008 @ 10:24 amArchbishop Burke is a rock, but he also needs prayers. It is hard to stand tall in the winds of chaos and confusion.
Comment by RichR — 6 April 2008 @ 2:48 pmRichR: Amen!
Comment by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf — 6 April 2008 @ 2:51 pmThis is all really great. Archbishop Burke has done a lot, but there are a lot of people in St. Louis who do not see the good in what he is doing. I know a lot of them personally. Please pray for the conversion of the people of St. Louis and like RichR said for Archbishop Burke.
Comment by Susanna — 8 April 2008 @ 6:21 am