…He resolved to create me, such as I am…Unnumbered possible creatures, which God saw when He chose me, He left to remain in their nothingness…They might have been higher, holier, and more interesting. But there was some nameless thing about me that He preferred…It was just me, with my individual Read more…
It is not by the enthusiasm of the multitude, or by political violence, – it is not by powerful declamation, or by railing at authorities, that the foundations are laid of religious works. It is not by sudden popularity, or by strong resolves, and demonstrations, or by romantic incidents, or Read more…
Much of the sacred music written before 1600 has not survived. Entire libraries of music manuscripts have been destroyed by wars, fires, vandalism, or natural disasters; other manuscripts have become unreadable due to corrosive ink and deteriorating paper. Still other music manuscripts have survived only in an incomplete form, missing Read more…
Quantum potes, tantum aude:Quia major omni laude,Nec laudare sufficis (St. Thomas Aquinas, ‘Lauda Sion Salvatorem’, Sequence for the Mass of Corpus Christi) Drawing on the traditional artistry of the infiorata, a carpet of cedar, roses, chrysanthemum and fragrant herbs this year decorated the passage of the Blessed Sacrament among the people Read more…
In the month of June, the Toronto Oratory will feature two important musical premieres in its liturgies: one new composition being performed for the first time in Canada, and one newly rediscovered sixteenth-century composition sung for the first time in the modern era. On Pentecost Sunday (June 9th), the Missa Read more…
Palm Sunday Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!Lo, your king comes to you;triumphant and victorious is he,humble and riding on an ass,on a colt the foal of an ass Zechariah 9:9 Jesus is indeed making a royal claim. He wants his path and his action Read more…
Celebrations for the feast of St. Philip Neri began with First Vespers on Friday, May 24. Music for Vespers was provided by the Oratory Choir: Pangamus Nerio (William Sewell); Psalms with falsobordone by Tomás Luis de Victoria and Giaches de Wert; Magnificat primi toni (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina); Vadam et Read more…
On May 20, 2019, seven seminarians graduated from various programs offered by St Philip’s Seminary: two in philosophy, two in fundamental theology, and three in theology proper. Professors, family and friends, and fellow students gathered to mark this important step in the formation of these seminarians for the priesthood. There Read more…
British playwright Stephen Unwin’s new play, All Our Children, had its American premiere at the Sheen Center in New York in April and May. A work of historical fiction based on the systematic murder of disabled children by the Nazi regime, it has one historical personage as a character in the play: Blessed Read more…