Who don't need one?

Well, contra Tina Tuner, we DO need another hero, we need new ones all the time,.

And up they step.

The thought of this actually brought tears to my eyes.

http://northlandcatholic.blogspot.com/2007/03/strange-close-encounter-like-sights-in.html

Among the comments made in the local newspapers and blogs regarding the events of the past two nights, there has been an interesting thread running through them, namely, comments about the singing of traditional chants and hymns.

At the Seminary, I teach the men that singing in the Scriptures is often associated with victory in battle. In particular, the "new song" of the Psalms and, especially, of the Exodus, is no willowy, but a triumphal song following the LORD's victory over the Egyptians and other opponents. Mary's Magnificat is a victory song, acclaiming God's triumph in raising the lowly, including His lowly handmaid, to glory, while casting down the proud and powerful of this world. In heaven the martyrs and saints will sing a new song, "the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb."
Are you in a fight? Cry out to the Lord. Are you victorious? Sing out to the Lord. This is how Catholics do it. And this may be an under-appreciated part of how Catholics are to do evangelization. People close their ears to our words, but they just can't ignore a good song.

Do we want Catholic men to sing? Give them a chance to fight for Christ, give them a chance to celebrate our victory in Christ, and then give them chants and anthems, ancient and new, whose words and melodies and spirit befit an unconquerable band of brothers in Christ.

Do that, and we will have thousands of everyday Catholic men around the Twin Cities, including men who have hated to sing the insipid songs foisted upon them previously, singing with ardor a new song to the Lord. I guarantee that observers and protesters who pay no attention to mean-spirited and tiresome shouts of protest will take notice. That's what a song of victory does. Always has, always will.


Now, male choruses have always affected me. I have a visceral reaction to massed tenors, baritones and basses that is quite beyond my power to explain -- good thing I didn't know Himself in the day-- that made certain musical theater jobs a pure joy. Fresno Beauties? Nothing Like a Dame? The boys' part of How Far is Too Far?

And various soldiers' and students' choruses from opera... well, I'm a goner.

And then, on top of that reaction that is purely about aesthetics and pleasure, to have something already so (selfishly, or at least self-interestedly,) enjoyable invested with such meaning.

And the thought of these men singing hymns in the face of this cultural evil - well, it made me certain that they could do likewise in the face of physical evil, in the face of danger and death and Satan himself.

And it made me feel safer.

(Foolishly, I want a play list from Fr. Baer so that I can imagine it all better.)