Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Pope Benedict XVI once said, “Music is capable of opening minds and hearts to the dimension of the spirit and leads people to lift their gaze to the Most High, to open themselves to the absolute Good and Beauty whose ultimate source is in God.” These last weeks of Advent often present opportunities for us to encounter the musical gems of our tradition as part of our spiritual preparation for Christmas. I’m so grateful for those opportunities.
I was very proud of the choirs from a number of our elementary schools who participated in a statewide Christmas by Candlelight, a Festival of Lessons and Carols at the University of Saint Thomas chapel earlier this Advent. They brought a faith-filled energy and innocence to the gathering that really helped me to hear more clearly the scriptural readings that had been chosen for the evening, and they made me so grateful for the excellent work that is being done in our Catholic schools in introducing our young Catholics to Jesus and providing them with real encounters of the good, the beautiful and the true.
Just this past weekend, I attended The Saint Paul Seminary’s version of lessons and carols, a Gaudete Sunday tradition here in the Twin Cities. The seminary Schola was augmented by the Liturgical Choir of the University of St. Thomas, and I was once again overwhelmed by the beauty of our musical tradition, ranging from the simplest of Gregorian chants to the complexities of more modern choral offerings. A few of the pieces were new to me; I found one—a new musical setting for the poem, “Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree”—to be particularly thought-provoking (and prayer-provoking) and I was delighted to learn that it was composed by a young man who had previously attended our seminary. If the seriousness of The Saint Paul Seminary Schola is any indicator, there is good reason to hope that music will continue to be a priority in our parishes in the years to come.
Later that evening, I attended the annual Luminosa concert at the Cathedral, featuring not only the Cappella choir of the University of Mary, the sponsor of the event, but also choirs from seven high schools in the archdiocese. It was a veritable smorgasbord of the sacred music of our Advent and Christmas seasons, framed by readings of scripture passages and poetic texts, and it was truly heavenly in the setting of our magnificent cathedral. As soon as Msgr. James Shea, the president of the University of Mary, described our cathedral as the “most beautiful cathedral in the United States,” I knew that I was going to love the evening. I was particularly stunned by the beauty and majesty of the pieces sung by the combined choirs that had gathered for the evening. God was truly praised that evening.
Music feeds the heart even when there aren’t 200 voices. At a gathering marking the Jubilee for Prisoners that was celebrated by Pope Leo in Rome this past weekend, we had a “carol sing” led by a small praise band made up of former residents at the State Penitentiary in Lino Lakes. They were as prayerful as they were musically talented. I had been blessed to hear some of them when I celebrated confirmation in the prison some years ago, and I was inspired that they have continued to pray and sing together. What a wonderful way to spend Gaudete Sunday!
Music can be important for us even outside of Church. If you haven’t seen the December offerings that are part of our Reclaiming Sundays series, I would encourage you to do so. They appropriately focus this month on music. Luke Spehar shares how families can simply and meaningfully incorporate music into their Sunday practices to enhance the Lord’s Day, while Ibrahin Moreno and Iris Montano share how music can inspire our hearts to rediscover the grace of the Lord’s Day. I would highly recommend them both.
Finally, allow me to express a word of thanks to all of our parish music ministers who are working so hard these days to prepare for Christmas. We need you and appreciate your willingness to share your God-given talents with us.
Posada at the Cathedral (Dec. 20)
During this posada event with Bishop Kenney, we will sing the traditional posadas song, which tells the story of Mary and Joseph seeking a place for the Redeemer to be born, filled with faith, hospitality and hope. At the end of the song, we will pray the Holy Rosary, and to conclude, we will have a reception with hot chocolate and traditional Mexican-style bread.
Rorate Mass (Dec. 21)
Join Our Lady of Peace in Minneapolis for a candlelit Rorate Mass, a Solemn Votive Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated in the quiet of early dawn. Chant fills the church as the first light of day rises, inviting us to welcome Christ, the Light of the World, with peace and hopeful anticipation.
Bishop Kenney leads prayer service after local ICE detention
Across the street from the B.H. Whipple Federal Building at Fort Snelling along the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities, people gathered with paintings of Our Lady of Guadalupe on her feast day, Dec. 12, for a special prayer service for those detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
Four steps for Christian discipleship in Advent
During Advent, traditional reflections remind us that our call to evangelize involves waiting and anticipation. As we move toward Christmas, we relive the long-expected coming of the Messiah by the Jewish people. The Mass readings and Liturgy of the Hours recall this Jewish expectation that was vaguely promised in Genesis 3:15: “I will put enmity between you (the serpent) and the woman.”
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Eternal joy in a fleeting world
In a culture obsessed with comfort and convenience, true joy can feel elusive. Bishop Kevin Kenney joins us to explore the difference between fleeting happiness and the deep, lasting joy found in God. Plus, go behind the scenes of Vatican Unveiled, the largest collection of papal artifacts outside of Rome, coming to the Mall of America. Fr. Richard Kunst, curator of the exhibit, shares exclusive insights into this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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175th Snapshot: A Major General and Monsignor?
Monsignor Patrick James Ryan was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul in 1927, serving as an Army chaplain in World War II in Italy from 1943-45. Ryan gained permission to minister to the 500,000 German prisoners of war captured by Allied forces in Italy. He constructed altars and found German priests among the prisoners to offer Masses for them, seeing in them not enemies but brothers and fellow children of God. Later he would remember this as “the most triumphant moment of his life.”
Msgr. Patrick James Ryan
Sent forth by the Holy Spirit to make Jesus known and loved.
777 Forest Street, Saint Paul, MN 55106 | 651-291-4400 | hello@archspm.org
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Dec. 15, 2025