Author Archives: marklangley

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About marklangley

Most recently the founding Headmaster of Our Lady of Walsingham Academy in Colorado Springs (see www. OLWclassical.org), former headmaster and Academic Dean at The Lyceum (a school he founded in 2003, see theLyceum.org) Mark loves sacred music and Gregorian Chant and singing with his lovely wife, Stephanie, and their children.

Mass of The Lord’s Supper 9 April 2020

Posted on April 9, 2020 by marklangley

Although there was no Mandatum tonight (i.e. washing of feet ceremony) nor Eucharistic procession in which the blessed sacrament is reposed in a separate tabernacle, we still managed to get the Ubi Caritas sung at around 33:57. Holy Thursday is … Continue reading →

Posted in Feasts, Sacred Music, Sacrosanctum Consilium, The Mass | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Today, Sing “Ubi Caritas!”

Posted on April 9, 2020 by marklangley

Today, Holy Thursday, is the day for singing the ancient chant Ubi Caritas! UBI caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor. Exultemus, et in ipso iucundemur. Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum. Et ex corde diligamus nos … Continue reading →

Posted in beauty, Easter, Feasts, Sacred Music, Sacrosanctum Consilium, The Mass, The Passion | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Tenebrae 8 April 2020

Posted on April 8, 2020 by marklangley

Heading into the Triduum – this Tenebrae Service provides a lovely Spiritual warm-up for Holy Thursday. I am thankful for the help that my wife and children provided in singing the various psalms and motets. Among the motets sung (as … Continue reading →

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A Sacrifice Too Far: There is a Sacrifice that Gives Meaning to All Sacrifice

Posted on April 5, 2020 by marklangley

On Palm Sunday the entire Passion of Our Lord is famously read at Mass throughout the world. But today, in the midst of the present crisis it is sure to strike Catholics everywhere with new poignancy – especially when Our … Continue reading →

Posted in Common Good, Council of Trent, Modernists, Temptation, The Mass | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Passion Sunday (Fifth Sunday of Lent)

Posted on March 29, 2020 by marklangley

One unforeseen perk of being a parish music director is the ability to participate at Holy Mass during this strange period. I am grateful to my wife and daughters for providing the beautiful chant. In the future, I am hoping … Continue reading →

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A Confusion about the Common Good

Posted on March 28, 2020 by marklangley

In the not too distant future, I am hoping that someone much brighter than I will perform the heavy philosophical lifting that it will take to state precisely what is wrong with the current approach that our Church is taking … Continue reading →

Posted in America, Aquinas, Common Good, liberal education, Modernists, philosophy, Socrates, The Mass | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

A Dialogue Concerning Large Discourse

Posted on March 25, 2020 by marklangley

Today we shall content ourselves with purely intellectual discourse. OX: Why? Lion: Because you and I, my dear Ox, both possess the ability for large discourse! And as we all know, reaching way back to the vestiges and remnants of … Continue reading →

Posted in enlightenment, Heraclitus, Hesiod, liberal education, Shakespeare, socratic dialogue, truth for its own sake, Wisdom | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Sadness and Anxiety With William Byrd

Posted on March 22, 2020 by marklangley

No better way to purge anxiety and sadness than through the music of Byrd!   Tristitia et anxietas occupaverunt interiora mea. Mœstum factum est cor meum in dolore, et contenebrati sunt oculi mei. Væ mihi, quia peccavi. Sed tu, Domine, … Continue reading →

Posted in beauty, Music, passions, William Byrd | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

On March 23, 1775 Patrick Henry made a famous speech. Would he repeat it today?

Posted on March 20, 2020 by marklangley

In the face of COVID-19, one wonders if Patrick Henry would have repeated today the sentiment that he uttered before the second Virginia convention on 23 March 1775. Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What … Continue reading →

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The Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s Well: Who Were Those Five Husbands?

Posted on March 15, 2020 by marklangley

[I could not resist reposting this – the original may be found here with a number of great comments!] The Gospel for the third Sunday of Lent offers a special little gem for the classically minded church-goer. As Jesus is … Continue reading →

Posted in Augustine, Catena Aurea, classical education | Tagged , , | Leave a comment