Sacred
Music
at the Shrine
Our music program and its particulars.
Cantare amantis est.
(Singing belongs to one who loves.)
—Saint Augustine
The music program is an integral aspect of liturgical life at the Shrine. Saint Alphonsus, a hymn-writer himself, is both a model and inspiration for us – his words and his life remind us of the deep connection between beautiful music and reverent worship.
As an apostolate of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, the Shrine is dedicated to the celebration of the Mass in its Extraordinary Form and, as such, we seek to clothe the Holy Mass with the Church’s extraordinarly rich treasury of sacred music. The long tradition of Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony bequeathed to us, like the other traditions we have inherited, is an important aid in ordering our souls toward God.
Scroll down the page to find out more about our choir, our music schedule in coming months, and the liturgical music planned for upcoming feasts.
High Mass on Sundays
Each Sunday, a Cantor sings selections from a repertoire of Baroque and Classical motets for solo voice and continuo organ as well as the Gregorian Propers for the Mass and its Ordinary settings.
High Mass on Special Feast Days
The Feasts of Christ the King and Pentecost Sunday feature an orchestral setting of the Mass performed by professional string players and singers. For All Souls Day, Rorate, Christmas Midnight Mass, and Easter Vigil, a professional quartet of singers performs a Renaissance-style, a capella Mass setting.
Sponsor the Music
for an upcoming Feast
Holy Thursday
28 March
Professional vocal octet to perform Rheinberger’s Mass in E-flat, Herbert Howells’s Like as the Hart, Durufle’s Ubi Caritas and Biebl’s Ave Maria.
Cost: $ 1,760
May God bless our donor’s generosity.
Good Friday
29 March
Professional vocal quintet to perform Allegri’s Miserere Mei, Josquin’s Ave Christe, immolate, Durufle’s Tantum Ergo and a mixture of chant and Victoria’s Propers.
Cost: $ 1,250
May God bless our donor’s generosity.
Easter Sunday
31 March
Professional vocal sextet and an instrumental quintet to perform Mozart’s Missa Brevis in B-flat, Byrd’s Haec Dies, Monteverdi’s Et resurrexit, and Carlo Cozzi’s Regina Caeli.
Cost: $ 2,900
May God bless our donor’s generosity.
Pentecost
19 May
Professional vocal sextet to perform Palestrina’s Missa dum complerentur and Byrd’s Gradualia propers.
Cost: $ 1,520
May God bless our donors’ generosity.
Parish choir
The Shrine’s choir is an ensemble comprised of volunteer parishioners who rehearse weekly and sing for one High Mass each month, including Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. There is a short audition with the music director for admittance to the choir. However, we accept singers of all skill levels. for more information.
Music Lists
Download a copy of any month’s list of music as programmed at the Shrine.
