Salt + Light Blog

Tonight’s edition of Perspectives features an interview segment with Sparrow Records’ newest gem, Audrey Assad.

A recent convert to Catholicism and a New York City suburb native, Audrey told us about her vision for Catholic music and about how we should not be afraid to set the bar high.

As mentioned in a previous post, her newest album, The House You’re Building, is proof of her strong convictions.

The album has been eagerly received by Catholic and non-Catholic fans alike (the album’s first single received one of iTunes strongest debuts on the Christian/Gospel Singles chart) and having toured already with the likes of Matt Maher and Chris Tomlin, it appears that Audrey will be sticking around for a while.

“A lot of new artists come and go in this business,” says Charlie Lowell of Jars of Clay, “Audrey Assad will not be one of those- she’s a refreshing artist- a voice comforting and challenging together. Her melodic sensibilities are infectious and she communicates God’s caring and creative hear in a way that cuts through the day-to-day mess of life. It will be a privilege to share the stage with Audrey, and to watch her grow as an artist over the years.”

Last week, I had the opportunity to speak with Audrey about her art as vocation, about her convictions on the nature of “Catholic” music and about her dreams for the future.

Below is a complete transcript of our discussion.

S+L: Audrey, thanks so much for agreeing to speak with me today. This is a really big deal; your first Nashville-produced CD especially given that your producer actually works with Marc Broussard, Natasha Beddingfield and Brooke Fraser to name a few…and the album’s first single did so well on iTunes when it first debuted. I can imagine it must feel kind of surreal for you. Can you tell us a little bit about the path that led you to where you are now and how you feel about making the journey?

AA: I’ve been a musician my whole life but I’ve always kind of had it as a hobby until I was 19 which was 8 years ago because I’m 27 now. And I had this sort of awakening at 19 to many things particularly in a spiritual way to Jesus. But also, I think I figured out that music was sort of my gifting and not just something to do on the side. So since then, I’ve literally for 8 years just been writing and singing and plugging away kind of with no strategy per se. The only think I knew was that eventually I needed to make a record which I ended up doing independently in 2008 .That was the beginning of the process with all the record label stuff and that was what got the attention of the people I work with now (that 5 song EP that we put out independently with some friends of mine that worked on it with me). That whole project cost about $7000 and then a week later, Sparrow records was on the phone and two years after that, here we are. Read more…

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Jenna Murphy

Are you a beekeeper? A climber? A candlestick maker? Do you like Dijon mustard?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you may be interested to know that today the Church celebrates St. Bernard of Clairvaux . Among other things (as you saw), St. Bernard is renowned for his deep devotion to the Blessed Mother (he is credited with having penned the Memorare prayer) and for his commitment to the austerity of the Cistercian life.

Born in 1090 at Fontaines near Dijon, France, St. Bernard was one of 7 children; 6 of which were boys. St Bernard’s family was ranked among Burgundy’s most affluent nobles. Having drank from the cup of wealth and affluence in high French society, Bernard understood that his thirst could not be quenched by the pursuit of earthly pleasures.

After losing his mother when he was 19, St. Bernard resolved to enter the Cistercian monastery. His piety, quick wit and his spirit of recollection led him to be chosen among 13 other monks to found a new monastery in Clair Vallée which Bernard later called “Clairvaux”.

Soon thereafter, Bernard was nominated abbot of the monastery. This nomination led him to be one of the most conspicuous figures of the 12th century. In the years to follow, Bernard’s name and Clairvaux became interchangeable as pilgrims came in droves to hear the abbot preach.

The following is an excerpt from the homily In Praise of the Virgin Mother by St. Bernard (Hom. 4, 8-9: Opera omnia, Edit. Cisterc. 4 [1966], 53-54):

Read more…

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Jenna Murphy

His Eminence Marc Cardinal Ouellet has been a gift to our nation; a visionary for Canada in what some would consider to be bleak times.

Though he has been called away from us for a new and exciting mission in Rome, he has left an indelible imprint on many of us, particularly on the hearts of the young.

Throughout his time as primate of Canada, the good Cardinal continuously announced the dawn by his unwavering faith in the young people of Canada.

One recent article likens his pastoring style to that of John Paul II:

“Like John Paul, Ouellet understood the power of mass assemblies, grand liturgical celebrations, and direct cultural engagement.”

The Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City as well as the founding of Montée Jeunesse were two manifestations of the Cardinal’s deep conviction that the faith is not dead in Quebec nor is it dormant in Canada.

In honour of his journey among us, there will be a youth prayer vigil on Saturday August 14th at the Cathedral Notre Dame of Quebec, Quebec City, to show our solidarity with this shepherd who so loved the young people.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend this evening of Eucharistic Adoration and intercessory prayer with the Cardinal for the young people of our country. If anyone is planning on attending from afar and is in need of a place to stay, accommodations are available (visit the archdiocese of Quebec website here or write to info@hommagecardinalouellet.com).

The next day, Sunday August 15, 2010 (the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady), the Archdiocese of Quebec will host a 3pm Thanksgiving Celebration at St. Anne de Beaupré. This will mark Cardinal Ouellet’s last formal Eucharistic Celebration in Quebec City before his departure to Rome. All are welcome to attend.

As a mark of our commitment to his Spirit-led vision for the Canadian Church, we have all been invited to take part in a country-wide gift to Cardinal Ouellet: that is, a country-wide photo/commitment initiative.

To voice your thanks (and the promise of your prayers) to Cardinal Ouellet please send your photo to: info@hommagecardinalouellet.com before August 13th.

Along with the photo, well-wishers are being asked to include one word describing:

• what the Cardinal represents for you; OR
• what you remember from his teachings; OR
• what you wish for him.

Cardinal Ouellet has a visionary spirit, he understands that what young people need is an escape from virtual reality where we are often separated from one another by technology. He firmly believes that rooms (auditoriums) filled with waiting, prayerful hearts unfailingly usher in new apostolic zeal among the faithful. The Cardinal’s gatherings were always marked with deep reverence and anchored in the youthfulness of the Holy Spirit. Let us therefore let him know of our profound gratitude for his generous “yes” to Our Lord.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

• www.hommagecardinalouellet.com

Or visit the tribute to Cardinal Ouellet page on Facebook. Click here for English and here for French.

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Photo: CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec

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Jenna Murphy

In the course of compiling the daily Catholic newswires on Friday, I stumbled upon a most welcome treasure on the CNN religion blog of all places. The treasure? A new friend in the world of Catholic music.

Audrey Assad.

With her first album scheduled for release this week (it’s already available on iTunes, though), Audrey is a refreshing voice in the world of Catholic music. A recent convert to the faith, her lyrics are honest and vulnerable and perhaps best of all, they are unabashedly Catholic, in the true sense. Her lyrics speak of pain and redemption; along with the beauty and the wisdom of real love — Love and Responsibility style.

Audrey told speakingoffaith.org:

I did and do take solace in the Church, as a sparrow makes a nest in an old, solid oak; the Church’s very age and wisdom speak quietly for themselves, silently drawing in wanderers like me. Jesus loves wanderers and prodigals; and the Church must welcome them with open arms–in my case, she did, and warmly at that. I find it beautiful about Catholicism that worship, in her way, is not so much an experience as it is an act of the will; yes, the senses are engaged by the sweet, thick smell of incense at the altar, the soft flickering of candles, the otherworldly melodies of chant; but ultimately, as a Catholic, I go to Mass to worship–to give Jesus the honor and glory He is worthy of; I go to Mass because I love Him.

The House You’re Building was produced by Marshall Altman (producer for Marc Broussard, Natasha Bedingfield, Bethany Dillon, and Brooke Fraser) and it features collaborations with Sarah Hart and Canadian-Catholic performer Matt Maher among others. Audrey’s sound is reminiscent of Brooke Fraser meets Sara Groves and decidedly, Sara Bareilles. In her interview with CNN, Audrey says that she wishes more women would put their artistic talents to work in the world of Catholic music:

Women express their thoughts, particularly about faith and relationships, differently than men,” she said, adding that she has conservative views about the roles of men and women in the church and home. “I love men; I want them to be empowered to be leaders … but I also think that it’s a shame that there aren’t more women doing artistic, creative things in the music industry.

To learn more about Audrey and her music, visit her on myspace. There you can take a listen to her first single “For Love of You”:

For love of you
I’m a sky on fire
And because of you I come alive
It is your Sacred Heart within me beating,
Your voice within me singing out;
For love of You.

You are the highway I travel,
Because I watch you carve streets of gold from all the sin and gravel;
I gave you brokenness
You gave me innocence
And now this road leads to glory.

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Jenna Murphy

Oh Canadian summer, you are God’s mercy made manifest! Even in the midst of heat waves, I think many would agree that this beautiful season sure beats winter’s wind-chill (winter has a beauty all its own, of course). Life’s usually-hectic pace fades into a comparatively peaceful lull; BBQing, rekindling friendships and family ties and enjoying sunny afternoons (and later nights out) are all summer norms even for working city folk, I’m learning.

Projects are sometimes put on hold, golfing claims generous parts of schedules and the leisure-reading list gets a few more checkmarks. Each year, we look forward to “coming away to rest awhile” by taking some time for rejuvenation and re-focusing.

But, even when we are resting, the Holy Spirit is speaking to us. He doesn’t go on holiday and His inspirations aren’t stifled by our vacation schedules. In fact, He doesn’t even leave voicemail. Sometimes, we might not want to hear what is being spoken to us because it feels like work. But, in missing the boat, we are always missing out on joy.

In his Sunday Angelus address last week from his vacation spot at Castel Gondolfo, Pope Benedict XVI said that vacation presents a time for us to “rest from our daily labours, so that we may give time to the one thing that is truly necessary in our lives — listening to the word of God in attentive stillness.”

The key word here is attentive.

This past week, I had the opportunity to listen to a talk given by Fr. Charles Nahm, an Opus Dei priest based in Toronto. Father spoke about the need to be vigilant in one’s spiritual life particularly during the summer. During his talk, I was struck by something simple: that time is a great gift and it must be maximized. When we are blessed enough to have time off from our regular work schedules, we are given the opportunity to contemplate the profound, yet simple truths of our lives.

Fr. Charles spoke about how with the gift of freedom (in this case, free time) comes the gift of responsibility (yes, responsibility is a gift!). We can choose to read spiritual books, or to consult with holy people on matters concerning the spiritual life (spiritual directors) and even to spend time building community. In short, God gives us the chance to make choices that will lead us into deeper communion with Him. And deeper communion with Him means life in abundance… sounds good, doesn’t it?

In the same way, then, that we learn to write from experiencing beautiful writing and we learn to appreciate art from studying the great masters; we become holy from drawing near to examples of holiness. Summer provides the perfect opportunity to meet new members of our spiritual family; to read the lives of the saints and learn about how they allowed the Holy Spirit to make a masterpiece out of their lives and, by extension, the lives of others. Saint Francis of Assisi is quoted as saying: “sanctify yourselves and you will sanctify society”.

Vacation, then, is truly a time to re-create; a time to tap into the Creator Spirit who encourages us along our path to holiness. For what’s left of the summer, let’s pray for this attentiveness to the Holy Spirit as He continually inspires us with new ways to reach out to one another in love.

Holy Spirit, where should I channel my energies? Is there an apostolate I feel drawn towards? Are there lonely people around me who would benefit from a visit? In my busyness, which areas of my life have suffered? How can I restore balance? How have I been blind to opportunities to love?

Come Creator Spirit, come from thy bright heavenly throne,

Come take possession of our souls and make them all Thine own;

Thou who art called the Paraclete, best gift of God above,

The Living Spring, the Living Fire, Sweet Unction and True Love. Read more…

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Jenna Murphy

Many of us are vaguely familiar with how things went for little St. Maria Goretti, but we often overlook the smaller points that make this story a particularly inspiring one.

We know that she was a poor, pious farm girl. We know that only days before her 11th birthday, on July 6th 1902, Maria was attacked and murdered by 18-year old Alessandro Serenelli.  St. Maria, we also know, died because she refused to give in to the boy when he tried to rape her.

The fact that St. Maria Goretti is an incorrupt saint is not surprising then given the perennial nature of her story and the potency of her humble message. No matter how rare virtue may become, St Maria’s example will always yield light and purity when we are confronted with the gray areas, especially in the realm of chastity.

We often forget, though, that this story merely draws attention to an already saintly young girl. St. Maria’s mother would frequently tell her children: “You must never commit sin, at any cost.” We learn that not only Maria’s death but that also her life resonated with the same devotion

St. Maria’s life was focused on the sacraments and on falling more in love with Christ. Her love for God was learned from the saintly example of her mother who encouraged the young girl to partake in the sacrament of reconciliation at 6 years old (earlier than was the custom at the time).

Father Rosica wrote in a reflection on the young saint:

She had been taught by her parents the Catechism, and her beautiful soul had been educated to be aware that Christians belong to God totally, body and soul. She realized that her body was “God’s Temple” and that “The Spirit of God was living” among us (cfr. 1st Cor. 3:16) as in St. Paul’s address to the Corinthians.

Maria’s firm resolve to never commit a sin is what led her to give her life instead of submit to a sin against chastity. In the absence of her firm resolve, the story’s ending would be much less beautiful.

St. Maria’s story reminds us of the power of a firm resolve, true, but her resolve did not come about from a simple one-time decision. She lived out her decision everyday and constantly renewed her love for Jesus in small sacrifices. This year, at the annual World Youth Day audience in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI told the young people that if we do not learn to say “little ‘no’s” we will never be able to say the “big no”. Clearly, Maria was no stranger to small ‘no’s.

In an essay called St. Maria Goretti and her Murderer, Alessandro, James Likoudis, the former president of Catholics United for the Faith writes:

Read more…

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Jenna Murphy

I have recently experienced the awakening of my Canadian identity. And the timing couldn’t be better. Happy 143rd Birthday, Canada!

I’d like to point out here that the number 143 is traditionally associated with the words I=1 LOVE=4 YOU=3; this brings me right back to junior high. But I couldn’t help myself. Numbers speak.

But back to my awakening. Recently, I spent some time in Winnipeg for the World Religious Leaders’ summit. The experience was moving. If you didn’t catch our daily reports from last week, you can see them (and any other past edition of Perspectives daily or weekly) here.

Even though we were working long hours with very little sleep, I remember internalizing many of the encounters with the delegates. Out of all of them, though, I found that my encounters with the aboriginals were especially inspiring.

Like many other young Canadians, I was presented with the early story of our nation. In class, we learned about the Europeans’ quaint arrival (see one version here) and the “welcoming party” that ensued. We learned about the seasonal diets and hunting patterns of “les autotochtones” in the Canada of old. What wasn’t completely communicated in our months of study, however, was the dramatic collision of worlds that eventually gave birth to this great nation.

Canada’s birth was not an easy one. And Canada’s beauty, I’m learning, is intensified with the knowledge of the labour pains that preceded its birth.

On the opening night in Winnipeg, David Courchene of the Anishnabe Nation, Eagle Clan addressed the Summit and told them a little bit about the painful reality of Canada’s aboriginals. He told us about his vision for the future of Canada and the reconciliation and harmony he sees on the horizon. The next day, we were addressed by Justice Murray Sinclair, the chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Truth and Reconciliation is a new Canadian initiative whose mandate states that: “the truth of our common experiences will help set our spirits free and pave the way to reconciliation.” Justice Sinclair told us about the residential schools whose primary focus was to “kill the Indian in the child”. His stories were alarming but his approach was admirable. He, like Mr Courchene, looks forward to Canada’s rebuilding; beginning within Canada’s native families.

On the last night of our stay in Winnipeg, we were invited to an extravagant dinner in the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG). Aside from feeling entirely unworthy to be sitting among world religious leaders and some of the most humble spiritual giants I have ever met, we were sitting in a building whose chief purpose was to “remember” and to celebrate the past, despite its imperfections.

On the walls surrounding us, Stephen Harper’s 2008 apology to our nation’s aboriginals was papered on the whole height of the wall in three-foot letters. The display said the following:

Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to offer an apology to former students of Indian residential schools.

The treatment of children in Indian residential schools is a sad chapter in our history.

In the 1870s, the federal government, partly in order to meet its obligation to educate aboriginal children, began to play a role in the development and administration of these schools.

Two primary objectives of the residential schools system were to remove and isolate children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions and cultures, and to assimilate them into the dominant culture.

These objectives were based on the assumption aboriginal cultures and spiritual beliefs were inferior and unequal. Indeed, some sought, as it was infamously said, `to kill the Indian in the child.’ Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country. Read more…

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Jenna Murphy

The Canadian Church will celebrate Canada day a little more than usual this year.

It was announced this morning that the Archbishop of Quebec, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, will be packing his bags for the Vatican.

Pope Benedict has appointed Cardinal Ouellet as the new Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and President of the Commission for Latin America. This is the first such appointment for a Canadian bishop.The Congregation for Bishops oversees the selection and approval process for new bishops. They also schedule the papal audiences required for bishops and arrange the creation of new dioceses.

In a press conference this afternoon, Cardinal Ouellet said he is honoured and humbled by the appointment. The Cardinal says that although he will be leaving a land he loves dearly, he will remain in close communion with the people of Quebec and of Canada.

In his congratulatory letter to the Cardinal, Bishop Pierre Morissette, the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic bishops writes that his appointment is a tremendous honour not only for him but also for the Church in Canada.

Cardinal Ouellet will assume the role of apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Quebec until he takes possession of his office in Rome.

Read more about Cardinal Ouellet’s appointment on the Archdiocese of Quebec’s website HERE.

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Jenna Murphy

Literature and movies make farm life appear so quaint. But in those Victorian snapshots of rural living, the dung pile is usually not featured.

There are many unpleasant jobs to be done on a farm and sometimes, finding someone to do them is like pulling teeth.

This was the case on the Cronin Farm. After painstakingly (and unsuccessfully) trying to convince local high school students to undertake the task of manually inseminating the pigs on their farm, Amy and her husband decided that it was time to look elsewhere.

And by elsewhere I mean Guatemala.

Amy’s migrant workers’ needs are met in an exceptional way (see Pedro’s blog here highlighting his visit to the Cronin Farm). Her workers are happy and healthy. They have two cars for their personal use, their own fully furnished house and satellite TV. Not to mention the workers join her family for the odd meal and are welcomed to take part in other family activities.

But this is not an accurate picture of migrant worker conditions in Canada, says Deacon Bert Cambre, the Director of Deacons in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Deacon Bert has ministered extensively to migrant workers and he says that often times the workers are subject to long working hours, rare visits home and unpleasant living conditions. And then there is the loneliness and isolation that results from being so far from home.

So Amy’s problems are resolved. Her pigs will continue producing future generations and she need not be constantly recruiting to satisfy a high worker turn-over rate. But Deacon Bert is not sold. He argues that the problems migrant workers face are numerous and that their most workers do not have the luxuries that the Cronin farm affords.

So to answer our question of the week: Is it right to import temporary workers from other countries for jobs Canadians will not do? “Absolutely,” Amy says. “Not so much,” Deacon Bert says.

Be sure to tune in at 7 and 11 pm Eastern, 8 pm Pacific for what was one of the most animated editions of Perspectives to date.

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Jenna Murphy

Love, marriage and children. The three are so intertwined that after a while they become interchangeable.

But should they?

This week we asked you ” If you could give one piece of parenting advice what would it be?”

The answers ranged from “unconditional love” to “read with and to your child”.

Gabrielle Suthers writes via Facebook: “Keep God in your life, rely on God, and don’t let anything get you down. Use your friends to look after baby for an hour or so, and go out on a date every week. Leave the housework – you’ll get your house back to normal when the child is 16 years old or so. Don’t forget to thank God every day for the gift of your child. Treasure nothing more than your family. Love your child, tell him or her how precious he/she is over and over and over. Keep your voice down. Encourage a peaceful, quiet environment. Acknowledge every new thing your child does…”

Tonight, just in time for Father’s Day, be sure to join host Pedro Guevara Mann as he speaks with parents Lisa Canning (a mother of two) and Patrick Douglas (a father of six) about what it means to be an effective parent in today’s world.

When asked which relationship should be the focus, the spousal bond or the mother-child relationship, there was a little hesitation on set. Patrick says that your love for your children will naturally flow from your love for your wife. The intensity may be similar, but the nature is different. “The order [of relationships] is fundamental,” he says.

This week on Perspectives, we feature For Your Marriage: a relationship-strengthening, life-affirming initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The campaign website serves young dating couples, married couples and parents alike. To view their TV spot campaign, visit their website here.

Tonight’s discussion serves to “consummate” two earlier Perspectives weekly episodes — one of which dealt with true femininity (March 19th, 2010 with guests Sharon van der Sloot and Lisa Canning) and the other, you guessed it, dealt with God’s vision for masculinity (April 9th, 2010 with guests Jason Gennaro, Fr. Chris Valka and Jason Wall). Visit the S+L Perspectives video archive to revisit these episodes here.

Be sure to tune in tonight at 7 and 11pm Eastern Time, 8pm Pacific.

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Jenna Murphy