Schools Page
Opening
Mass in St. Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh
of
The 13th World Carillon Congress 2002.
17th
Sunday in Ordinary Time
28th
July, 2002.
HOMILY.
*****************************
“ Te Deum Laudamus”
These opening words, my dear friends, of the great hymn of the Church in
praise of the eternal God are engraved on the biggest Bell of the Carillon of
this beautiful Cathedral of Saint Colman and it is most appropriate that they
should be announced on this day when the 13th World Carillon Congress
will be officially inaugurated.
The Bell of Saint Colman, on which are engraved these words, is the crown
and, in a sense, the father of a Carillon of some 49 Bells which is the pride
and joy, not only of the people of this Great Island of Cobh and of the lower
harbour area of Cork, but indeed of the entire Nation of Ireland. It is,
therefore, with a great sense of pride that I welcome the Delegates to this
Congress from the entire world and to this liturgical celebration in which we
give praise and honour to God: “ Te Deum Laudamus – We praise you, O God, we
acclaim you as the Lord”.
The theme of the Congress, “The Carillon and the Music of the
People”, is very appropriately chosen as it is from the People that the Praise
due to God rises. The beautiful spire of Saint Colman’s Cathedral rises
majestically heavenwards directing our minds and thoughts to God and the 25
tonnes of Bells hanging within it become in fact the voice of the People raising
their voices in praise. Many great and significant events in the life of this
Community have been marked by the joyful ringing of these Bells and many have
been the sad moments of death and departure that are remembered and recalled as
the echoes of Saint Colman’s Carillon reach out across the expanse of the
great Harbour. Indeed, it is true to say that the Bells of Saint Colman’s
Cathedral accompany this Community throughout the varied moments of its life.
When, in the process of the recent and ongoing refurbishment of this
Cathedral begun in 1992, it was decided to refurbish, restore and complete the
Carillon with the addition of two new Bass Bells, the concern was raised at the
lack of qualified carillonneurs in this country – the only one being our own
Mr. Adrian Gebruers. An approach was made to the Department of Music at
University College, Cork, specifically to the Head of the Department, Professor
David Cox, with a view to the setting up of a School for Carillonneurs. Now, for
some five years, regular courses on the Carillon are given and promoted by the
University, with Mr. Gebruers as the current lecturer, and I am very happy to
note that several newly qualified Carillonneurs have successfully graduated. It
is therefore most fitting that the present Congress be placed under the
joint-patronage of the President of University College, Cork and the Bishop of
Cloyne. With this prestigious Congress taking place in Cobh one can say the
Carillon of Saint Colman’s has truly come of age.
The Liturgy of the Church has, down through the ages, called forth and
promoted the rich talents and gifts of the People and continues to do so in
giving due cult to the Eternal God. The great works of Art and Architecture, the
scores of Liturgical Chant and Music and the art and skill of Bell Ringing have
all combined in presenting, on behalf of the People, a harmony of praise and
thanks to God. The Psalms of Sacred Scripture continually emphasise this aspect
of mankind’s response to an all-loving, all-creative and all-saving God. For
example, Psalm 149 is truly a song of joy. The opening verse reads:
“
Sing a new song to the Lord,
His
praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let
Israel rejoice in its Maker,
Let
Sion’s sons exult in their king,
Let them praise his name with dancing
and
make music with timbrel and harp”.
The official Prayer of the Church, the Divine Office,
sung in choir stalls and recited by Religious and Ordained Ministers, begins
every day with Psalm 94 and these words:
“ Come ring out our joy to the Lord
It is therefore incumbent on all of us to make sure that our lives are
truly a hymn of praise to the Lord and that we are in tune and harmony with
God’s Creation as expressed in the Canticle of Daniel:
“
O all you works of the Lord, O bless the Lord.
To
Him be highest glory and praise for ever”.
It
would indeed be incongruous if we did everything possible to have our Carillon
ring out harmoniously our praise to God while our lives remained out of tune
with the score sheet. Every encounter in Liturgy and Prayer must ensure that
there takes place in our inmost being a fine tuning which will enable us to
truly, by our lives, sing our “Te Deum Laudamus”.