The Recovering Choir Director

Today is the anniversary of the death of Monsignor Richard J. Schuler, tireless advocate for authentic renewal of the Roman Liturgy, pastor of the renowned St. Agnes Church in St. Paul, Minn., and past president of the Church Music Association of America.  The CMAA has a detailed biographical sketch of Msgr. Schuler on its website.

Thanks to Fr. Zuhlsdorf for the reminder, who writes about the papal connection:

Papa Ratzinger knew Msgr. Schuler well, and Schuler was a friend of the Holy Father’s brother Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, who himself was a great Church musician in his day.  Card. Ratzinger would often express interest to me when I would run into him at the Palazzo Sant’Uffizio, where I worked for some years, about the music program at St. Agnes and ask about Msgr. Schuler.  Each year I would give him a program of the sacred music at St. Agnes.

When I heard that Msgr. Schuler had died, I sent a note to Msgr. Ganswein, the personal secretary to His Holiness, asking him to inform the Pope.  I requested that the Pope send a telegram, if he deemed it opportune.  His Holiness sent a telegram to St. Agnes parish in St. Paul in time for Monsignor’s funeral.

How many parish priests get for their funerals a telegram from the Pope?

N.B.: Fr. Frank C. Phillips, CR, founder of the Society of St. John Cantius and pastor of St. John Cantius Church in Chicago, is a protege of Msgr. Schuler, and carries on the work to which Msgr. Schuler tirelessly called attention.