“The Nativity”, a painting by John Singleton Copley
Psalm Offering 2, Opus 3
This Psalm Offering is a musical rendering of the Lucan phrase, “and Mary pondered all these things in her heart.” The recurring figure in the left hand is reminiscent of Chopin’s “Berceuse”, literally a lullaby. Within this gentle music I see Mary cradling her new born child to her breast, affecting that rocking back and forth movement that is inherent, it seems, to all mothers. The musical form of this Psalm Offering is 3 part, ABA form.
I wrote this Psalm Offering for Elaine Roesser. Elaine, and her sister, Helen, began playing music in church as children at St. Victoria Church in Victoria, Minnesota, a few miles west of Chanhassen. They continued to play Masses throughout their entire life. Elaine married Ron Roesser, from Chanhassen, and has lived and raised her family there. She is a lovely woman, with a very sharp mind (she worked at the Chanhassen Bank for a very long time), and a good friend. Ron and Elaine have pretty much adopted Kenny Smith as a member of their family.
Scripture passage: Luke 2:19
And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
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Deacon Bob
I am a composer, performer, poet, educator, spiritual director, and permanent deacon of the Catholic Church. I just recently retired after 42 years of full-time ministry in the Catholic Church. I continue to serve in the Church part-time. I have been blessed to be united in marriage to my bride, Ruth, since 1974. I am father to four wonderful adult children, and grandfather to five equally wonderful grandchildren. In my lifetime, I have received a B.A. in Music (UST), M.A. in Pastoral Studies (St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, UST), Certified Spiritual Director. Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, in 1991. Composer, musician, author, poet, educator. The Gospels drive my political choices, hence, leading me toward a more liberal, other-centered politics rather than conservative politics. The great commandment of Jesus to love one another as he has loved us, as well as the criteria he gives in Matthew 25 by which we are to be judged at the end of time directs my actions and thoughts.
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