As a contributor to Sacred Music journal, I am always honored by the company I keep and the current issue (Spring 2011) is no exception.

I cannot recommend highly enough Fr. Mark Daniel Kirby's "The Psalmody of the Divine Office: A Path to Holiness for the Apostolic Religious."  In my varied careers, I have found myself around flourishing and floundering women's congregations.  And choral recitation of the Office is often one of the crucial differences.

At the same time, what Fr. Mark says is valuable to all of us.  Because we take the Psalms for granted. Because we often only like the ones that fit our mood (or personal problems). Because we think they're too difficult.  (Add your personal excuse here in silence.)

Give this essay a read if you're a subscriber.  If you're not, why not join the Church Music Association of America.  A modest $48/year will bring you a terrific journal and make you a part of a community of musicians and others who look for high ideals (and practical applications thereof) in liturgical music.

And if you don't know Fr. Mark's blog, Vultus Christi, you're missing something. 

Thanks, Fr. Mark! 

Well, it's another case of "Be there and be square" with a wonderful new group blog called The Chant Cafe.  You'll want to drink deeply of the non-alcoholic postings there.

And eclectic and highly intelligent group of writers, the topic we all wish everyone loved – liturgical music.  Definitely add this to your favorites, iCyte, or wherever you keep these things.

Some of the usual suspects – Jeffrey Tucker, Arlene Oost-Zimmer, William Mahrt.  Check it out!

I'm always on the lookout for something new – and I'm also not averse to rediscovering what I've forgotten.  Here's one of the latter – Chantblog - a positive festival of lovely videos of sacred music featuring chant and polyphonic settings of chant texts.

Why not pay them a visit and a listen or two?  And go check out your old bookmarked sites as well.