"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel."- Isaiah 7:14
The mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God is at the core of the Catholic faith. Not only did the second Person of the Blessed Trinity become incarnate on earth but He offered Himself as a pleasing sacrifice on Calvary to the Father for the salvation of mankind. This redemptive act of Christ does not remain stagnant in history but is re-presented at every Mass. Recognizing this august reality-that Christ's sacrifice is made present to us at every Mass-one should stop and ask: "If this is truly happening, how should my demeanor be at Mass? How should I prepare myself? What intentions should I bring to the altar? Moreover, how can I participate more fully through silent prayer and raising my voice in hymns and chants? If you were present at the time of the Crucifixion and you were standing by the foot of the Cross with Our Lady, what would you expect to hear and see? As a composer I am seeking to create music that answers these questions. These questions that sober the mind and refocuses the attention onto Christ and not on ourselves. I hope to bring the faithful to greater contemplation of the glorious reality of the Holy Mass. God is with us. That is the guiding principle of my work as a composer and musician for the Church. Palestrina, Bach, Bruckner, and countless other composers have contemplated God's glory and have sought to reflect that in their music. I can only humbly attempt to add something to the vast treasury of sacred music. I hope that you will find something here at Emmanuel Musica Sacra that reflects the glory of God and the fruits of contemplating before the Blessed Sacrament, God with us!