Inspiring prayerful reflection, honest contemplation and a commitment to act, the Schola Cantorum choir at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington performed an Earth Day Service of Lessons and Carols on May 18.
“We ask that our ears be open to hear the words that will comfort the afflicted even while they confront the comfortable, (and) that our minds be open to the reality of the challenges we face in protecting and preserving the gifts we have been given,” Msgr. W. Ronald Jameson, the cathedral’s rector, prayed at the beginning of the concert.
The service – which weaved chants, songs, hymns, Biblical readings, prayer and excerpts from Pope Francis’s writings – also marked the 10th anniversary of the pope’s encyclical, “Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home.” In that 2015 encyclical, Pope Francis urged Catholics to seek ways to care for the Earth, and he warned of the dangers of climate change and how the world’s people, especially the poor, are impacted by pollution.
Each of the nine lessons in the service followed a theme from Pope Francis’s writing: “Everything is Connected,” “Our Climate,” “Our Living Planet,” “Our Water,” “Our Air,” “Our Food,” “Our Consumption,” “Our Shared Futures” and “Many Things Have to Change,” which featured a motet that warned, “Let them not say: we did not see it. We saw. Let them not say: we did not hear it. We heard.”
The concert began with the choir scattered around the cathedral singing a Gregorian chant that seemed to reverberate off the sanctuary mosaics, as choir members sang, “Holy Spirit, Lord divine, come from heights of heaven and shine.” Then the congregation joined in singing, “All Creatures of our God and King.”
The Lessons and Carols – a type of service that includes Scripture readings and songs normally reserved for Advent – highlighted Pope Francis' urgent message encouraging Catholics to care for the Earth.
Thomas Stehle, the pastoral associate for liturgy and director of music ministries at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, came up with the idea three years ago.
“I was struck by how our Advent Lessons and Carols really resonated with people,” Stehle said. “I'd received a number of letters about how people were moved by it, not just because it was a pretty concert, but because the message was so clear and the music was so powerful and moving.”
Stehle decided to think creatively about using the Lessons and Carols in another context but with the same goal, “to transform [a listener] into a human being that wants to be like Christ and live in the world generously and faithfully and be willing to suffer for others, take risks for others, and put others’ needs before their own,” Stehle said. He decided to “bring life to the teachings of Pope Francis” through an Earth Day Service of Lessons and Carols.
By lifting up the late pope’s message through the power of Lesson and Carols, Stehle also hoped that some of the powerful in Washington would hear that message. “The pope was clear about the urgency of caring for the planet in a more conscious and deliberate way, and realizing the damage that we're actually doing in many places, but particularly the damage which is going to be most felt by the poorest and the most vulnerable people in the world who are going to suffer,” Stehle said.
Stehle directed the first Earth Day Service of Lessons and Carols in 2023, carefully compiling the music, Scripture and excerpts from the pope’s writings, leading the choir practices and deciding on the themes of the lessons. He sought out music that talks about the beauty of the Earth, how grateful people should be for it, and also what it means when the poor and the vulnerable are threatened.
Other churches have reached out to Stehle for advice on producing their own Earth Day concerts.
“We didn’t follow any model except the general idea of Lessons and Carols,” he said.
With Pope Francis’s recent death, this year’s service was especially poignant, and his photo was on display at the front of the sanctuary. “It’s a tribute to Pope Francis,” Stehle said. “We are hoping that one of the gifts of Pope Francis even in his death is drawing attention to the things that were important to him.”
A congo player joined the choir for the final musical piece, a tango called “Este Momento en Punto” and Stehle asked the congregation to join in with the chorus and even dance. “This is the moment, this very moment, this is the moment!” the chorus sang.
After the concert, Gabriel de la Cruz, who is 40 and a Washington resident, reflected on the music and also the challenges presented by the readings. “It was something special. A concert with a deep message. It was strong and beautiful but also painful,” he said.
The congregation was invited to an eco-fair afterward to learn more about preserving the Earth from 11 environmental groups, including St. Matthew’s own Green Team and the Catholic Climate Covenant who set up booths in the cathedral’s Great Room.
“I love this concert, I love the music and the message,” said Leslie Downey, 73, from Washington. “I’m hopeful Pope Leo will be as much an evangelist [for the Earth] as Francis. How could people leave this and not be a little inspired?” she said.
Stehle is hoping to continue this annual tradition of celebrating Earth Day with Lessons and Carols.
“If the pope is to be believed, then there is an urgency which we can't really ignore,” Stehle said. “I just find that it’s going to take effort.”
