Choir School students answer 'Why stand staring at the sky?'

Friday, Jun. 06, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — Students at The Madeleine Choir School stood outside the Cathedral of the Madeleine on May 29, celebrating the Quid Admirantes, the annual celebration that takes place on the 40th day after Easter – the actual day of the Ascension of the Lord. The title derives from one of the more peculiar angelic questions in the New Testament – “Why are you standing around and staring at the sky?”

At the beginning of the ceremony, the students gathered in the cathedral for a brief prayer with Cathedral Pastor Father Martin Diaz. After a brief message on the meaning of the Ascension, students were then invited to move to the steps of the cathedral as the tower bells began to peal and bags containing Pentecost novena prayers fell from the towers above. The novena focuses on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit as outlined by the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 11: 1 – 3: wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, reverence, wonder and awe in God’s presence. 

“The Novena to the Holy Spirit is an important part of our tradition – in light of Our Holy Father Pope Francis’s call to greater solidarity with those in any need or trouble, this prayer invites us to open our hearts and minds, asking the Holy Spirit to light within us the fire of his self-emptying love,” said Gregory Glenn, The Madeleine Choir School founder and pastoral administrator. “These seven gifts reflect the grace received in the Sacrament of Confirmation. In a particular way, the Novena supports our second grade students who are preparing for Confirmation and First Eucharist and invites all who have already received the sacraments to deepen their cooperation with this grace.”

One bag of novena prayers was collected for each class and distributed by the Choir School Student Council members.

MCS Principal Jill Baillie will lead the novena prayers at the school’s morning assemblies over the nine days that follow Quid Admirantes. “At-home” versions of the novena are also distributed to the students to use on the non-school days.