Angelico’s Mary Schmitz reflects on Cappella, ASM, and Sacred Music
- Feb 6
- 3 min read
I was recently listening to a production put out by EWTN on “seeking beauty” and it made me reflect on the role that beauty has played in my spiritual life. Beauty can be present to us in the form of a painting, a conversation, a person, an act of love, or nature, but the beauty of music, and especially sacred music, has made the Lord known to me in a unique way and I would love to share about that experience with all of you.
A quote that stuck out to me from EWTN’s production of “Seeking Beauty” is that “beauty is the language of the divine.” I have found this to be so true in my ministry in music as well as in my personal life. The sacredness of the Mass is elevated and revealed to us in a different way when we have beautiful music to draw our minds to heaven, rather than keep them on ourselves and the distractions of the world. In an age where the focus is constantly on ourselves, beauty calls our minds higher as St. Paul encourages us to do (Col 3:2) and makes us aware of the Lord’s presence. He is always present, but sometimes it takes true beauty to turn our hearts towards Him. Beauty is the manifestation of the Lord’s goodness and a promise of what is to come.
The Lord speaks to us heart to heart and never condescends. His voice is often in the gentle whisper. Sometimes that whisper for me is in a song or a simple melody. A central part of Angelico Sacred Music's mission is to take prayers that we have said from a young age and transform them into a medium that etches the prayer onto our hearts so that it lingers and truly transforms not only us, but culture as a whole. We have witnessed music’s power to gather communities who rally around certain artists or the power it has to lift a mood when you put your favorite song on. What if that song not only lifted your mood, but transformed your soul? That is sacred music. That is the ministry I have had the privilege of partaking in through Cappella at the University of Mary and through Angelico Sacred Music as a Cardinal Newman Fellow.
Through Cappella, I have learned the value of a community centered around beauty and service. We have sung pieces ranging from Palestrina to Ryan’s American Neo-Renaissance compositions. Sacred music lingers in your mind and on your heart, making you long for more. More beauty, more heaven.
Singing Ryan’s newest composition, Glory Be, has been a beautiful experience. The mystery of the Trinity is at the core of our beliefs as Catholics and this arrangement has brought to light the theology of the three Persons for me. In addition to the composition, rehearsing with my choir is just like praying one of the church’s oldest and most loved prayers with my friends. Music alone bonds groups, but sacred music pointed toward heaven creates a family and community united in Christ. In a world of isolation and self-centeredness it is so important for groups like Cappella and Angelico Sacred Music to go against the grain and put beauty at the service of others rather than keep it for ourselves. Through this, we have the opportunity to create community, to lift hearts to heaven, and to build the kingdom of heaven.
I knew from Cappella’s first rehearsal with Ryan in Denver for Our Father that his only goal is to give all the glory to our Lord by sharing the beauty that he has experienced on his journey of faith. Angelico Sacred Music is the fruit of that prayer. We hope that the glory of our Trinitarian God is made known to you through the beauty of Angelico’s newest piece of musical art, and that it leaves you longing for heaven, the only place where our longing for beauty will be truly satisfied. May the Lord bless and keep you.
In Christ,
Mary Schmitz
Cardinal Newman Fellow, Angelico Sacred Music
Cappella Member, University of Mary ‘26
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