I’ve been trying, desperately, to find an affordable copy of the Liber Usualis, which contains almost all the Gregorian chants of the Church. Upon finding one on eBay, I sent a message to the seller, asking if, with his “fiat,” I might buy the book outright rather than wait the 9 days until the end of the auction (which is starting at $0.99). His response:

“The book cost me over $100! All I can suggest is that you bid whatever amount you feel it is worth. I might also suggest you spend a little less time online, and, while we’re at it, lay off the begging!”

I hardly think that offering to buy something is begging. If so, it looks like to need to rewrite the history of the mendicant (begging) orders.

Anyways, after I received that in my inbox, I sent back a very short message which said, “A simple ‘sorry, no’ would have sufficed. Best of luck with the auction.”

His response:

if you want your questions answered in a particular way, please let me know beforehand in future. What a lovely ‘shepherd’ you’ll make to the people of God. Have a nice career, Father.

I guess anyone who is an enthusiast of Latin chant and sacred polyphony has to be a priest. I guess then, in turn, that we have to quit calling Sr. Joan “Fr. Joan.” After all, it’s rather obvious that she doesn’t like Latin chant.

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