The Durandus Institute for Sacred Liturgy & Music

04/03/2026

From yesterday's observance of Tenebrae with the Philadelphia Oratory. In this moment, toward the end of Tenebrae, as the choir sings the Benedictus, the six large candles over the high altar are extinguished.

03/25/2026

The Durandus Institute will be supporting the Philadelphia Oratory at St. Francis Xavier Church with an offering of Tenebrae: the traditional night office of Matins and Lauds during the Easter Triduum. Our ensemble for this occasion, under the direction of John Teague, will sing the texts of the office in both Gregorian chant and polyphony (including a portion of Victoria's Lamentations and, of course, the Miserere by Allegri).

Please join us, and invite your friends!

Facebook event listing: https://www.facebook.com/events/1260285235628447

03/16/2026

03/16/2026

Last week, we encouraged you all to tune in live to Peter Carter's appearance on EWTN with Fr. Mitch Pacwa to discuss "The Song of the Lamb". You can now watch the video anytime on YouTube here:

Peter Carter, Executive Director and Founder of the Catholic Sacred Music Project, shares his recently released book with Cardinal Robert Sarah, on the purpo...

03/11/2026

Our Durandus co-founder Peter Carter will appear on EWTN tonight at 8pm eastern time to speak with Fr. Mitch Pacwa about "The Song of the Lamb: Sacred Music and the Heavenly Liturgy", which he co-authored with His Eminence Robert Cardinal Sarah. If you don't have cable, use this link!

Watch the United States Livestream on the EWTN 24/7 Catholic Radio

02/26/2026

Members of our Durandus team will be assisting our friends at Higher Word for tonight's Requiem Mass in New York City. We hope to see many of you there!

12/16/2025

From last Friday: orchestral Latin Vespers for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, New York City.

12/01/2025

Blessed Advent to all! Durandus's main event for the month of December:

On Friday, December 12, the Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, New York City will observe the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with a special choral Vespers at 7pm. The Basilica Schola is joining forces with the choir of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University, England, in a program of music composed by Mexican masters including Manuel de Sumaya, Gaspar Fernandes, and more. The evening will conclude with Adoration and Benediction. Join us for a unique celebration!

This event is co-sponsored by the Society of St. Hugh of Cluny.

11/28/2025

First photo: earlier today, Pope Leo XIV and Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople held a joint commemoration of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea over the ruins of the Basilica of St. Neophytos. Uncovered by archaeologists only a decade ago, this is said to be the place where the 318 Fathers composed the Nicene Creed.

Other photos: from Durandus's second celebration of the Nicene Fathers, with Archbishop Borys presiding over Great Vespers at the Ukrainian Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia, on Nov. 13, 2025. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo (Archbishop Emeritus of Galveston-Houston) and Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis, Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, both gave remarks after Vespers on the significance of the Council.

A video excerpt from that Vespers may be viewed here: https://youtu.be/HeHZZf4u9jw

11/27/2025

Pope Leo landed in Turkey (pun fully intended) today. In honor of His Holiness's visit to Nicaea tomorrow with Patriarch Bartholomew to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, here's a clip from Durandus's Great Vespers at the Ukrainian Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia this past Nov. 13 to commemorate this momentous occasion.

Apologies for the choir not being well-captured in this recording, but this is what they sang for this portion:
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V. Praise the Lord all nations : praise him, all people.
O my Savior, who has torn your garment? Who has challenged the unity of the triune Godhead? It was Arius, for he denied your equality to the Father. He refused to accept you as one
of the Trinity, And he taught Nestorius not to say ‘Mother of God.’ But the Council in Nicaea proclaimed that you are the Son of God, co-enthroned with the Father and the Spirit!

V. For his mercy is confirmed on us : and the truth of the Lord endures forever.
The foolish Arius sundered the monarchy of the Trinity into three unlike and alien essences. Therefore the God-bearing Fathers came together eagerly, and burning with zeal like Elijah the Tishbite, they cut off the blasphemer with the sword of the Spirit, and proclaimed that Christ is the Son of God, co-enthroned with the Father and the Spirit.

V. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Today let us praise the mystical trumpets of the Spirit, the God-bearing fathers of Nicaea, who stand in the midst of the Church, singing true theology, praising the one Trinity, unchanging essence and Godhead: the overthrowers of Arius and champions of the orthodox. They always entreat the Lord to have mercy on our souls!

11/21/2025

There was a very long line for Cardinal Sarah's (and Peter A. Carter's) book signing at the Penn Newman Center this afternoon. Our executive director had to stand in line like everyone else!

We look forward to seeing many of you at Vespers later this evening. For those unable to attend in person, it will be livestreamed as well.