Such large crowds gathered around [Jesus] that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables.
– Matthew 13:2-3a
The University of Notre Dame is a place filled with stories. From its humble origins when Holy Cross religious arrived at a snowy log cabin to the countless number of people who have come to this special place in the years since, stories have always connected us. Narratives of faith, connected to the Gospel, bind us together in a special way that nothing else can. Here, we share a collection of lives and stories that are meant to bolster our faith and move us to uncommon virtue. We are blessed to share them.
We invite you to listen as we hear from members of the Notre Dame family as they discuss living out their individual vocations and the universal call to holiness.
Stabat Mater and Station X
Public humiliation meets profound vulnerability. Magnificat Choir member Gwen Hymes invites you to a simple, transparent reflection as we pray to bear the death of Christ with him in Station X: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments. < Previous Video
Stabat Mater and Station IX
In the quiet of total depletion, we find the strength of sustained endurance. Join Veronica Ortiz as she explores the deliberate, grounded melodies that call us to accept the permanence of redemptive action in Station IX: Jesus Falls the Third Time. < Previous Video
Stabat Mater and Station VII
When fatigue deepens, how do we find the strength to rise? Join Sofia Nelson of the Notre Dame Magnificat Choir for a meditation on the unsettled rhythms and breathless physical strain of a body pushed beyond human endurance in Station VII: Jesus Falls for the Second Time. < Previous Video Next Video >
Stabat Mater and Station VI
Can we witness the courage of compassion? Sophomore Caroline Jones explains how today’s music intimately captures the gasping breaths of our Savior through delicate notes and solitary pauses in Stabat Mater and Station VI: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus. < Previous Video Next Video >
Stabat Mater and Station V
What happens when we are forced to witness suffering? Regan Ball discusses how Pergolesi uses silence and aggressive choral interruptions to turn us into active witnesses of Christ’s journey in Stabat Mater and Station V: Simon of Cyrene is Made to Bear the Cross. < Previous Video Next Video >
Stabat Mater and Station IV
Can sorrow and joy coexist? Join Ella Flynn for a reflection, where surprisingly sunny and dance-like music reveals Mary’s steadfast hope in the glory of her Son’s sacrifice in Stabat Mater and Station IV: Jesus Meets His Mother. < Previous Video Next Video >
Stabat Mater and Station III
Step into a sacred reflection on a mother’s grief with sophomore Aurelia Smolen. Listen to the sinking violin lines that mimic sighs of compassion as we contemplate the heavy weight carried in the heart of the Blessed Virgin in Stabat Mater and Station III: Jesus Falls the First Time. < Previous Video Next Video >
Stabat Mater and Station II
Watch as Tori Garascia, the Vice President of the Magnificat Choir and a member of the Class of 2027, explores the jagged melodies and grieving inflections that capture Mary’s raw anguish at the foot of the cross in Stabat Mater and Station II: Jesus is Made to Bear His Cross. < Previous Video Next Video …
Stabat Mater and Station I
As we begin our Lenten journey, we reflect on Stabat Mater and Station I: Jesus is condemned to death. Through this opening piece in Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, the haunting harmonies and rising tension capture the sorrow of the Blessed Mother. Join us in receiving this music as prayer. Next Video >
A daily Advent journey featuring daily video reflections from alumni, students, faculty, and staff.
A daily Lenten meditation video featuring various pieces from the extensive Raclin Murphy Museum of Art Collection.
In partnership with the Notre Dame Folk Choir and campus community, a series of reflections featuring original songs from a musical ritualization of Christ’s final days.