Nico Fassino – Madison Catholic Herald

On February 5, 2014

Vocations then and now: a comparison of the first 10 years and the last 10 years in the Diocese of Madison

As many regular readers know well, the Catholic Herald celebrated the recently-concluded Year of Faith by publishing a variety of articles, stories, and information to assist the faithful of the Diocese of Madison in rediscovering and deepening their knowledge and practice of authentic Catholic faith.

One of the periodic features that the Herald offered during the Year of Faith was called “From the Archives,” in which full or partial articles from across the 65-year history of the Madison edition of the paper were reprinted.

In the process of preparing these features, I have spent a good amount of time pouring through the extensive archival records of the paper and have been surprised and fascinated by what I learned about life and activities in the diocese from 1946 to the present day.

On May 9, 2013November 9, 2022

Nico Fassino, Catholic Herald Staff

Spring Wine Fest shows support for new building

To say the night was merely a success would certainly be an understatement. Now in its fourth year, the Spring Wine Fest hosted by St. Paul University Catholic Center was held on Friday, May 3, at the Madison Concourse Hotel just steps away from the Wisconsin state capitol building.

On November 21, 2012September 6, 2023

Tyler J. W. Dickinson

The Mass is not about us but for us, a gift from God

To the editor:

I wanted to take a brief opportunity to respond to two recent letters (both November 1, 2012), by Mr. Paul Krogman and Mr. Bill Wambach. As I read them, I was saddened because they both seem to have been offended by the articles of Mr. Nico Fassino and Sr. Joan L. Roccasalvo regarding liturgical music.

On November 14, 2012

Ben Yanke

Vatican II documents give Gregorian chant first place among liturgical music

To the editor:

Thank you for publishing Nico Fassino’s article in a recent edition of the Madison Catholic Herald, and also the excellent articles on the authentic role and scope of sacred music by Sr. Joan L. Roccasalvo, C.S.J. In the other letters to the editor that I have recently read, I have seen many fallacies and inconsistencies relating to the role of music in the liturgy in regard to our role in the liturgy that I feel I must address.

The Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, makes clear in §116 that Gregorian chant is the primary form of music for the Mass, having first place among liturgical music, alongside the great repository of sacred polyphony.

On November 1, 2012

Bill T. Wambach

A ‘low-brow’ who likes folk-style music

To the editor:

Since you permitted Nico Fassino to use your pages of October 12 for a Guest Column titled: “Why I hate bad Church music,” I hope you will allow me to express my opinion, honed over 87 years.

Nico expresses HIS personal opinion that: “The value of proper liturgical music has nothing to do with . . . what your personal opinions are about music.” Is he saying “his” is more important than others? Or, does his personal opinion ALSO have nothing to do with the value of liturgical music?

On November 1, 2012

Bill T. Wambach

A ‘low-brow’ who likes folk-style music

To the editor:

Since you permitted Nico Fassino to use your pages of October 12 for a Guest Column titled: “Why I hate bad Church music,” I hope you will allow me to express my opinion, honed over 87 years.

Nico expresses HIS personal opinion that: “The value of proper liturgical music has nothing to do with . . . what your personal opinions are about music.” Is he saying “his” is more important than others? Or, does his personal opinion ALSO have nothing to do with the value of liturgical music?

On October 25, 2012May 5, 2021

Peggy Rakow

God has gifted us with many, varied types of music

To the editor:

While I do enjoy music created by creative dead white Europeans, I also find that God has gifted us with many new and varied types of music for our time.

Nico Fassino writes that the Mass is not for “us” and I must agree with him.

BUT! I also know that the Mass is our most intimate experience with the living and active Christ. In the Mass not only do we worship God, but we find Him with us . . . speaking to us in the Gospel and homily, praying with and for us, teaching us, comforting us, forgiving us, feeding us, and blessing us.

On October 18, 2012

Nico Fassino

Why I hate bad church music

Recently, the Catholic Herald published two excellent articles by the incredibly well-educated and well-formed Sr. Joan L. Roccasalvo, entitled “Rebuilding Catholic Culture.”

In these essays, Sister Roccasalvo vigorously defends the teachings of the popes and the Second Vatican Council concerning what music is proper for use during the sacred liturgies of the Church, while simultaneously arguing against the use of modern folk-style music commonly found in many parishes.