Cletus Madsen
Rev. Msgr. Cletus P. Madsen | |
|---|---|
State University of Iowa Eastman School of Music | |
| Known for | Liturgical Renewal Movement in the Catholic Church |
| Title | Reverend Monsignor |
Cletus Madsen (December 1, 1905 – July 16, 2002) was a 20th-century
Biography
Early life and education
Madsen was born in
Diocese of Davenport
Father Madsen's first assignment in the diocese was as an assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Cathedral. In 1932 he was assigned to the Fine Arts Department at St. Ambrose College. He would eventually become chairman of the department. He served as chaplain at Immaculate Conception Academy in Davenport, in addition to his teaching, starting in 1934. In 1935 he began, with other music educators in the diocese, diocesan music festivals. They included 15 to 22 schools, and they continued until 1970.[2]
By 1944 he was the director of the college's choir as well as the adult and boys' choirs at Sacred Heart Cathedral. When Bishop Henry Rohlman was transferred to the Archdiocese of Dubuque in 1944, the Sacred Heart choir, composed of men and women, as well as trumpets was a part of the farewell liturgy in the cathedral. Several months later they performed a similar program at the installation of Bishop Ralph Hayes. Father Madsen was called into the bishop's office and asked why women were in the choir and why trumpets were played in church? The next time either performed in a liturgy at the cathedral was the installation of Bishop Gerald O'Keefe 23 years later.[3]
In 1950 Madsen began to write a column on liturgical renewal in The Catholic Messenger, the diocesan newspaper which had a national edition. He reminded his readers a rule of Pope
Change, however, did not come about easily. Madsen sent out a questionnaire to 148 pastors in the diocese, based on materials prepared by the National Catholic Music Education Association (NCMEA—now known as the National Association of Pastoral Musicians). Of the 88 responses, only 19 pastors reported they had a program promoting active lay participation in the liturgy. Ten of these parishes had a
Liturgical renewal in the United States
Madsen's work was not limited to the Davenport Diocese. He was chair of the Liturgical Department of the NCMEA for six years. By the end of the 1950s the Dialogue Mass had become official and new missals for the laity were developed. Madsen served as president of the NCMEA when it prepared Our Parish Prays and Sings.[3] He also served as vice president and a member of the board of directors of the NCMEA. He co-ordinated study groups at the annual North American Liturgical Weeks and was on the board of directors of the National Liturgical Conference. In 1964 he helped establish the Church Music Association of America, and was chosen as its first vice-president.[1]
In addition to the annual Diocesan Music Festival, Madsen helped found the annual Iowa Catholic College Music Festival and was co-founder of the Iowa Catholic High School Music Festival. He also organized the Tri-City Oratorio Society.
Father Madsen would find validation in his life's work when the Catholic bishops from around the world voted to approve, and Pope
Later life and death
In the early 1960s Madsen helped establish the Liturgical Commission of the Diocese of Davenport. From 1962 to 1965 he served as the student chaplain at St. Ambrose. In 1965 he finished his teaching career at St. Ambrose and became
After he retired from full-time ministry in 1981 he resided at St. Vincent Center in Davenport and served as Assistant to the President of St. Ambrose University until 1998. Msgr. Madsen died in 2002 at the Kahl Home for the Aged and Infirm at the age of 96. His funeral was held in Christ the King Chapel and he was buried in the Priests' Circle at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Davenport.[1]
