Kudos to the National Shrine choir for an excellent job providing music at the prayer service with the USCCB and the Holy Father today.  The polyphony in the prelude filled the Crypt Chapel with beauty and reverence, and the harmony on the hymn "At the Lamb's High Feast" was gorgeous.  The singing of vespers was extraordinary.  What a great experience for the bishops, hopefully inspirational for some who may not have considered trying to find ways to raise the standards of sacred music in their own dioceses.  And even if this is common fair for the bishops when they are in D.C., I can at least say that the shrine choir made me feel proud.  This is in contrast to how I felt watching video on EWTN of a visit of Pope John Paul II to the U.S. when the status quo of sacred music at the time was a little different, to say the least.  Our diocese is blessed to have an excellent music director at the cathedral (Dr. Brian Luckner) and when I've attended the Chrism Mass or ordinations, the music is always superb.  But the quality of the shrine voices today in the acoustics of the Crypt Chapel were remarkable, and must surely have pleased His Holiness.  Great job.