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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Queen of May

Fr. David Friel · May 16, 2012

Here in Pennsylvania (or “PA,” as we call it), we have many places of historical importance. As one of the original thirteen colonies, many significant things happened here early in (and even before) our nation’s history.

One of the local ways we remember major historical people/places/events/etc. is by Pennsylvania Historical Markers—wrought-iron blue signs with gold lettering that explain the person/place/event/etc. being commemorated.

I love these signs, and I always enjoy reading them. There’s an interesting one downtown. It stands on the sidewalk between City Hall and the Wanamaker Building (home of the world’s largest pipe organ!). It says, in part: “Mother’s Day: Founded by Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia. First officially observed in 1908. An early supporter was John Wanamaker. Mother’s Day was given federal recognition, 1914.” That sign caught my attention enough to make me look into things a bit more, and I found the original House resolution from 1914 recognizing the celebration. It describes Mother’s Day as “a public expression of love and reverence for the mothers of our country.”

Long before 1914 or 1908, however—and long before Anna Jarvis or John Wanamaker—this time of year, May, was already devoted to our Mother. For centuries, Christians have set aside this entire month to honor Mary, the Blessed Mother of us all. May crownings and other special devotions have long been “public expression[s] of [our] love and reverence” for the Blessed Mother.

It’s good and wonderful and praiseworthy to honor our human mothers on this day. But our celebration of these mothers would be lacking—it would be incomplete—if it were detached from our celebration of Mary. For whatever is good and loveable in our human mothers is a reflection of what is good and loveable in Mary. In fact, our human mothers are “good” mothers only insofar as they are good reflections of the Blessed Mother. Aren’t the best mothers honest, pure, loving, merciful, sweet, beautiful, grateful, compassionate, and gentle? And is that not the perfect description of Mary?

Mary is the ideal Mother and the ideal woman. Bishop Sheen once observed: “[Mary] is the one whom every man loves when he loves a woman, whether he knows it or not. She is what every woman wants to be, when she looks at herself. . . . She is the secret desire every woman has to be honored and fostered.”

Mary’s life, of course, was defined by her Child. It was Jesus for Whom Mary spent so much of herself, from the home at Nazareth to the Cross on Calvary. It was Jesus for Whom Mary willingly embraced suffering. It is for her Child, first and foremost, that Mary is remembered and honored. I suspect that every mother would have it the same way. Ask a mother who has found success in her profession. Ask a mother who holds some high-ranking position. Ask any mother who has reached any measure of worldly accomplishment. I suspect they will be most proud—before all else—of the children they have sent into the world.

The blue & gold historical marker that stands at Market & Juniper Streets in Philadelphia reminds us of the history of this Mother’s Day holiday. All the more, our own wonderful mothers should remind us of Mary, clothed in blue and wearing a golden crown. Celebrating motherhood without celebrating the very prototype would be futile. So, today—and throughout this month of May—we honor the Blessed Mother. We renew our love for her, and we ask for her guidance in our family life.

O Virgin most tender,
Our homage we render,
Thy love and protection,
Sweet Mother, to win;
In danger defend us,
In sorrow befriend us,
And shield our hearts
From contagion and sin.

O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today, Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May!

(Bring Flowers of the Rarest, Traditional)

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “What Martin Luther Said…”
    My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“The choir shall henceforth sing or say no anthems of our Lady or other Saints, but only of our Lord, and then not in Latin; but choosing out the best and most sounding to Christian religion they shall turn the same into English, setting thereunto a plain and distinct note for every syllable one: they shall sing them and none other.”

— 1548 Edict of King Edward VI (a heretic) for Lincoln Cathedral

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