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“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Reason for Encouragement

Richard J. Clark · August 9, 2013

NCE IN A WHILE, we have experiences that give us reason for encouragement, or even hope, if perhaps just a small glimpse. In life, as with sacred liturgy, we may perceive many reasons for discouragement. But God knows when to build us up so that we may have the strength to forge on with his mission and His will. Then, in times of difficulty or challenge, we must remember to trust in God’s will and be faithful to His will and not simply our own. True faithfulness to God is tested in the difficult times.

However, today, I want to share a recent liturgical experience, and one that opens a window of encouragement. I recently had the opportunity to direct music for three liturgies for the USCCB Diocesan Pro-Life Leadership Conference in Boston. (His Eminence Seán Cardinal O’Malley is the Chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities.) In addition to supporting a vital cause, I had a wonderful opportunity to meet lay leaders from around the country.

While in the planning stages with the Office of Divine Worship (Fr. Jonathan Gaspar’s presence there is great encouragement for us all) I was instructed to choose music that was specifically varied: traditional hymns, ICEL Chants, and polyphony for one liturgy, contemporary music for another, and for a third on the Feast of the Transfiguration, I was to chant the propers. This was a very thoughtful and pastoral approach, as the people in attendance probably had quite varied experiences in their home parishes.

However, I was not sure how well the polyphony, ICEL chants, and propers would be received by a diverse group of Catholics from around the country. However, what transpired was reason for great encouragement:

• These Diocesan Pro-Life leaders can really sing!

• The ICEL Chants were sung quite robustly by the congregation, to the point of slowing down the schola. I find this most intriguing. While their use was mandatory for a short time in the Archdiocese of Boston and are used for Archdiocesan liturgies, one can only speculate how much use they get in typical parishes around the United States. Perhaps the ICEL Chants have had more staying power than expected? This is highly encouraging.

• We sang the Introit, Offertory and Communion propers including settings by Adam Bartlett from the Lumen Christi Missal. These were included in the worship aids, so after a verse or two, the congregation began to sing, with more and more voices being added as the verses progressed. This was more than encouraging! In fact it was quite joyful to hear the scriptures being sung in this context.

With this kind of singing, that means there is not only a lot of willingness on the part of the congregation, but it points to a lot of great work being done by music directors and pastors all over the country. This work is mostly thankless and unseen, but know that your influence and reach may be much farther than you will ever dream or know.

ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY to meet and speak with Msgr. James Maroney, the new rector of St. John’s Seminary in Boston.

A past chairman of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, he was Executive Director of the USCCB Secretariat for the Liturgy from 1996-2007. He serves as Executive Secretary to the Vox Clara Committee. As a frequent lecturer on liturgical matters, he spoke to me passionately about his experiences teaching the ICEL chants in workshops around the country, and more importantly, about singing the mass. He spoke about using in his workshops the ICEL Chants training videos videos I was fortunate to assist with.

Certainly, now in his role as rector of the seminary, we have another advocate for teaching priests the treasure that is singing the mass. To put icing on the cake, he spoke of moving forward with fund raising for a new pipe organ for the beautiful seminary chapel.

These are all reasons for encouragement for the sacred liturgy. However, let us be mindful of our constant calling to be faithful to God’s will for us. Most times, there is challenge. That is why we are called.

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 Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —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

“Always remember: God opposes the proud.” (leaning into the microphone) “…even when they’re right!”

— ‘Scott Hahn, speaking in Plano, TX’

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