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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

Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli Speaks About Roman Missal, Third Edition

Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2014

OST REVEREND Arthur J. Serratelli, Bishop of Patterson, NJ, is a member of ICEL and Vox Clara. He is well-known for his expertise in liturgical and scriptural matters. He’s also very funny and energetic. The following talk (November, 2011) was made available by Mount St. Mary’s Seminary:

      * *  Bishop Serratelli • New Roman Missal

The entire speech is fascinating, and it has a lot of “zingers” which I won’t spoil. He also mentions some sad realities. For instance, he says major catechesis is needed because none of the children who approach him for Confirmation can tell him anything about the Mass, except that “it’s a celebration.”

At the end, Bishop Serratelli answers questions. He notes that the previous ICEL translation avoided words like “soul” and “grace.” If you forgot what the old ICEL translation looked like, click on these:

      * *  Example #1 — The old (discredited) ICEL translation

      * *  Example #2 — The old (discredited) ICEL translation

I find it very cool that Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop Serratelli (among others) sometimes offer the Extraordinary Form:

NEWS FROM NOVEMBER 2013

Cardinal DiNardo was elected to chair the Committee on Divine Worship, but his election as Vice-President of the USCCB prevented him from assuming leadership of the committee. Therefore, the bishops elected Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli of Paterson, New Jersey, to chair the committee beginning 14 November 2013. Bishop Serratelli previously chaired the committee from 2007-2010.

BIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP SERRATELLI

Bishop Arthur Joseph Serratelli was born in Newark, New Jersey on April 18, 1944, the son of Eva Fasolino and the late Pio Serratelli. He attended Ann Street School in Newark and completed his grammar school education at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Newark. He then attended Seton Hall Preparatory School and Seton Hall University in South Orange. He studied for two years at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, and then at the North American College in Rome. While in Rome, he did his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University and Scripture studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Seton Hall University in 1965, a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University in 1969, a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Biblical Institute in 1976, and a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University in 1977.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1968, Bishop Serratelli served for one year as parochial vicar at St. Anthony Parish, Belleville. He taught Systematic Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary for two years and then returned to Rome for higher studies. From 1977 until 2002, he taught Sacred Scripture and biblical languages at the seminary. He was Rector of St. Andrew’s College Seminary at Seton Hall University from 1997-2000.

He also taught at the Redemptorist Seminary in Esopus, New York; St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, New York; the Institute of Religious Studies, Archdiocese of New York; and the lay ministry program of the Educational Program Service of Trinity College, Washington. Bishop Serratelli has been active in giving retreats to priests and religious, diocesan convocations and lectures throughout the United States. He had also been a weekend assistant in Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Franklin Lakes, and served in Holy Family Parish, Nutley and Saint Anthony Parish, Passaic.

His Holiness, Pope John Paul II named him a Prelate of Honor in 1998. His appointment as Titular Bishop of Enera and Auxiliary Bishop of Newark was announced on July 3, 2000. His Episcopal Ordination was celebrated on September 8, 2000. He was appointed Vicar for Ministries, Regional Bishop for Essex County, and Vicar for the Apostolates and Education shortly thereafter. In March 2002, he was appointed Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Newark. He was installed as Paterson’s seventh bishop on July 6, 2004 at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, Paterson.

As a member of the USCCB in Washington, Bishop Serratelli serves as chairman of the Committee on Divine Worship and member of the Ad hoc Sub-Committee for the Review of Scripture Translations. He is also the chairman of the International Committee on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) and member of the Vox Clara Commission. Bishop Serratelli also serves on the Task Force for the Review of the Lectionary, Ad hoc Committee for the Review of the Catechism and the Ad hoc Committee for the Spanish Bible for the Church in America.

IF YOU STILL HAVEN’T HEARD ENOUGH, George Cardinal Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, delivered this address at a Rome conference marking the 50th anniversary of Sacrosanctum Concilium. (Courtesy of ZENIT.)

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Bishop Arthur J Serratelli Vox Clara Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Reminder” — Month of April (2026)
    On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Accompaniment (Easter Hymn)
    Number 36 in the Brébeuf Hymnal is “At the Lamb’s high feast we sing,” an English translation for Ad Cenam Agni Próvidi (which was called “Ad Régias Agni Dapes” starting 1631). As of this morning, you can download a simplified keyboard accompaniment for it. Simply click here and scroll to the bottom. Many organists are forced to serve simultaneously as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult—which explains why choirmasters appreciate these simplified keyboard accompaniments. Sadly, many readers will click that link but forget to scroll to the bottom where the simplified PDF file is located.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Quasi Modo Sunday”
    The Introit for “Quasi Modo Sunday” (12 April 2026) is particularly beautiful. The musical score can be downloaded as a PDF file, and so can the organ accompaniment. The official language of the Catholic Church is Latin (whereas Greek is our mother tongue). Vatican II said Gregorian Chant must be given “first place” under normal circumstances. As a result, some parishes will rightly sing the authentic version. On the other hand, because so many USA dioceses disobey the mandate of Vatican II, some musicians sing plainsong in the vernacular. I have attempted to simultaneously accompany myself on the pipe organ while singing the English version. Although very few take advantage of it, the complete Proprium Missae is posted at the flourishing feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    PDF Download • “Anima Christi”
    I received a request for an organ accompaniment I created way back in 2007 for the “Anima Christi” Gregorian Chant. You can download this PDF file which has the score in plainsong followed by a keyboard accompaniment. Many melodies have been paired with “Anima Christi” over the centuries, but this is—perhaps—the most common one.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)
    On Good Friday during the middle ages, the pope privately recited THE ENTIRE PSALTER. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself by reading this passage by Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen (d. 1943). His famous book—called “Liturgical Law: A Handbook Of The Roman Liturgy”—was published by the Benjamin Herder Book Company, which was the American arm (operating out of St. Louis, Missouri) of one of the world’s most significant Catholic publishers. Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen was born in Switzerland but spent his career between the Benedictine monasteries at Conception (Missouri) and Mount Angel (Oregon). His 1931 masterpiece, Liturgical Law can be downloaded as a PDF file … 467 pages!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
    How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“These French offices represent a new case of the old tendency towards local modification—which the Council of Trent had meant to repress. They are commonly attributed to Gallican ideas and are supposed to be not free from Jansenist venom. Some of these local French uses survived almost to our own time. They were supplanted by the Roman books in the 19th century, chiefly by the exertions of Dom Prosper Guéranger (d. 1875).”

— Dr. Adrian Fortescue (d. 1923)

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