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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

John Henry Newman: A Deep History & A New Communion Motet

Guest Author · May 6, 2014

“To be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant.” — John Henry Newman

HIS FAMOUS QUOTE by Blessed John Henry Newman was proclaimed by one of our wonderful priests this past Sunday at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas, TX. Said priest, a former Episcopalian, is quite fond of Newman and quotes him regularly and to great effect. This particular quote got me thinking about my Catholic history, and how deep in it I may or may not be. As a musician and (hopefully) an artist, I am greatly moved by all things aesthetic. I am also a great lover of history, so I think back with great fondness to my boyhood parish of St. Mary of the Assumption in Waterford, NY. An exceptionally beautiful church built in the English Gothic style a little more than 100 years ago, it stands on top of a small knoll at the crossroads of two main streets, and was so well known in the Capital District region that it was nicknamed “the little cathedral of the North.”

My Catholic history is deep in this place. Romanticized? Probably. But to me, it just looks, feels, and even smells like a Catholic church. It’s timeless. Years of incense permeates the rich wood of the pews and panelings with an unmistakable sweetness. The impressive and commanding carved white marble altar, tabernacle still in place, is enveloped by a high vaulted ceiling, rich with lovely paintings that, as a youngster, I was sure were the actual depictions of heaven. I’m pretty sure I still think that. The winters in upstate NY were bitter, and one thing you could always count on was that the holy water fonts, placed right inside the doors, would freeze over every year. It was almost as if it wasn’t our church if the holy water hadn’t turned to ice. The winding staircase leading to the choir loft, which I first ascended when I joined the choir in the 11th grade, is narrow and a bit dark, with creaky stairs and the mustiness of years. Side chapels with statuary and candles, lovely stained glass windows, and the sheer height, scope, and weight of the building have said to several generations, “this place is important.” Its history is deep and connected to the soil of the faith. Beauty is here, and it is the beauty of God.

A deep musical history is just as important as architecture. It’s wonderful to see the Church exploding with the talents of so many who are re-discovering and introducing us once again to the importance of sung liturgy. From chant to polyphony, like the incense-soaked wood of St. Mary’s, our liturgies are being saturated once again with Proper texts and liturgical music of great beauty. Influenced and impressed as I am by the choral works of Frank La Rocca, Kevin Allen, Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, Richard Rice, and so many others, I humbly offer this Communion motet, Jesus Said to His Disciples composed this past March:


THE TEXT IS TAKEN FROM the Communion Antiphon for Friday within the Octave of Easter. A cappella and with imitations and prepared dissonances in the Renaissance style, the words “Come and eat” are thrice repeated and set apart. The “Alleluia” is an extended attempt at timelessness, and with a sweetness that is meant to invoke Jesus’ deep love for his disciples. Special admiration and many thanks go to the fabulous singers of the Schola Cantorum of St. Rita’s in Dallas.


We hope you enjoyed this guest post by Alfred Calabrese.

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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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

“You should try to eat their food in the way they prepare it, although it may be dirty, half-cooked, and very tasteless. As to the other numerous things which may be unpleasant, they must be endured for the love of God, without saying anything or appearing to notice them.”

— Fr. Paul Le Jeune (1637)

Recent Posts

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  • The Tallis Scholars
  • Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
  • Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)

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