• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“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)

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • Ordinary Form Feasts (Sainte-Marie)
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

What Do Catholic Teenagers Sing?

Fr. David Friel · August 20, 2017

RIESTLY ministry is incredibly varied. In just over six years, priesthood has taken me to soccer sidelines, finance council meetings, Penance services, block parties, middle-of-the-night deathbeds, prison visits, Pre-K classrooms, gravesides, beef-and-beers, two World Youth Days, countless Communion calls, crime scenes, and much, much more.

Amidst all the variety, one thing that has been a constant for me as a priest has been involvement in youth & young adult ministry. This continuous connection to young people has, for me, been welcome. It has also given me a perspective on the Church’s approach to youth ministry that is both enthusiastic and critical.

I would like to expound upon that part of my perspective which is critical. Allow me to do so by means of a story.

This summer, I had the opportunity to participate in a wonderful program for high school-aged boys and girls. All of the nearly 100 participants were Catholic, and their commitment to the faith could be described as above average. They hailed from across the United States, and they represented a wide assortment of educational backgrounds, including public/charter schools, Catholic/Christian schools, and homeschooling. Their talents and interests were as diverse as one might expect in a group of 100 teenagers.

Something interesting happened during a Mass that was celebrated during this youth program. All the teenagers were present, along with a handful of adults, and there were a number of priests concelebrating.

After Communion, the main celebrant of the Mass invited the other priests to join him in singing the Salve Regina. This invitation was accompanied by a lengthy, nearly apologetic explanation to the teenagers of what they were about to hear. Assuming that the young people would know none of the Latin, he encouraged them to follow along by praying the Hail, Holy Queen in their hearts.

The priest intoned the Salve Regina, and about half of the congregation sang along lustily.

After the final blessing, the person playing the guitar and leading the music invited everyone to sing the recessional hymn, Shine, Jesus, Shine. This invitation was accompanied by no further direction. Assuming that the young people would chime right in, the guitarist strummed a few chords and broke into the refrain.

No one but the guitarist and some of the priests even opened their mouths.

I interpret this experience as anecdotal evidence of something that I believe is generally true: the typical practicing Catholic teenager of today is more likely to know the Salve Regina than Shine, Jesus, Shine (or any number of other songs from a bygone era).

The point is that young people are often nowhere near where their priests, catechists, music ministers, and youth group leaders think they are. We would do well as a Church to admit that to ourselves and then work toward bridging the gap.

When the decision is made to sing something at Mass “for the kids” or to sing something that “the young people will like,” it is fair to question whether this is actually being done “for the kids” or rather for the ones promoting X, Y, or Z. It is time for the world of youth & young adult ministry to stop infantilizing young people. “Young” is not a synonym for shallow, frivolous, or stupid.

Instead of preparing liturgies for young people based on what we think (often erroneously) will be familiar or make them comfortable, we should be looking at our young people and asking ourselves what great things they are capable of learning, achieving, and contributing.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Catholic Youth Choirs Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

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).

Primary Sidebar

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

“In my capacity as the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, I continue to remind all that the celebration toward the East (versus orientem) is authorized by the rubrics of the missal, which specify the moments when the celebrant must turn toward the people. A particular authorization is, therefore, not needed to celebrate Mass facing the Lord.”

— ‘Robert Cardinal Sarah, 23 May 2016’

Recent Posts

  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • The Tallis Scholars
  • Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
  • Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!

But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”

We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.

Our president has written the following letter:

President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)

Are you able to support us?

clock.png

Time's up