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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

What to Do with the “Fourth Option”

Fr. David Friel · March 19, 2017

N A WEEK’S TIME, we will celebrate Laetare Sunday. It can be difficult to explain the meaning of that term to your average Mass goer, and it is not because of the Latin. It is, rather, because most Catholics have none of the framework necessary to understand the proper of the Mass to which it refers. Thus, one must begin by explaining that there is such a thing as an introit.

This state of affairs is a reflection of the near-total domination that has been achieved by the so-called “fourth option”—the provision in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal that permits “another suitable song” (alius cantus congruus) to replace the propers at will. The eminent professor, László Dobszay, suggested in a 2010 essay that rescinding this permission may be the best path to reclaiming the musical genius of the Roman Rite.

A brief article I wrote on this subject was published in this month’s issue of Adoremus Bulletin. It is freely available, along with many other excellent articles and resources, on the group’s website. Adoremus remains one of the foremost organizations working for the renewal of the sacred liturgy. If you are not already familiar with their work, do yourself a favor, and explore the riches available on their website.

    * *  A Call to Action: Take Up Thy Cross in Proper Style!

Great strides have been made over the last decade in promoting more propers-based liturgies, but much work remains to be done if we are to regain a widespread appreciation for the structure of the Roman Rite, with its brilliant balance of proper and ordinary elements.

As a bonus, since this is the feast of St. Joseph, I am also including links to a “triduum” of reflections in his honor that I posted five years ago. Ite ad Joseph!

St. Joseph Triduum I • Joseph of the Old Testament

St. Joseph Triduum II • Joseph of Arimathea

St. Joseph Triduum III • Joseph of Nazareth

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Adoremus Bulletin, Graduale Romanum Roman Gradual Propers, Hymns Replacing Propers, Mass Propers Proprium Missae, Propers, Reform of the Reform, Singing the Mass 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

    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

It is frightful even to think there are children, victims of abortion, who will never see the light of day.

— Pope Francis (13 January 2014)

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  • Music Director Job • $80,000 per year

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