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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

Freedom

Fr. David Friel · July 7, 2012

One of the things I believe I haven’t mentioned on this blog is my training as a Navy chaplain. Although I don’t presently do anything with the Navy on a day-to-day basis, I am, in fact, a Naval reserve officer.

I also have a number of friends who are active duty military chaplains. About two weeks ago, one of them—a Jesuit priest from Boston—retired from active service after 23 years. I went to his retirement ceremony, which was held at Quantico, and it had several inspiring moments. Perhaps the most inspiring, though, was when my friend read the names of about 15 young sailors he served with who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. There was silence and stillness in the room. It was a respectful, sorrowful, and solemn silence—a silence of gratitude and admiration. Among military personnel, there is nothing more sacrosanct than honoring the fallen—those who have died in uniform.

Many people in my parish (a blue-collar, row-home community in Northeast Philly) have ties to the police and fire community, and I sense that the same is true for them. Just the mention of someone killed in the line of duty arouses a sense of solemnity. Three months ago, our city lost two firefighters in a tragic fire, which evoked strong & emotional public response. One of our own parishioners, police Officer John Pawlowski, was killed in 2009, and I daresay his loss is still fresh in the heart of our neighborhood.

What is it about these deaths that inspires us? Why are we moved by their stories? May I suggest we look to a patriotic hymn for the answer? Look at the third verse of America the Beautiful:

O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!

It’s the self-control of our military & police & fire communities that leads to self-gift. As the hymn says, they are “heroes,” “who more than self their country loved.” Jesus, Himself, once said something similar: “Greater love hath no man than this: to lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). This is the extraordinary virtue that makes us respond with silence and stillness and solemnity. It’s fascinating and thrilling and inspiring. Why? Because, when people put the needs of others ahead of their own, they’re representing something much greater. They become, in fact, living images of Jesus Christ. Jesus, in an extraordinary gift of self, gave His very life so that we might become free. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, police officers, firefighters—and so many more—stand ready to offer the same gift: the gift of their very lives, in order that we might be free.

We would do a disservice to all those who have made a sacrifice of themselves if we were not to uphold and relish the freedoms we have been given. We are living in an age when some of our fundamental freedoms are being challenged and denied in many and various ways. As the bishops of our nation have reminded us through the Fortnight for Freedom observance, “To be Catholic and American should mean not having to choose one over the other. Our allegiances are distinct, but they need not be contradictory, and should instead be complementary.” Perhaps more than ever, we need to pray for our country. In particular, we need to pray that our freedoms will be secured, most particularly religious freedom, which is our first, most cherished liberty.

Religious freedom means more than the non-interference of government in the faith lives of citizens. It means the freedom of citizens to be governed first by their faith. Our religious freedom is all-important. Were it not for the freedom won for us on the Cross, no other freedom would matter. Our American freedom to witness publicly to the highest freedom, won for us by Christ, should never be challenged. Inspired by the example of all those who have given their lives so that we might be free, let’s offer prayers and sacrifices to God and ask Him to safeguard our country from the dangers around us.

God does, indeed, bless America. Let’s return the favor, and insist that we, as Americans, continue to be free to bless God as we so choose.

America! America! God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law!

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 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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President’s Corner

    PDF Download • “Offertory” for this Sunday
    This coming Sunday, 12 October 2025, is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). Its OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF) is gorgeous, and comes from the book of Esther, as did the ENTRANCE CHANT last Sunday. Depending on a variety of factors, various hand-missals (all with Imprimatur) translate this passage differently. For instance, “príncipis” can be rendered: King; Prince; Lion; or Fierce lord. None is “more correct” than another. It depends on what each translator wants to emphasize and which source text is chosen. All these pieces of plainsong are conveniently stored at the blue-ribbon feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF example) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Agnes De Mille: “When I see my work, I take for granted what other people value in it. I see only its ineptitude, inorganic flaws, and crudities. I am not pleased or satisfied.” — Martha Graham: “No artist is pleased.” ADM: “But then there is no satisfaction?” — MG: “No satisfaction whatever at any time,” she cried out passionately. “There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”

— “Martha Graham on the Life-Force of Creativity”

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