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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

The Underground Church

Fr. David Friel · November 25, 2012

NCE UPON A TIME, there was a young man who grew up in a large family. He was the third of eleven children. He had a great sense of humor, and he was very devoted to prayer—so much so that he decided he wanted to become a priest. Just at the time he was beginning his studies to become a Jesuit priest, though, a new ruler came to power in his country.

This new ruler wrote new laws into the country’s constitution that were specifically designed to suppress the public practice of religion. Article 3 of this new constitution mandated secular education in schools, prohibiting the Church from participating in primary and secondary education. Article 5 outlawed monastic religious orders. Article 24 forbade public worship outside of church buildings. Article 27 restricted the rights of religious organizations to own property. Article 130 made it illegal for priests to dress as priests and denied them the right to vote.

Because of these new laws, the Church was basically forced to go underground. As a result, the young man who aspired to become a Jesuit was sent to another country to complete his studies and be ordained. A few years later, when he became a priest, he returned to his home country. The way he went about being a priest was very different than the way I go about being a priest. Whereas I walk and run and drive around the Parkwood Manor section of Philadelphia trying to bring the Gospel to our neighborhood as publicly as I can, this young priest had to do things differently. He went to visit and minister to his people in their places of work, but he had to wear costumes so he wouldn’t be discovered. He would gather people in small groups in basements and attics to celebrate Mass for them. He heard their confessions while walking covertly in the streets.

The local police became aware that there was a priest secretly operating in this particular area, so they sought him out. They eventually discovered him and arrested him. Then, without even the pretense of a trial, it was decided that he should be executed. He was led out of his prison cell and taken to a courtyard. A guard asked what his final wish would be, and the priest said he wanted to pray. So he knelt down for a moment on the ground, praying for his family, the guards, and for the conversion of the ruler who had imposed the new laws. When he stood up, he stretched out his arms to his sides, in the shape of a cross, clutching a rosary in one hand and a crucifix in the other. As the firing squad took their aim, he yelled out, “Long live Christ the King!” And he was shot to death.

Fact or fiction? Is that a fairy tale, or is it a true story? It is, in fact, a true story—down to every detail. When do you think it happened? Where could something like this happen? Maybe around the time of Nero’s persecutions in Rome? Perhaps in the era of English recusancy? Maybe around the time of colonialism in West Africa?

No—this all happened in Mexico in the 1920’s. The name of the cruel ruler was President Plutarcho Calles. He instituted his new laws persecuting the Church in the Mexican Constitution of 1917. And the name of the young priest was Miguel Pro, whom we now call Blessed Miguel Pro. Does all this surprise you as it surprises me? This didn’t happen a million years ago in a distant, unknown land. This happened less than a century ago in a country with whom we share a border. There are people alive today who knew Blessed Miguel Pro. There are photographs of his execution.

I am inspired by this story. It motivates me. I admire the extraordinary zeal of a young priest on fire with the faith. Even in the face of abject persecution, the Mexicans who remained faithful to Christ and led the Cristero counter-rebellion are a model for us. They teach us fidelity to Christ above all else. It’s not merely coincidental that the Solemnity of Christ the King was established by Pope Pius XI—in the 1920’s. This story and this solemnity teach us that Christ, alone, must be our King: not a government or a president, not “financial security”, not secularism, not sports, not alcohol or drugs, and not ourselves. There is room for only one King on the throne of our hearts, and we must zealously guard that seat for Christ.

Friends: if this could happen in 1920’s Mexico—a place that had long been one of the most Catholic countries in the world—it could happen again. Even in “the land of the free and the home of the brave,” we are confronted every day with the dictatorship of relativism and secularism. We live & breathe & work in an atmosphere that can be toxic to faith if we allow it to be. Instead, may we have the spirit & energy & faith that animated Blessed Miguel Pro! May every heartbeat of ours reecho his stirring last words: Viva Cristo Rey!

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

Amid all these old liturgical books, I find that I am happy and at ease; I feel at home.

— Dom André Mocquereau (1884)

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