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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

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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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
    14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —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

“To get people together once a week without an objective is deadly.”

— Dr. Roger Wagner (19 December 1960)

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