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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 Hope of Sinners

Fr. David Friel · December 8, 2012

OSES. KING DAVID. Mother Teresa. John Paul II. Martha Washington. Nero. Queen Victoria. Joe DiMaggio. Venus Williams. Paul McCartney. Father Friel.

What’s the link? What do all those folks have in common? Are they all Biblical characters? No. Do they all share the same birthday? No. Were they all left-handed? No. So what do they all have in common? They’re all sinners! Every last one of them is a sinner.

In fact, you could add almost any name to that list, and they’d fit right in. One notable exception is Jesus. He wasn’t a sinner. But, then again, He’s God. If that were it, though—if Jesus were the only exception—something would be missing. After all, Jesus isn’t even a human person. He’s a Divine Person, Who took to Himself a human nature. So, if He were the only man ever to live without sin, there would really be no reason for hope.

But God is very wise, and, in the fullness of time, He planned to do something extraordinary. He planned to create a human being who would be sinless. He planned to create a human person, as the Letter to the Ephesians puts it, “without blemish.” He planned the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

By the Immaculate Conception, we mean the singular privilege given to Mary whereby she was preserved from any stain of sin from the moment of her conception onward. At no point has she ever borne the guilt of sin, because God, foreseeing Jesus’ death on the Cross, applied the merits of His Sacrifice to Mary in advance. That’s why Mary has rightly been called “nature’s solitary boast.” She is the only human person ever to have been immaculately conceived.

Moses. King David. Mother Teresa. John Paul II. Martha Washington. Nero. Queen Victoria. Joe DiMaggio. Venus Williams. Paul McCartney. Father Friel. Yes, we’re all sinners. But there’s hope for each of us. Why? Because, if God could create Mary as the Immaculate Conception, He can re-create all of us so that we might be “without blemish” in heaven.

In the words of the Miraculous Medal Novena: “O Mary, conceived without sin: pray for us, who have recourse to Thee!”

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

At the Catholic gathering (Katholikentag) held at Breslau in August, the Papal Nuncio celebrated Mass for 80,000 participants, facing the people (the “Missa versus populum”).

— “Orate Fratres” Magazine (23 Jan. 1927)

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