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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

Two Lenten Passages

Fr. David Friel · February 24, 2013

HERE ARE TWO STORIES in the Gospel of Luke that are closely related. They both have the same characters: Jesus, and the Apostles Peter, James, & John. They both take place at decisive moments in our Lord’s life. In both stories, Jesus is praying, while Peter, James, & John fall asleep. Both scenes take place on mountains—one on Mount Tabor, and the other on the Mount of Olives. And both of these stories are passages we encounter in the Lectionary during Lent. What are these stories?

The first is the Gospel for the 2nd Sunday of Lent: the Transfiguration of our Lord. Jesus takes His closest three friends up a high mountain to pray. True to form, they fall asleep! When they wake up, Saint Luke tells us that “they saw His glory” (Luke 9:32). Our Lord’s face “changed in appearance and His clothing became dazzling white” (Luke 9:29). Then they hear a voice from the cloud, saying, “This is my chosen Son; listen to Him” (Luke 9:35).

The second, very similar story, is the First Sorrowful Mystery: the Agony in the Garden. The scene takes place on Holy Thursday evening, immediately after the Last Supper. Fearful for the suffering He knows He must undergo, our Lord goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He again takes Peter, James, & John with Him, but they cannot stay awake. Luke writes that “He was in such agony and He prayed so fervently that His sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground” (Luke 22:44).

These two scenes are similar in so many details, and I propose that their ultimate meaning is also the same. What is the shared meaning of these events? Both on Mount Tabor and on the Mount of Olives, Jesus gives us an example of One Who has given Himself up completely to the will of God. The Transfiguration could only happen because God the Father was revealing His glory through God the Son. Jesus, at that moment, is accepting His identity as the “chosen Son” of the Father. And, in the Agony in the Garden, the strength and peace of God are again being revealed by the Father through the Son. Jesus, in the garden, accepts the Passion He must undergo for the salvation of the world.

It would be hard to underestimate the effect that the Transfiguration and the Agony in the Garden had on Peter, James, & John. They were the sole witnesses to both events, but those sacred moments changed the course of their lives. Having seen our Lord both in glory and in agony, those three men were empowered to give themselves up to the will of God. They spent their lives spreading the Gospel message throughout the world. Peter & James eventually gave even their lives for the Gospel. In doing God’s will, they became light for the world.

These two scenes, which we encounter every Lent, provide the perfect message for our Lenten pilgrimage. When we give ourselves up to the will of God, we give testimony to the Gospel. When we give ourselves up to the will of God, we receive strength to endure our suffering. When we give ourselves up to the will of God, we, like Jesus, become radiant.

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

“Naturally the accompaniment of the organ is merely tolerated during the office of the dead, but in fact, in nearly every parish this toleration has become a habit.”

— Henri Potiron, 1958

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