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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

Doing Something New

Fr. David Friel · March 17, 2013

HE LORD SAID, “I am doing something new” (Isaiah 43:19). What an appropriate passage for us to hear during this week in which our Church received a new leader. There are a lot of new things about Pope Francis: the first non-European in many centuries, the first from the New World, the first Jesuit, the first to take the name “Francis.” That is certainly a lot of change.

Anytime there is new leadership, people wonder what might change. We have seen already, in just a few days, some of the changes Pope Francis has made. For instance, the news makes a big deal out of the fact that the Holy Father did not wear the red mozzetta when he appeared on the balcony. They also picked right up on the story that he went back to his hotel to pick up his own bags and pay his bill.

Then there are all those other things the media want to see changed: no more priestly celibacy; the sanctioning of abortion and birth control; the admission of women to Holy Orders; support for homosexual partnerships. This confuses me. If the Church woke up one morning and changed her teaching on any of those things, we should all be deeply disturbed. One of two things would have to be true to make sense of that. The first explanation would be that truth has changed—that what was once wrong is now right. That fails to make reasonable sense. The second explanation would be that the Church throughout time has simply been misguided and has taught error, leading people into sin. That, too, fails to resonate with me, since the Church is the design of Christ and our holy Mother. Either of these explanations is disturbing, and any church that would submit to either of these two hypotheses is a church I don’t want to embrace. In fact, we should all run away screaming from any group that would hold either claim.

Those changes will never happen and never should. But there is plenty of change that needs to happen. The Church is actually in the business of change—not of changing dogma, but of changing hearts. If you think Pope Francis is making changes, check out what our Lord does in John, chapter 8.

There, the evangelist recounts an episode in which the Pharisees try to catch Jesus in an impossible situation. They bring Him an adulterous woman and point out that Mosaic law would have them stone her to death. They ask the Lord: “What do You say?” If He commands them to stone her, He will be accused of strict cruelty. Conversely, if He commands anything else, He will be accused of laxity. So, how does the Lord respond? He does something brilliantly new. “Let the one among you who is without sin,” He says, “be the first to throw a stone at her.” He shifts the focus from judgment to introspection, from condemnation to mercy, from legalism to love. Now that is “doing something new”!

Just as the tablets received by Moses on Mount Sinai were said to be “inscribed by the finger of God” (Deuteronomy 9:10), so now Jesus writes in the sand “with His finger.” By imitating the revelation at Sinai, Jesus teaches the Pharisees that He speaks with the same authority that underlies the Commandments of old. He reveals, moreover, that He is establishing a New Law, which is a law of love. He also shows that He has come to give us the Holy Spirit—the living “Finger” of God (digitus Dei)—and only in this Spirit can the true commands of God be lived: love and mercy.

Jesus avoids being trapped by the religious professionals of His day through His wise, though enigmatic, response. There seems to be no hesitance on His part in establishing this New Law. The Lord shows that He is at once novel and traditional. He is unpredictable yet reliable. He is young and old. He is unchanging yet relevant. He is simultaneously surprising and steady. Ancient though He may be, the Lord remains always fresh and ready to work new wonders.

We are very fortunate to have both a pope and a Savior who do not feel bound to do things “the way we have always done them.” They are, after all, the bearer of Good News, so they should not be afraid to shatter the expectations of the world. By His innovative response to the Pharisees, Jesus is able to spare the adulterous woman from the pressing crowd. Instead of being crushed by their stones, the woman’s sins were crushed by the weight of Jesus’ astonishing mercy.

The Lord not only does something new, but He also gives her the opportunity to do something new. She is given the chance to live a new life, sing a new song, and walk a new path. The same opportunities are available to us all.

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

    New Bulletin Article • “14 September 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 14 September 2025) discusses OFFERTORY ANTIPHONS and contains a wonderful quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Draft Copy (Pamphlet)
    A few days ago, I posted a draft copy of this 12-page pamphlet with citations about the laity’s “full, conscious, and active participation.” Its basic point or message is that choir directors should never feel embarrassed to teach real choral music because Vatican II explicitly ordered them to do that! We’ve received tons of mail regarding that pamphlet, with many excellent suggestions for improvement. Please feel free to chime in!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Entrance Chant” • 23rd (Ordinary Time)
    This coming Sunday, 7 September 2025, is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). You can download the “Entrance Chant,” conveniently located at the feasts website. I also recorded a rehearsal video for it (freely available at the same website). The Communion Chant includes gorgeous verses in FAUXBOURDON. I attempted to create a rehearsal video for it, and it’s been posted at the feasts website, called by some: “church music’s best kept secret.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“Worse, composers are now setting the introits of the missal [instead of the Graduale] to music, even to chant, though these texts were explicitly for spoken recitation only.”

— ‘Dr. William Mahrt (Fall, 2015)’

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