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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

A Personal Encounter with Pope Francis

Richard J. Clark · March 22, 2013

SIMPLE ENCOUNTER can often change the course of one’s life, or perhaps the course of many lives. This is often true for both parties who meet each other for the first time—no matter how disparate the social or political standing. Pope Francis has made it clear he will embrace the most lowly in society: Pope Francis To Hold Holy Thursday Mass In Casal Del Marmo Youth Jail where he will wash prisoners’ feet. Certainly, Pope Francis will change lives forever through this profound encounter.

Fr. Jonathan Gaspar (Priest Secretary to His Eminence Seán Cardinal O’Malley) has been in Rome during the conclave through the installation of Pope Francis. Recently, Fr. Gaspar had the opportunity to meet privately with Pope Francis. With his permission I will share with you more of his heartfelt words upon his personal meeting with Pope Francis.

In this encounter, there is an important message for all of us; it is a three-fold message of love, thanksgiving, and prayer. Even the Pope needs our love, our thanks, and most especially our prayers!

“This morning Cardinal Seán asked me to deliver a note to the Pope’s secretary at the Domus Santa Marta, the guest residence in Vatican City where Pope Francis has been living since his election. While speaking to his secretary, the Holy Father came down the hall and I greeted him with the traditional kissing of his ring, and we spoke for a little over a minute. He was kind and seemed happy to speak with me! He told me how much he respected Cardinal O’Malley.

“I told him three things: first, that we love him; second, I thanked him for his beautiful example of humility for me as a priest and for all Christians; lastly I told him that I was praying for him. When I told him that I was praying for him, he lit right up, thanked me for my prayers and asked me to continue praying.

“I’m still amazed at his approachability and simplicity. I will never forget this encounter, and I wanted to share it with all of you so that you will appreciate how special Pope Francis really is. Great way to end my trip to Rome for these historic days in the life of the Church.

“Pray for Pope Francis, and Thank God He has sent us another holy pastor and shepherd to guide us to Christ! — at Città Del Vaticano.”

I have read the above words several times, and I am still amazed at what I learn each time I read them.

Fr. Jonathan Gaspar is also the Director of the Office of Divine Worship for the Archdiocese of Boston. Additionally, he is an organist, singer, and a great advocate of Gregorian Chant. In 2011, he formed the Office of Divine Worship Saint Cecilia Schola in which we collaborated on recording the ICEL Chants of the Roman Missal, Third Edition. Listen and watch here to Fr. Gaspar’s practice video of the Easter Proclamation

(Photo courtesy of PilotCatholicNews.com)

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 Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

[Speaking of those who wish to eliminate Latin from the liturgy.] “One may well wonder what the origin is of this new way of thinking and this sudden dislike for the past; one may well wonder why these things have been fostered.”

— Pope Saint Paul VI (15 August 1966)

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