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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 “Basically Good Person”

Fr. David Friel · March 24, 2013

AVE YOU EVER HEARD someone say, “I’m a basically good person”? I hear it all the time. In fact, people probably tell me that exact thing (or something similar) a few times a week. Other times, it is a family member at a funeral who describes the deceased as a “basically good person.” These claims are made with such frequency that they have caused me to think a great deal about them. Would you consider it an overreaction if I suggested that such a way of thinking is the work of the devil?

The statement, itself, is actually true. We are “basically good,” as the story of creation in Genesis teaches us (Genesis 1:31). The mindset behind the statement, however, is what I find unsettling. When someone says, “I’m a basically good person,” it is a sort of gentle admission of imperfection coupled with an aggressive form of sloth. The unspoken premise underlying such a statement is that one need not bother to improve. The improvement of our lives, though—indeed, the changing of our hearts—is central to the Gospel message, which eschews complacency.

The greatest saints are always those who are most aware that they are great sinners. Read the spiritual works of Teresa of Avila. Crack open the autobiography of Ignatius of Loyola. Get to know the sermons of Jean-Marie Vianney. Dust of your copy of the Little Flower’s Story of A Soul. Remember that Blessed John Paul II would often confess daily. When St. Paul wrote about “sinners, of whom I am the worst,” he was not bloviating with false humility. These saints were all keenly aware of their powerlessness over concupiscence and their need for redemption.

This can be a great litmus test for us: if we can’t think of what we should confess, we probably need to spend more time in prayer and self-reflection. This is the practical wisdom of the Delphic oracle, “Know thyself”; knowledge of self is a pre-requisite for knowledge of God. Corollary to that, it is always and everywhere true that the less aware we are of our sinfulness the farther we are from sanctity.

Saint John said it this way: “If we say, ‘We are free of the guilt of sin,’ we deceive ourselves; the truth is not to be found in us” (1 John 1:8). In this modern age we so often speak not of sin, but of “mistakes that were made.” Rather than accuse ourselves of guilt, we prefer simply to admit that we’re not perfect. We view ourselves not as poor sinners, but as “basically good” people.

I propose that the enemy is pleased with these positions.

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

“In particular, today we must remember that our liturgy—celebrated according to the books promulgated by Saints Paul VI and John Paul II—must be preserved from any element from the ancient forms.”

— Bishops of Costa Rica —Hat tip to ‘Catholic Arena’

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