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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

Fantastic News For The New Translation!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 5, 2013

ECENTLY, a survey on the New English Translation of the Roman Missal was undertaken. From what I understand, the comments were sent in via the internet (which is always a “red flag”).

From a scientific perspective, the survey has been fully discredited, which should not surprise us since “no ostensible polling experts were involved” (more on that here). In essence, it was found to be “self-selecting,” so I shall not add to what Professor Brown has already said. Even the survey’s creators admitted that “this study measures only the views of priests who chose to respond.”

So, what’s the fantastic news? Considering the circumstances, one would have expected the results to be drastically, hopelessly against the New Translation. As it turns out, this was not the case.

What makes me say this? Short answer: self-selecting surveys are usually a prime opportunity for dissatisfied folks to “vent.” After all, folks tend to be highly motivated when it comes to complaining. Furthermore, the survey was sponsored by an organization opposed to the New Translation on ideological grounds. I know several priests who saw the name “Godfrey Diekmann” and chose not to take part in the survey. (Fr. Diekmann was one of the most outspoken leaders of the “progressive” movement and was an ardent supporter of the “hootenanny Mass.” See page 22.)

Y UNDERSTANDING IS THAT this survey was basically a school project undertaken by several students. Nevertheless, I find it remarkable that a crucial question was not asked. That crucial question is, of course:

“Is the New Translation more accurate than the previous one?”

They seem to have gone out of their way to ask every question except the crucial one. By way of analogy, they asked: “Do you like the taste of the pill your doctor gave you?” What they ought to have asked: “Did the pill take away your pain?”

I’m not going to insult the intelligence of our readers by explaining the most probable reason they didn’t ask the crucial question.

IS THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION for the Third Edition of the Roman Missal perfect? No. There are certainly ways it could be improved. For example, it could use the second person singular form “Thou” in addressing almighty God.

However, the most important thing is that our New Translation is so much more accurate than the previous one, and I have yet to find a single person who would argue otherwise. Perhaps this is why the results of the survey were so surprising and positive.

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 Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “What Martin Luther Said…”
    My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

“Leave the Mass alone. Our churches are full—the Protestants, in spite of their vernacular, far otherwise.”

— Cardinal Godfrey (one of the Vatican II fathers)

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