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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

Putting Our Worst Foot Forward

Fr. David Friel · June 16, 2013

OU ARE A SINNER. So is the person closest to you at this moment. And so am I. We are all poor sinners.

I am intentionally putting these things bluntly, because it’s not our natural inclination to be open about our sinfulness, is it? When a little kid does something wrong, for instance, he or she will go to extraordinary lengths to cover it up. While we mature in some ways, and our tactics certainly advance, that impulse to exonerate ourselves always stays with us. We consistently try to “put our best foot forward,” so we downplay our sins and faults.

This isn’t the way it works with God, though. We don’t advance in the spiritual life by putting our best foot forward. We advance in the spiritual life by putting our worst foot forward. It’s seems counter-intuitive, but it’s true.

There are a handful of Biblical characters whom I really admire in this regard. First, there is King David, one of my great heroes. King David is an extraordinary man—a warrior-king of great courage and strength and wisdom, and yet a big-time sinner, too. In one passage (2 Samuel 12), the prophet Nathan accuses David of several major sins, including murder. David’s response is music to my ears. He doesn’t get defensive, but simply says: “I have sinned against the LORD.”

Isn’t it refreshing to hear someone straightforwardly admit to their faults? What a great accomplishment it would be for so many of us in the modern world if we could just admit, like King David, that we have, in fact, “sinned against the Lord.” We live in a world that wants to deny sin. We say that, “Mistakes were made,” when what we really mean is, “I sinned.” We offer all kinds of excuses, but we avoid taking responsibility for our actions. King David’s confession is a great model for us.

So, too, is the sinful woman in the Gospel, who bathes Jesus’ feet in her tears, wipes them with her hair, kisses them, and anoints them with oil. What she does is far from culturally acceptable, since this is in the context of a formal dinner. And yet she does it anyway, because she knows the enormity of her sin.

Pope Francis recently said something about this in a daily Mass homily. He said last month: “The problem is not that we are sinners: the problem is not repenting of sin, not being ashamed of what we have done” (Pope Francis, 5/17/13). We should be ashamed of our sins. A healthy dose of shame can lead us to true sorrow, and only when we’re truly sorry can we ever be forgiven.

All the great saints agree that true growth in the spiritual life always begins with a profound sense of our own sinfulness. God can forgive us, but we first need to recognize our faults. So, as we kneel before the altar at Mass, as we kneel before the Lord in the confessional, as we kneel beside our beds in prayer, let’s do so in humility. Recognizing our faults, and longing for God’s grace, let’s put our worst foot forward.

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

Agnes De Mille: “When I see my work, I take for granted what other people value in it. I see only its ineptitude, inorganic flaws, and crudities. I am not pleased or satisfied.” — Martha Graham: “No artist is pleased.” ADM: “But then there is no satisfaction?” — MG: “No satisfaction whatever at any time,” she cried out passionately. “There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”

— “Martha Graham on the Life-Force of Creativity”

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