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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

“Missa de Jerry Seinfeld” and Praying as a Family

Richard J. Clark · July 19, 2013

NE OF MY GREATEST LAMENTS as a full-time church musician is the inability to go to mass with my family with any regularity. With Saturday and Sunday evening masses and rehearsals, this precludes most any possibility. We get to attend mass together as a family perhaps four or five times a year, so when we do, it is a rare and special treat.

My wife and I met at church. Until we had children, she played clarinet at most every mass that I directed. Meanwhile, she has been quite saintly in handling our children by herself at our local parish, as it is now sometimes impractical for them to attend mass where I work. For example, she must negotiate with my three-year-old son, “the liturgist” who apparently knows exactly when mass should be over. Around the fifty-five minute mark, he expresses “in his own special way” the “dismissal.”

My son is also quite an expert in liturgical music, once yelling only a few rows behind the organist at another parish, “I want Daddy’s music! I want Daddy’s music. DADDY’S MUSIC!!” (I love my son. He’s a very good boy.) My poor wife, horribly embarrassed, was trying to quiet him, but little could be done to mitigate this social faux pas. I’m not sure if they’ve ever been back to that parish.

I digress.

Recently, we had such an opportunity to attend mass together as a family. It was even more extraordinary; while traveling with my wife’s extended family, we were all together at mass—all nineteen of us!

When traveling, of course, it is difficult to be picky about where to go. This particular mass that we attended (in an unnamed and undisclosed parish somewhere in America…) presented some “challenges” for me. The game show atmosphere and steady stream of jokes throughout mass grossly distorted the flow and shape of the liturgy. This included a well-timed joke about celibacy from the celebrant that drew riotous laughter. The music had nothing to do with the liturgical calendar, but was a list of “Catholic top-40” and was more closely related to the secular calendar. (OK, so the Lalemant Propers were out of the question.) The cantors were in fact quite talented and excellent, if for Broadway.

However, looking around, the church was full and the congregational singing was quite robust despite microphones set to eleven. (I’m dating myself again with the “Spinal Tap” reference.) The homily was in fact quite prayerful and intelligent despite the stand-up routine from the celebrant throughout the rest of the mass. The people seemed very happy to be there. The atmosphere was welcoming, if bereft of reverence and very much not my cup of tea. (Btw, welcoming and reverent environments are NOT mutually exclusive!)

In all of my dismay, in which I felt I was doing great penance to endure such a mass, I must remind myself that I am a huge sinner and far from perfect. (My great sinfulness has and will continue to be a regular topic in this blog.) Plus, I must be mindful that I wasn’t such a great liturgical musician twenty years ago. (Although the “Missa de Jerry Seinfeld” from a clearly intelligent celebrant is disheartening.)

(Please forgive me for this obnoxious post, because I am the luckiest man alive; I have the love of my family. Furthermore, the love of Christ should be good enough for me.) And therefore…

Someday, what I will remember most about this mass are none of its misguided liturgical abuses, however well received they were. What I will remember is that I knelt side by side with my daughter during the consecration. I will remember reciting the Creed in my fidgety three-year-old son’s ear as I held him. I will remember singing with my children, even if the music was not the best the Church has to offer. I will remember that I married a most wonderful woman from a wonderful family—that all nineteen of us made it to mass together. I will remember that we are united in the Eucharist—that the love of Christ is the center of our prayer, of our Universal Church, and of our family. For this unique time with God and with my family, I am deeply blessed and most grateful beyond words.

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

    “Music List” • 22nd in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 31 August 2025, which is the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “The Worm That Dieth Not”
    My pastor asked me to write a column for our parish bulletin with reflections on the sacred liturgy and church music. In my most recent article, I discuss “The Worm That Dieth Not.” At this website, you can access it conveniently; simply scroll down to the one dated 31 August 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    A Nice Hymn In Spanish
    In my humble opinion, this is a really beautiful hymn in Spanish. If I practice diligently, I’ll be able to pronounce all the words properly. If you’re someone who’s interested in obtaining a melody only version (suitable for your congregational ORDER OF WORSHIP) you can steal that from this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    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

Random Quote

Had the Church never spoken on this matter, it would still be repugnant to our Catholic people’s sense of what is fit and proper in the holiest of places, that a priest should have to struggle through the prayers of the Holy Mass, because of such tunes as “Alice, where art thou?” the “Vacant Chair,” and others of more vulgar title, which, through the carelessness or bad judgment of organists, sometimes find their way into our choirs.

— Preface to a Roman Catholic Hymnal (1896)

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