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Views from the Choir Loft

Singing Propers and Ordinary . . . at Low Mass?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 19, 2013

955 Conception Abbey ODAY, I’LL BE SHARING a September 1937 article by Dom Gregory Hügle, O.S.B., one of the most important promoters of Gregorian chant in the early part of the 20th century.

      * *  1937 Article (Dom Gregory Hügle, OSB)

Now that I’ve shared the document, I shall make a few observations about this section:

Q. “Is it permitted to sing any part or all of the Ordinary of the Mass in Latin (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei) at a Low Mass?

A. Yes, it is permitted to sing the parts mentioned in Latin. With regard to the Gloria the Roman decision remarks “that the intonation should be sung by the choir”.

Q. “Is it permitted to sing the same parts in English at a Low Mass?”

A. No, it is not permitted to sing these parts in the vernacular. Holy Church demands that the liturgical parts be sung in the liturgical language, which is “Latin”.

Q. “Is it permitted to sing any or all of the variable chants of the Proper (Introit, Gradual, Allelttia, Offertory, Communion) in Latin, at a Low Mass in English?”

A. Any parts of the Proper may be sung in Latin, but not in English, for the reason mentioned above. Low Mass is a liturgical function. If you select parts of the liturgical musical belonging to Holy Mass, the same must be sung in Latin.

This information, given in 1937 by Dom Hügle, is not generally known by those who celebrate the Extraordinary Form. As a matter of fact, it contradicts what many authorities say. Perhaps an expert of ceremonies can explain why in the combox.

Speaking of “odd” practices of the EF, I’ve mentioned elsewhere that the 1958 Instruction of Pope Pius XII allows the entire congregation to recite all the Propers (in Latin) along with the Celebrant. (!) This is never done. I doubt it ever was done, although a later publication, the New St. Joseph Sunday Missal and Hymnal (1966), tried to encourage this practice.

Dom Gregory’s words about the Gloria intonation are interesting. In my article, “Who should intone the Gloria at Mass?”, I mentioned that cantors were given permission to intone the Gloria following the Second Vatican Council. If Dom Hügle is correct, this was allowed in the Traditional Latin Mass.

PERHAPS THIS PRACTICE — singing Mass Ordinary & Propers at Low Mass — is not as crazy as it sounds. After all, there were all kinds of “compromises” in the pre-Conciliar Mass. People who really know the EF Mass will admit that only two Masses exist as far as the rubrics are concerned: “Solemn Mass” (with Deacon, Subdeacon, and incense) and “Low Mass.” These are the two we included in the Campion Missal. I’m told using incense without Deacon and Subdeacon required an indult for quite a while. Over the years, all kinds of different practices arose. I’ve even seen a “High Mass” with one server who tried to incense the Sanctissimum at the Elevation while still lifting the priest’s chasuble with his other hand. Here is what Fr. Fortescue said:

Our so-called Missa Cantata is the compromise of a compromise, a Low Mass, with singing as at High Mass, only justifiable to enhance the dignity of Sunday Mass when a deacon and subdeacon cannot be had. And the practice of saying a Low Mass while the choir sings bits of things is too dreadful to be described. (Adrian Fortescue, The Mass, p. 191)

My feeling is that Dom Gregory Hügle is probably correct. He was very highly respected in his day, and Prior of Conception Abbey, Missouri. The entire August 1933 edition of Caecilia was dedicated to Dom Gregory.

By the way, I’ve already talked a lot about vernacular hymns at Low Mass. Read part 1 and 6 of my six-part series to read what I’ve written about this.   [Click here and scroll down to the bottom to view my six-part series.]

One final comment: this 1937 edition of Caecilia gave readers a special “sneak peek” of a new set of accompaniments to the Kyriale which Achille P. Bragers was about to release. Years later, these would become quite famous. Click here to download the Bragers Kyriale for free or puchase the hardbound copy (high key & low key).

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Dialogue Mass With Vernacular Hymns, Low Mass Vernacular Hymns Last Updated: April 6, 2021

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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

    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)
    I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.
    —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

“Always remember: God opposes the proud.” (leaning into the microphone) “…even when they’re right!”

— ‘Scott Hahn, speaking in Plano, TX’

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