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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

From Every Oops

Andrew R. Motyka · September 4, 2013

E ARE ALL AWARE, at least peripherally, that every mistake carries with it a learning experience. Some have big impacts on our lives, some give us insights about ourselves, and others we just say, “Wow, I never knew that.” This story is one of those last kinds, with a little bit of forced humility added in.

As most of you know, I just started a new position last November. As my first Easter in this parish drew to a close and we re-entered Ordinary Time, I learned something about my parish’s celebration of their feast day, Saints Peter and Paul. I learned that for many years now, the parish had shifted their titular feast from June 29 to the nearest Sunday.

I thought that was a particularly odd practice, and ran it by the director of worship. He agreed that the Sunday celebration should always take precedence when the Solemnity doesn’t actually fall on the Sunday. We talked it over with the rector, and there was much disappointment among the people. Hey, at least we were doing it right, right?

Cut to 2 weeks ago, when the director of worship emails me two different articles by the inimitable Gary Penkala over at CanticaNOVA Publications addressing this very subject. Well, fine. The parish feast day (as well as, as Penkala rightly points out, the patron feast day and the anniversary of dedication) can be celebrated as solemnities in their respective parishes. Of course I knew that. Furthermore, when June 29 falls on a Sunday (as it does next year), it’s a Solemnity anyway, so it will trump the Sunday. No problem. It’s all in the Table of Precedence in the Calendar.

Oh, what’s that it says? No way. I’ll have to check…um…yup. There it is, in the Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the General Roman Calendar:

#58. For the pastoral good of the faithful, it is permitted to observe on Sundays in Ordinary Time those celebrations that fall during the week and that are agreeable to the devotion of the faithful, provided the celebrations rank above that Sunday in the Table of Liturgical Days. The Mass of such celebrations may be used at all the celebrations of Mass at which the people are present.

Well, shoot. Even if SS. Peter and Paul wasn’t a Solemnity, it would become one by virtue of it being the titular feast of the parish. So yes, they can transfer it to the nearest Sunday in Ordinary Time.

I wasn’t just slightly off in my focus. I was unabashedly, flat-out wrong. We’ll make it right next time. Now that I’ve had a couple of weeks to wipe the egg off of my face, isn’t that an interesting distinction in the calendar? Your parish has many opportunities to celebrate its titular feast, its patronal feast, and its anniversary of dedication.

Get partying!

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 Andrew R. Motyka

Andrew Motyka is the Archdiocesan Director of Liturgical Music and Cathedral Music for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    PDF Download • Draft Copy (Pamphlet)
    A few days ago, I posted a draft copy of this 12-page pamphlet with citations about the laity’s “full, conscious, and active participation.” Its basic point is that choir directors should never feel embarrassed to teach real choral music; Vatican II explicitly ordered them to do precisely that! We’ve received tons of mail regarding that pamphlet, with many excellent suggestions for improvement. Please feel free to chime in!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Entrance Chant” • 23rd (Ordinary Time)
    This coming Sunday, 7 September 2025, is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). You can download the “Entrance Chant,” conveniently located at the feasts website. I also recorded a rehearsal video for it (freely available at the same website). The Communion Chant includes gorgeous verses in FAUXBOURDON. I attempted to create a rehearsal video for it, and it’s been posted at the feasts website, called by some: “church music’s best kept secret.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • 3 September
    According to the MISSALE RECENS, the Feast of Saint Gregory the Great occurs on 3 September (the date Gregory became pope). Formerly, his feast was celebrated during Lent, on 12 March (the day Gregory died). In Latin, the feast is: Die 3 Septembris: S. Gregorii Magni, papæ et Ecclesiæ doctoris. you can download the Latin Introit, the Latin Offertory, as well as the Communion with gorgeous fauxbordon in English. Abbat Joseph Pothier—along with Dom André Mocquereau, Bishop Laurent Janssens, Father De Santi, and other Gregorian superstars—sang with a choir of 1,210 voices (from 36 different Roman colleges) under the direction of Monsignor Antonio Rella. That Mass included the “Alma cohors,” a special SEQUENCE for Saint Gregory…much to the dismay of those who believe in strict adherence to rubrics. The Mass on 11 April 1904 was celebrated by Pope Saint Pius X, at the great GREGORIAN CONGRESS held in Rome “to mark the 13th Centenary of the death of Saint Gregory the Great.” Someday, there’s much I’d love to say about this congress. We even have recordings (!) from it (made in 1904 by the Gramophone Company) with choirs conducted by Dom Pothier, Dom Mocquereau, Dom Janssens, Monsignor Rella, Baron Kanzler, and others.
    —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

Soloists are dangerous in any church choir! Their voices frequently do not blend with those of the other singers to form a rich, integrated tone.

— Roger Wagner

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