• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

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.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • Ordinary Form Feasts (Sainte-Marie)
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

The Pope’s interview, context and Latin.

Veronica Brandt · September 21, 2013

Elizabeth My daughter, who currently speaks Latin and English equally well. EADING THE POPE’S INTERVIEW is a great way to start the day. I’d better admit though, I haven’t read the whole thing yet, but quotes have been flying around the interwebs like confetti. Everyone is doing a take on it. There’s so much in the interview that everyone can find a chunk to bolster their own personal bandwagon. But if you want to really understand it, you need to go back to the interview and look at the chunks in context.

Just out of interest, the word “Latin” pops up in the interview three times. Which is exactly the same frequency as “abortion” and “homosexual”, so let me go off on that tangent, although, like abortion and homosexuality, that is not the main message in the Pope’s interview.

From time to time the idea comes up that it is not practical to use Latin prayers or hymns because your average person in the pew can’t understand it. Some will say that one must study Latin before attempting any liturgical applications of the language. There is a logic here – if one were writing a letter or watching a show, it would be important to know the language, but that is a different context.

Back when I first came across a place that used Latin with lavish abandon, I did fret that I was missing out because I didn’t know what it all meant. I was used to being on the inside of the choir, knowing what was coming up next, having the words and music handy. So I put together a new book of old hymns, digging up old translations and bugging people to help me with new ones.

Then I was sort of disappointed to find that most people didn’t really care that much. They were happy to listen to the beautiful music. Over time they would become familiar with bits and pieces. They might ask after Mass about a particularly striking piece and there would be a choir member there to give more than enough information about its meanings and origins.

More recently someone was warning against relying on Latin hymns, saying the average person can’t understand them. I reassured her that the Mass books in the church had the English versions following each Latin hymn. Except O Sanctissima. That was one of the later additions, when I was making all those compromises that come with collective decisions. But that was alright, she said, because everyone knows that one.

Which is the point with Latin in the liturgy. People just get to know the bits they like. The translations are not that far away. You’re not expected to know everything. If you want to know, then there is someone to ask. And most people don’t care that much.

To borrow a chunk from the Pope:

I see the church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars! You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else. Heal the wounds, heal the wounds…. And you have to start from the ground up.

People come to Mass to pray in all sorts of ways. Some for the peace, some to plead for a loved one, some to give something of themselves, some just to glorify God. In our parish there are broken families, broken hearts, people struggling with various trials. In our world it is even crazier. So much to pray for. So much beyond our ability to comprehend!

If you want to join in the singing, then come an hour before Mass starts and I’ll go through the music with you. Please. Your kids can kick a ball around with my kids. And I’ll make sure there’s a piece of cake for you after Mass.

In the meantime you can read Jeffrey Tucker’s pick from the Big Interview at Chant Cafe.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

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

“Chants closely related to the readings should, of course, be appropriately transferred for use with these readings. For pastoral reasons also there is an option regarding the chants for the Proper of Seasons: namely, as circumstances suggest, to replace the text proper to a day with another text belonging to the same season.”

— Ordo Cantus Missae (1971)

Recent Posts

  • “Music List” • 22nd in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • Brave Schola Director Posts ‘Live’ Recording
  • “Cracker Barrel & Catholicism” • Logos and Lessons
  • “Reform of the Reform” officially embraced by USCCB
  • “The Worm That Dieth Not”

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.