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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

The Prayers of Children

Andrew R. Motyka · September 25, 2013

uite a bit of ink (both literal and electronic) has been spilled these last few days regarding Pope Francis’ most recent interview. I have almost nothing to add to any of it, since if you read Francis’ words, in context, in their entirety, I think he’s pretty clear about what he’s trying to say.

Francis recognizes that the Postmodern world doesn’t know Jesus at all, and he wants to do something about that. He wants the Church to be, first and foremost, a group of ambassadors for Christ, to go into the world and proclaim the Gospel (sound familiar?). To that end, he comes across as critical of serious liturgy and the “culture wars.” I think it is because Francis wants us to get the basics right first, and then move into a deeper focus. Beautiful liturgy is important to the Church. I wouldn’t do what I do for a living if I thought it wasn’t. Liturgy and morality, however, come out of an already existing relationship with Jesus Christ. Without this prior relationship, liturgy is just an act, and morality is just a sham (an edifice that will fall like a house of cards, in Francis’ words). Our first encounter with Christ must be like that of a child before building to a more mature, moral and liturgical faith.

When I was very young, my family used to vacation to Lavallette, New Jersey, every summer. We would rent a house for a week or so and spend almost every day at the beach, interspersed with taking in Little League games or walking the boardwalk. To this day, when I think of the word vacation, those are the images that come to mind.

One year, when I was perhaps 3 years old or so, we went to Lavallette, taking my cousin and his girlfriend along for the trip. The ocean on one particular day was heavily affected by a nearby storm, and the waves were strong and dangerous. The red flags were out at the beach: no swimming allowed. Not wanting to waste a day, our family stayed anyway, lounging on the beach and making an enormous sandcastle with my teenage cousin. It was much taller than I was at the time, and it had a sweet moat and even a couple of full sized thrones.

I ran down to fill my favorite red bucket with water for the (sweet) moat, the vicious undertow snatched it out of my hands. Before I could recover it, the bucket was swept out into the ocean. The strong surf prevented any attempts to recover it, and I was crushed. I wept like, well, a 3 year-old and was positively inconsolable. There was nothing anyone could do. My mother, just trying to calm me down, told me I should pray about it.

I did. I paced around the blanket for 5 or 10 minutes with my eyes closed and my hands clenched in prayer. I don’t really remember what I was thinking or saying, but I remember my posture.

Suddenly, a massive wave rose off in the distance, caught up the bucket (which was at least a hundred yards out by this point) and swept down on us. The wave crashed far past where any of the others had, traveling all the way to the back fence and the dunes. It flattened our umbrella, ruined the radio, soaked everyone present, and leveled the sandcastle (leaving my cousin hilariously up to his waist in sand). It hit no other blanket on the beach, only ours, but I got the bucket back.

Supernatural? Probably not. I am one that believes that most miracles have less to do with substance and more to do with the who, what, and when they occur. The timing is indisputably precise on this one. It didn’t save lives. In fact, it seems like a pretty trivial event for divine intervention. When I think of it, though, almost all of my problems seem pretty trivial, but I pray anyway.

I think Francis’ aim to point people to a relationship with Christ is timely and powerful. If we turn to Him as children do, the Church and the world will face a renewal that we truly need.

Francis recognizes what could potentially happen when you ask children to pray:

They just might do it.

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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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

“The following question is asked by the Most Reverend Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Chur: May this Diocese’s ancient custom be continued of having the Celebrant in Sung Masses (excepting more solemn Masses) intone the Credo and when he is finished reciting it going on immediately to the offertory and finishing it while the credo is being sung by the choir?” (Dubium of Dec 1909)

— 11 December 1909

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