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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

Rory Cooney Needs “Healing” From Pope Benedict’s Liturgical Reforms

Jeff Ostrowski · November 19, 2013

154 Quit Your Mean Click to enlarge image ARDINAL RATZINGER famously called for a “new liturgical movement” (which Cardinal Burke has called a “Reform of the Reform”), but not all seem excited about such things. Rory Cooney is a “contemporary” liturgical composer famous for writing Bread of Life. Here are some lyrics * he wrote for that song:

I myself am the bread of life.
You and I are the bread of life,
taken and blessed, broken and shared by Christ
that the world may live.   [ … ]

This is our body, this is our blood:
a living sign of God in Christ. [etc.]

Rory Cooney recently had this to say about those who desire more reverent liturgies:

My inner optimist has started to heal over the last couple of years, surrendering to the harsh reality of recent successes in the reform-the-reform movement, but at the same time seeing that, well, it could have been a lot worse. I see that as an act of providence. The joy of writing has come back, even though things are far from ideal. It’s all right, I guess, to sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land after all.   [source]

GHASTLY LYRICS APPEAR TO HAVE come into style following the Second Vatican Council. Open up the 1984 Glory & Praise (first published in the 1970s) and you’ll find “hymn texts” you won’t believe on every page. Here’s an example:

I am a man without envy   |   no roof and no walls to defend me,   |   in hope that someday you’ll befriend me,   |   and take all my troubles away.   |   Walk with me, talk with me, tell me about all the good things you’ve done;   |   stay with me, pray with me,   |   leave all your blues in your shoes at the door.

When it comes to “textual excellence,” Rory Cooney seems very much in the tradition of Glory & Praise. I often struggle to comprehend such songs. A case in point is Tom Conry’s Anthem:

We are called, we are chosen. We are Christ for one another.   |   We are promised to tomorrow, while we are for him today.   |   We are sign, we are wonder. We are sower, we are seed.   |   We are harvest, we are hungry. [sic] We are question, we are creed.

It’s probably fair to say that Cooney agrees with ideas put forth in the Glory & Praise Introduction, a must-read in spite of puzzling statements (“all of us are here by our presence”). Incidentally, some claim that texts in our Catholic songbooks have improved since the Council, but in my opinion the poetry remains horribly stilted, the melodies uninspired, and the theology superficial at best. Consider these lines from GIA’s newest hymnal (Worship IV):

Who is this who breaches borders   |   And subverts the social orders,   |   Crossing chasms that divide,   |   Casting race and class aside?   |   Who is this who eats with sinners,   |   Calling luckless losers “winners,”   [etc.]

Turning to another random page, what do I find?

This is a day of new beginnings,   |   Time to remember, and move on,   |   Time to believe what love is bringing,   |   Laying to rest the pain that’s gone.

Yet another random page has these lyrics:

If life is like a wedding feast | and we are cast as guests, | then it is tragic not to know | the life God manifests. | Distracted by appearances, | seduced by praise or place, | if we remain outside ourselves | we miss this moment’s grace.

If life is like a wedding feast | and we are cast as hosts | then it is limiting to list | the ones we like the most | and leave apart, outside, unknown | uncounted other souls, | when love suggests there is no feast | till all the parts are whole.

I don’t like hearing Catholics denounce B16, and I’ve posted a song (upper right) called Quit Your Meanness. Hopefully Mr. Cooney, having sung that hymn, will delete what he wrote about B16’s beautiful liturgical example.


*   You might ask, “As a musical composer, what are Rory’s theological and poetic qualifications for writing Catholic liturgical texts?” However, many “contemporary” composers (even the non-Catholic ones) routinely compose their own lyrics and translate Sacred Scripture, even though they’re unqualified for such tasks.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Pope Benedict XVI, Reform of the Reform Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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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

    New Bulletin Article • “14 September 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 14 September 2025) discusses OFFERTORY ANTIPHONS and contains a wonderful quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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 or message is that choir directors should never feel embarrassed to teach real choral music because Vatican II explicitly ordered them to do 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

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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

Random Quote

“No one can reasonably find in the dispositions of Vatican II anything out of order, or any extreme opinions or tendencies which restrict the function of sacred music exclusively to the congregational singing of the faithful or on the other hand which replace or eliminate the singing of the congregation entirely by the singing of the choir.”

— Most Rev’d Archbishop D.M.M. y Gómez, Primate of Mexico (at that time, the world’s largest archdiocese)

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