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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 Lord as “Dominus”

Fr. David Friel · November 24, 2013

LOVE LANGUAGES. I’ve always loved studying and experiencing other languages. At my grade school, we were lucky to study four years of Spanish. In high school, I had four years of German and one year of Latin. And, in the seminary, I studied a combined 14 semesters of Spanish, Latin, Hebrew, & Greek. It’s a little embarrassing to admit that, after all that study, the only language I speak fluently is English (and that’s debatable at times!).

The more deeply one becomes involved in sacred music, the more the need for a working proficiency in Latin becomes necessary. So much of the treasury of music for worship uses what continues to be the mother tongue of Roman Catholics.

Those who attend Mass in Latin, whether the Ordinary or Extraordinary Form, will know the phrase Dominus vobiscum, to which the response is Et cum spiritu tuo. The meaning, of course, is: “The Lord be with you. And with your spirit.”

I like that first word very much: Dominus. That’s a great word for “Lord,” because it is related to our English word, “dominate.” That well describes what our Lord is supposed to do. He is supposed to “dominate” our lives!

Does He? The Church celebrates Jesus today as “Christ the King.” If He’s not the King of our hearts, where else will His dominion be?

What dominates your life?

•  Some people let guarding & building up their reputation dominate their lives.

•  Some people are dominated by soccer or football or cheerleading.

•  Others are dominated by depression.

•  Countless numbers of people are dominated by an addiction.

•  And, for those who aren’t, many times our lives are dominated by the addiction of someone else.

•  Some people’s lives are dominated by debt and financial woes.

•  Tons of people are dominated by their phones and iPads and other gadgets.

•  For some people, it’s hatred and grudges that they allow to dominate them.

•  For many musicians, it is the endless pursuit of perfection that consumes, enslaves, and dominates us.

Exactly one month from tomorrow, we will be celebrating Christmas. If you should go to Midnight Mass, you will hear from the Prophet Isaiah in the first reading. This is what he will say: “For unto us a Child is born, a Son is given us; upon His shoulder, dominion rests.”

Allowing God to have dominion in our lives is essential for our happiness. It doesn’t take a lot of work, and you don’t have to speak any fancy languages. All you have to do is give God control.

Will you let Christ be King of your heart? Will you let Him dominate your music, your family, and your life?

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Latin Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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
    “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
    “Music List” • 27th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 5 October 2025, which is the 27th 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. Readers will want to check out the ENTRANCE CHANT posted there, which has a haunting melody (in the DEUTERUS MODE) and extremely powerful text.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The effectiveness of liturgy does not lie in experimenting with rites and altering them over and over, nor in a continuous reductionism, but solely in entering more deeply into the word of God and the mystery being celebrated. It is the presence of these two that authenticates the Church’s rites, not what some priest decides, indulging his own preferences.

— Liturgicae Instaurationes (1970)

Recent Posts

  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
  • “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
  • “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
  • Involving Women in the Communion?
  • “Toward a More Sacred Style With Pastoral Charity” • Guest Article by Dr. Myrna Keough

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