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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

Once Upon a Mattress

Andrew R. Motyka · December 25, 2013

This post is guest-written by Andrew’s wife Julie, while Andy alters his sleep schedule in anticipation of Midnight Mass.

NDY’S AND MY FIRST CHRISTMAS AS A MARRIED COUPLE WAS IN 2006. The above is our Christmas photo from that year. If any of you music directors or choir members recall 2006, it was a year of the dreaded “Monday Christmas,” not to be seen again until 2017. The parish where Andy was working at that time had four regular Masses every weekend, and five Christmas Masses. Normally, the “folk group” covered the music at one of the Sunday Masses, but decided to give themselves the weekend off that year, resulting in Andy playing for nine Masses in about 40 hours (though there were two priests to take turns).

Because we lived about 45 minutes away from the church, we were invited to spend Christmas Eve at the rectory, a Victorian-style house with the parish offices on the main level and the priests’ quarters on the second floor. We were relegated to the very drafty third floor, where there was a guest bed that probably had not been slept in by anyone since 1967. It was permanently dented in the middle, and Andy and I spent all night sliding into the middle of that bed and trying to roll back out to the more-supportive edges.

Andy (and probably you, too) was worried that I might not have a point to make when I told him I wanted to write about that crappy guest bed for his Christmas blog post. I don’t work in the music field, but I’ve been Andy’s main cheerleader for years, so I have at least a few insights. Being a church music director or a dedicated music volunteer is hard work. Things are not always going to go the way you want or expect, and, if you are anything like Andy, there are going to be times when you feel like like just when you made it to the supportive edge of the bed, something happens, and you sink back down into the dent the middle.

On Christmas Day, when you’re tired after umpteen Masses, or any time when things get discouraging, just remember: you’re not spending your whole life sinking into the hole, even if it feels that way sometimes. Every time you fight your way back out and provide good music at Liturgy, or make a positive change in your parish, or write an informative article, or mentor a budding musician, you are doing something positive for the future of the Church. The fruits of your work may not be immediately apparent, but those of us who are along for the ride appreciate what you do.

So on this non-dreaded Wednesday Christmas, after your last Mass, eat some Christmas goodies and take a nap in a bed that was hopefully manufactured in the twenty-first century. Please don’t worry about whether your cellist was out-of-tune and why no one sang along with “Angels we Have Heard on High.” You did good work today, and the Church appreciates 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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “7 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 is called: “Professor Bouyer’s Regret.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Cardinal Ranjith on “Active Participation”
    From 2005–2009, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith served as Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. He was considered ‘papabile’ during the last conclave. On 8 December 2008, he wrote this powerful statement concerning Gregorian Chant, participatio actuosa, celebration “ad orientem,” and other subjects. When it comes to the question of what “sacred” means, Monsignor Robert A. Skeris provides a marvelous answer.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “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

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

“Today the Church has made a big mistake, turning the clock back 500 years with guitars and popular songs. I don’t like it at all. Gregorian Chant is a vital and important tradition of the Church and to waste this—by having guys mix religious words with profane, Western songs—is hugely grave, hugely grave.”

— Maestro Ennio Morricone (10 Sept 2009)

Recent Posts

  • New Bulletin Article • “7 September 2025”
  • Online Breviary With Chant
  • “Dynamic Equivalence” • Serious Problems with the Forthcoming Lectionary Translation
  • Cardinal Ranjith on “Active Participation”
  • Exec. Director of ICEL weighs in on our series • “PDF comparison chart” included

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