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Views from the Choir Loft

1970s Theology Has Affected The Celebration Of Mass

Jeff Ostrowski · March 11, 2014

743 Leisure Suit Composer David Haas wrote the following in 2002:

“Acclamations … help empower and form the assembly as co-celebrants in the liturgy.”

Father Edward Foley wrote in 1998:

“The associate formerly said Mass, but now this redefined parochial vicar and member of the Parish Ministry Staff presides at the eucharist at which the assembly is the principal celebrant.”

Composer Marty Haugen wrote in 1984:

“With the advent of post-Vatican II liturgies, the assembly was given a new mandate and opportunity — to rediscover and express its integral importance as the primary minister of the Sunday eucharistic experience.”

Father Eugene Walsh, a seminary professor in Baltimore and principal author of The Place of Music in Eucharistic Celebrations, wrote in the 1970s:

“The entire parish assembly, therefore, is celebrant of the eucharist. The presider is simply the leader of the assembly. As leader, his task is to engage the assembly in the eucharistic prayer.”

Whence cometh such theological notions?

A good place to search might be this stupefying tome of PDF documents:

      * *  NPM Magazine Archive — (1970s and more)

It would take several decades to quote and explain those articles, so I won’t try. However, here’s a fairly good “sample” of what’s there:

      * *  “First, the Assembly Gathers” — Article by Fr. Eugene Walsh (1982)

Reading that article, you’ll find quotes like:

The most important thing that people can do at a parish Sunday Mass is to take the trouble to gather with each other.   [ … ]   The parish assembly is the first and primary minister of the parish Sunday Mass.   [ … ]   The full, life-giving sacramental sign of eucharist is the parish assembly.

Dull and feeble and half-hearted sacraments are not life-giving. In fact there comes a point where they begin to be death-dealing.

The first task of all specially designated ministers [i.e. priests and deacons] is to serve the assembly. Their conscious and deliberate target is to help the assembly bring itself to life …

Feel free to let me know your reactions to that article by Fr. Eugene Walsh. I found it shocking … and quickly phoned my spiritual advisor for counseling!   (Not kidding.)


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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Fr Eugene Walsh 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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    Schola Director Posts ‘Live’ Recording
    As I explained in my article posted earlier today, Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland is actually a Catholic tune (in spite of what some have claimed). The volunteer choir I direct sang that beautiful ADVENT melody last Sunday, and I invite you to listen to the live recording. It will get better the more we sing it.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Message from the Vice-President!
    The Vice-President of the Church Music Association of America, Dr. Horst Buchholz (who also serves as Director of Sacred Music for the Archdiocese of Detroit) sent us an email yesterday regarding the harmonizations (PDF) I composed for the Gregorian Chant psalm tones. Dr. Buchholz says: “Those settings are absolutely exquisite, as I'm used to when it comes from you. Bravo! Well done! Now, as a sequel, if you could write something for accompanying psalms in English that would be awesome.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Requesting Our Advent Eucharistic Hymn
    A young lady named Agnes wrote to us: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, do you have the PDF score for Ave Corpus Domini set to the ADVENT melody? Last year, we sang the hymn tune “Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland” quite a bit using your contrafactum technique. My choir appreciates the Latin hymns and practice videos, especially in the ADVENT and CHRISTMAS seasons. Your recent article on Gregorian Psalm Tones is a great help to my organist brother, and reminds us of attending VESPERS years ago when we lived in California. Thank you so much for all the effort put into providing these wonderful resources!”   Agnes, if you are listening! Yes, the PDF file you desire can be downloaded for free at the Brébeuf Portal via this URL link. Thanks for writing to us!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Bishops have a duty towards both wise and foolish. They have to rouse the devotion of the carnal people with material ornament, since they are incapable of spiritual things.

— St. Bernard of Clairvaux (†1153)

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