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“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

United in the Eucharist — Conservative, Liberal, or Universal?

Richard J. Clark · May 16, 2014

RJC_852_St_Pauls_Harvard St. Paul’s, Harvard Square – Photo courtesy of George Martell/The Pilot Media Group ONGREGAVIT NOS IN UNUM Christi amor. Together we are united in the love of Christ. This is the second line of the Holy Thursday chant “Ubi Caritas.” Is this idea Liberal or Conservative? Does singing it in Latin make it conservative? Does a new setting in the vernacular make it liberal?

These questions are nonsense of course, and we are beyond all of this.

Recently, much has been written, said, and done with regard to Harvard University allowing a Black Mass and its last minute cancellation. (Here is a MUST READ article by Fr. David Barnes, What This Priest Saw At the Harvard Eucharistic Procession, in which he writes about the genuine faith of so many college students.) Faith and action of Roman Catholics all around Massachusetts and beyond spoke loud and clear. No one asked who was “liberal” or “conservative.” We were united in the Eucharist. The response of the people was the Universal Church sending a clear message as one voice.

When confronted with a true enemy of faith -– disguised in whatever innocuous or attractive façade — we see through it and gravitate toward unity. Thousands took action praying, processing, singing, and defending the faith despite ridicule and criticism. Why? Because present in our midst was a serious dose of perspective—a spiritual wake-up call.

ET WE FIND IN LITURGICAL MATTERS a great deal of infighting and division. Liturgy is not unimportant as it fosters the universality of truth. The Sacred, Beautiful, and Universal is not a “conservative” idea. (Actually, I think it’s rather “progressive” – as I toss about another ambiguous term.) The liturgy should be universal as the Eucharist is its center, lest we forget. In that light, here are a couple of stories:

Recently I taped a radio interview with Dr. Jennifer Pascual in which we spoke of singing the mass and singing the propers. The seemingly benign use of the description of “young conservative priests” supporting chant was a description I would hope to do without. I would pray that the idea of singing the mass is neither conservative, nor liberal, but universal and prayerful. Dr. Pascual was certainly in agreement. If the liturgical music in question is indeed universal, then it will stand on its own merit.

Another simple anecdote exemplifies the need to unify and work together in the face of a “wake up call.” Back in the 1990’s, while studying organ with James David Christie, I also became hooked on Gregorian Chant. Growing up in the 1970’s I had little exposure or experience in chant. There was no YouTube to listen to chant and no Corpus Christi Watershed in which to download many resources. (I like to scare students in my choirs by telling them that “when I was in college, I had a typewriter.” The horror!)

As such, we were one of the very few local parishes in the 1990’s singing Gregorian chant on a weekly basis outside of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross or St. Paul’s in Cambridge. Yet, as human nature goes, there will always be individuals who may agree with most of what one does, but will complain unceasingly anyway with little constructive criticism to offer. (Msgr. Wadsworth is fond of saying, “Put three experts in Gregorian Chant in a room and you’ll have three different ways of singing it.”) Yet, when traditional sacred music was threatened by inevitable changes in the structure of the diocese, such individuals, now with eyes wide open from a dose of reality have became big supporters. They experienced a wake-up call and realized they were in an oasis in the desert.

INALLY, I HAVE OFTEN FOUND that I can work with people with whom I disagree, yet sometimes can’t accomplish much with individuals with whom I have much in common. Why is this? Usually, those who are self-confident and happy with themselves do not feel threatened. One can accomplish much despite disagreement. Those who feel threatened or insecure, even if there is 95% agreement, are often difficult to work with because of perceived nonexistent threats. Sadly, this is human nature.

Therefore, let us be united in the love of Christ and in the Eucharist. It is easier said than done. Perhaps we should pray and be vigilant for the perspective we need and a wake-up call that may actually be grace from God.

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

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

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About Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

Soloists are dangerous in any church choir! Their voices frequently do not blend with those of the other singers to form a rich, integrated tone.

— Roger Wagner

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