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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

Inaccurate Statements About Translations Of The Mass Propers (A Pet Peeve)

Jeff Ostrowski · July 18, 2014

959 Novus VIRTUAL AVALANCHE of new musical settings of the OF Mass Propers started appearing about a decade ago, and this is a truly marvelous thing. However, a pet peeve of mine has to do with translations of the Propers. Many composers advertise their English settings of the Roman Gradual using phrases like, “These settings use the translation found in the Third Edition of the Roman Missal.”   1

This statement is inaccurate. Let’s take a look at Sundays & Holy Days, which are the texts set to music most frequently.

First of all, the Communion chants from the Roman Gradual frequently don’t correspond to the Missal antiphons (which were intended for spoken Masses only). Offhand, I’d guess that perhaps half of them match. Therefore, roughly 50% of the Communion translations come from MR3.

Secondly, 100% of the Offertory antiphons in MR3 don’t match the Roman Gradual … for the simple reason that MR3 doesn’t print any Offertory antiphons.

Third, regarding Entrance antiphons, a good percentage do correspond to those in the Roman Gradual … except that MR3 only provides the first half of each antiphon. Therefore, only about 45% match.

Musically, the heart of the Roman Gradual is the collection of Graduals, Tracts, and Alleluias, and expert liturgists would agree these are essential components of the historic Roman Rite. But MR3 does not provide translations for any of these.

Moving on to the daily Masses, very little of what’s contained in MR3 matches the assigned chants from the Roman Gradual. In fact, the percentage is so small, it’s hardly worth talking about.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, then, even if we only consider Sundays & Holy Days, less than 15% of the Roman Gradual can be said to “use the new translation of the Roman Missal.” The quickest way to make this clear to a skeptical priest or liturgist is ask them to bring you some Offertory antiphons from MR3. (They don’t exist!)

If you’d like to learn more about this confusing subject—that is, if you’re looking to add some excitement to your day!—feel free to delve into the six (6) essays posted here . If your head is swimming by the time you’re finished reading, perhaps you’ll better understand why the Roman Gradual came to be called, “The forgotten book of the Council.”

PERHAPS SOME WILL FIND this article somewhat “out of the blue.” Well, as long as we’re being random today, I’d like to admit my mortal fear. I have a mortal dread of ending a conversation with a friend. I find it so difficult! Do you know what I mean? I think it’s really hard … and I never seem to do it correctly. Perhaps I should memorize a phrase I can always use, like: It’s been such a joy to speak with you, but I’m afraid now I must be on my way. But let us talk again soon!



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   In another article, perhaps we can delve into the fact that this terminology is not technically correct. For example, the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal actually came out around 2001 … but the USA Bishops did not allow English translations of it until 2011.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Graduale Romanum Roman Gradual Propers, ICEL New Translation of the Roman Missal, Roman Missal Third Edition 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

    “Corn” From Heaven?
    The Westminster Version of the Sacred Scriptures was produced by Roman Catholics in England and bears an IMPRIMATUR dated 15 March 1958 by the Archbishop of Westminster. Its IMPRIMI POTEST was given by the director of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Sometimes the words chosen by translators can sound funny to American ears. For instance, one of our Responsorial Psalms has as its refrain: “The Lord gave them bread from heaven.” But the British version has “The Lord gave them corn from heaven.” Feel free to examine this with your own eyes. (It comes from Psalm 77.)
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 17th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (27 July 2025). 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 the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Communion • “Ask & You Shall Receive”
    All of the chants for 27 July 2025 have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down” menu. The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (both text and melody) are exceedingly beautiful and ancient.
    —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

“I have a great quarrel on with Dom Mocquereau over a very stiff book of his which we have translated & which a stupid American woman wants to be adapted to her understanding & terminology. It will be a little difficult to persuade the dear old man, for the lady is going to pay the piper. Truly money is at the root of all evils!”

— Dame Laurentia (talking about Justine Ward)

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