“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)
I have been asked to recommend some ways in which any parish in the United States could improve the music used at Mass. Some parishes may already have taken the following two steps, in which case my advice will be nugatory for them, but if your parish has not yet done so, now’s the time to begin.
“The law of the Church plainly declares that, whenever High Mass is celebrated, the Proper of the Mass must be sung or at least recited.” — Fr. Labouré (1922)
“You know I will never betray you, lol.” How many Hail Marys would this kind of sin deserve?
Simple steps to start moving from the “average” Catholic music program to a more reverent liturgy.
Job searching is tough, you say? Try searching as a Church musician who is not “contemporary.”
Did you catch that last quotation? “Unless proper readings are given.” What does that passage mean?
All the vestments used in the Campion Missal were more than 200 years old.
Why must the music at Wedding receptions be blasted at such a deafening volume? What can be done?
St. Kateri grew up in very unlikely circumstances of ever becoming a saint. But she did.
“I am desperately trying to understand how what I experienced yesterday is not a separate rite.” — Dr. Jerry Galipeau
“There’s no doubt that Catholics are hearing a lot more of the Bible now than they used to. However, it’s difficult to say what has been the result of this.”
Are We Past This Yet?
Book review: Forty Dreams Of St. John Bosco: From St. John Bosco’s Biographical Memoirs
If the ICEL chants (or another Gregorian setting) are used at all the masses in a parish, it develops unity. It also helps a parish refrain from being multiple communities under the same roof.
In some cases, the Introductory Rites are among the most misunderstood and mangled part of the mass.
The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!
But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”
We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.
Our president has written the following letter:
President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)
