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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

Forty Hours Sermon

Guest Author · August 6, 2014

Originally given on 13 October 2013.

EVERAL YEARS AGO when I was still living in the diocese of Lexington, KY, the priests there were asked to do a ‘pulpit exchange.’ This meant that one Sunday they were to preach at a different Church and tell the story of their priestly vocation. In other words how and why they happened to become priests.

Now probably each priest’s story is different, and possibly way different. So all we could do was to tell it like it was for us. My journey, shall I call it, really began very early in life. I remember the first time that Sister took us to Church in the first grade, and explained to us how Jesus was present there: how He became present at Mass through the priest. When I heard that, the thought ran through my mind that maybe someday I too would like to be a priest to be able to do that. Now I’m not saying that I had this idea from then on out, but I can say that was the time that the idea first struck me.

But then, as I recounted the story in my sermon I made perhaps an unfortunate, and in the opinion of some, an inappropriate remark. I said something to the effect that if that had been one of those churches where the Blessed Sacrament had been relegated to some side chapel or closet, that would not have happened. The Church in which I was preaching happened to be one of those Churches which didn’t have the Blessed Sacrament in it, and my remark caused quite a stir. I even received a call from the chancellor the next day that I shouldn’t express my personal opinions about things in my sermons. I simply told the chancellor that I was asked to tell how my vocation to the priesthood started, and that was the story of the beginnings of my vocation to the priesthood. I couldn’t change that.

I can tell this story here at Old St. Mary’s because I don’t think the position of the tabernacle is going to be a source of controversy among you good people. You want our Lord’s real presence in the Blessed Sacrament to be right in the center or most important place in the Church. I am sure you have one of the highest records of Eucharistic Adoration time in the entire Diocese. What you do is real ‘Faith in action.’ You show by your actions what you believe in regard to the Eucharist. You might not have the theological insight of a St. Thomas Aquinas, Fides quaerens intellectum, that faith seeking understanding. Yours is more the practical faith of St. Francis who insisted that the altar linens and furnishings be kept clean and spotless out of reverence for the King of Kings Who is present.

We are concluding three special days of honor of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Our faith, our belief in the Eucharist is based on the simple, yet tremendous act of our Lord at the Last Supper. On the night before He died, in anticipation of his death on the Cross the next day, He took bread and said, “This is my Body which will be given up for you.” And then He took the cup of wine and said, “This is the Chalice of My Blood, which will be shed for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” This was the first Mass, looking forward to what was going to happen the next day. Every Mass offered since is the same, making re-present what happened on Calvary. And yes, the same Jesus, Lord and God is present. He it is that we are especially honoring by this Forty Hour devotion. Incidentally the number forty was derived from approximately the number of hours that Jesus lay in the tomb. But now it is the Risen, the living Christ whom we are adoring and Who is present on all altars and in our tabernacles. What else can we say? What else need we say, but “Increase our faith, O Lord; Increase the faith of all who believe in you.”


We hope you enjoyed this homily by Fr. Valentine Young, OFM.

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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President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “21 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 (dated 21 September 2025) discusses some theological items—supported by certain verses in ancient Catholic hymns—and ends by explaining why certain folks become delirious with jealousy when they observe feats by Monsignor Ronald Knox.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!
    It’s always amusing to see old diocesan newspapers—in huge capital letters—advertising the Cheapest Catholic Paper in the United States. The correspondent who sent this to me added: “I can think of certain composers, published by large companies in our own day, who could truthfully brag about the most tawdry compositions in the world!” I wonder what she could have meant by such a cryptic comment…
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies
    Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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

Random Quote

“Worse, composers are now setting the introits of the missal [instead of the Graduale] to music, even to chant, though these texts were explicitly for spoken recitation only.”

— ‘Dr. William Mahrt (Fall, 2015)’

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