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Corpus Christi Watershed

“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

The Society for Catholic Liturgy

Fr. David Friel · October 12, 2014

HIS 21ST CENTURY is blessed by the ongoing work of numerous organizations committed to true liturgical reform. Equally favorable is the spirit of cooperation that flourishes among them. Without a doubt, at the scholarly level, there is no organization more excellent and timely than the Society for Catholic Liturgy (SCL).

On its website, the society describes itself as “a multidisciplinary association of Catholic scholars, teachers, pastors, and professionals—including architects and musicians—in the Anglophone world.” Since its founding in 1995, the non-profit group has promoted scholarly liturgical studies and practical renewal of the sacred liturgy. Earlier this month, SCL hosted its annual conference on the topic of “The Temple Transformed: Liturgy, Art, Music, Architecture, and the Fulfillment of the Old Testament.” Highlighting the impressive schedule of presentations was the keynote address given by Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln, NE.

One of the chief works of SCL is the publication of Antiphon: A Journal for Liturgical Renewal three times each year. In the present edition (Vol. 18, no. 2, 2014), readers will find contributions from two CCW bloggers. First, Andy Motyka has published therein a book review of the Saint Isaac Jogues Illuminated Missal, Lectionary, and Gradual, published by the Pope John Paul II Institute for Liturgical Renewal. The review is excellent, both carefully considered and clearly expressed.

Among the three main articles in the volume, one is a piece I have written entitled The Propriety of the Propers: Toward the Independence of Liturgical Chant and Popular Hymnody. This article advocates for the restored role of the Proprium Missae in the Roman liturgy, focusing on the specific virtues of the propers. If further proposes the building up of the popular hymn tradition in its own native environment. Finally, in the article, I outline a pastoral plan for how to bolster both distinct genres.

If you would like to read this article in full, along with Andy’s book review, consider subscribing to Antiphon or even becoming a member of the Society for Catholic Liturgy. Among the many instruments of liturgical reform operating in today’s Church, SCL is one of the finest.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Authentic Liturgical Renewal Reform, Graduale Romanum Roman Gradual Propers, Hymns Replacing Propers, Jogues Illuminated Missal Lectionary Gradual, Propers, Secular vs Sacred Music at Mass, Singing the Mass, St Isaac Jogues Illuminated Missal Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(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

“I left music college swearing never to write another note again … It was during the mid-1980s when esoteric and cerebral avant-garde music was still considered the right kind of music to be writing.”

— James MacMillan

Recent Posts

  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • The Tallis Scholars
  • Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
  • Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)

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