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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

Only the Lover Sings

Fr. David Friel · October 26, 2014

AST WEEKEND, I had the honor of witnessing the marriage of two dear friends from South Philadelphia. It was a wonderful occasion, refreshing for the nobility of the celebration and the faith of the bride & groom.

South Philadelphia is a special place. Originally settled by Italian immigrants, the influence of that heritage still dominates the area. South Philly is home to super-authentic Italian restaurants, America’s oldest outdoor market, and the infamous Mummers Parade. It is the sacred soil upon which the Eagles, Phillies, and Flyers all play. Its many parishes are named after such beloved Italians saints as Monica, Nicholas of Tolentine, and Rita of Cascia.

South Philadelphians love traditions almost as much as they love cannoli. Many of their greatest traditions surround weddings, and one of them is particularly beautiful: the serenade.

N A DISPLAY that has remained a unique feature of South Philly culture, the groom is expected to “surprise” his bride at some point before the wedding (often the day before) by singing to her from the street. Originally, this was a simple affair, perhaps accompanied by a lone accordionist. Serenades have grown in modern times, however, to be a sometimes major (and costly) affair. Nowadays, they often feature Mummer string bands or DJ’s, and they are usually accompanied by food and dancing. Lights are strung up, the street is closed down, and all the neighbors join in the festivities.

Regardless of the ways in which the tradition has morphed and developed, the central feature of the serenade remains the same. Above all else, it is a time for the groom to sing to his bride, literally to “serenade” her. There is something remarkably beautiful about this. As Saint Augustine observes:

“Only the lover sings.” (Sermon 336)

It would be one thing for a groom to do this privately; that would be a good and worthy thing to do. But there is something different and equally good about this public serenade. True love, after all, is not governed by what others may think. Love “is not pompous, it is not inflated, it does not seek its own interests” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). In much the same way, we express our love for God not only privately, but also corporately, through public worship.

One who has experienced true love knows that there is a natural impulse that impels the lover to sing. We see it throughout the Song of Songs and in the prophet Isaiah: “Now let me sing of my friend, my beloved’s song about his vineyard” (Isaiah 5:1). This impulse translates also into the sacred liturgy. If we believe that the liturgy is fundamentally a movement of love and an expression of our love for God, Who, Himself, is Love, then our liturgy should be sung!

The union of husband & wife is meant to be a sign of the manner in which God loves the world. The tradition of the South Philly serenade is much the same.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Catholic Wedding Nuptial Mass Music, Nuptial Mass 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

    “What Martin Luther Said…”
    My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 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 propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

“The cemeteries are full of people who thought they were indispensable.”

— Fr. Alan Heet, OFM

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