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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

What Will ICEL Do Next?

Fr. David Friel · November 23, 2014

HE NAME of Msgr. Andrew Wadsworth is likely familiar to anyone who reads Views from the Choir Loft. He presently serves as Executive Director of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) and is one of the founding members of the new Oratory in Washington, D.C. Msgr. Wadsworth is originally a priest of the Diocese of Westminster (London, UK) and is a friend to anyone working for the authentic renewal of the sacred liturgy.

In his work with ICEL, Monsignor was instrumental in the production of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal that was implemented in 2011 (and which I have commented upon HERE). This past summer, he was invited to give the Hillenbrand Distinguished Lecture at the Liturgical Institute at Saint Mary of the Lake (Mundelein), during which he gave a sort of status update on the present focus of ICEL’s effort. This lecture was published in the September issue of Adoremus Bulletin, available HERE.

The article explains that ICEL is now working on new translations for the following liturgical texts:

The Rite of Confirmation

The Order of Celebrating Marriage

The Order of the Dedication of a Church and an Altar

Exorcism and Related Supplications

The Supplement to the Liturgy of the Hours

Some of these texts received attention during this month’s meeting of the US Bishops in Washington.

Additionally, Msgr. Wadsworth gives details on the request of the USCCB for assistance in producing a revised version of the Liturgy of the Hours. Among the LOH components to be retranslated by ICEL are the following:

The complete selection of hymns as found in the Liturgia Horarum

Magnificat and Benedictus antiphons for Sundays of the 3-year cycle

Intercessions

Orations from the 4-week psalter

The Te Deum

Marian antiphons for use at Compline

If you are interested in learning more about what will be coming our way in the next few years, I encourage you to read this informative article. The author is a good priest we are so fortunate to have directing the work of ICEL.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Compline, ICEL New Translation of the Roman Missal, Reform of the Reform, Roman Missal Third Edition, USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship 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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President’s Corner

    “Music List” • All Souls (2 November)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 2 November 2025, which is the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (“All Souls”). 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 top-notch feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    2-Voice Arr. • “Creator of the Starry Height”
    Do you direct a choir consisting of women or children only? (Some call this a “treble” choir.) Download a two-voice arrangement of Creator of the Starry Height set to the tune of IOANNES by clicking here and then scrolling to the bottom. In our times, this hymn is normally used during ADVENT, and the Latin title is: Cónditor alme síderum. It’s important to say “cónditor”—placing the accent on the antepenult—because ‘condítor’ in Latin means “one who embalms the dead.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Equal Voices” Choir Pieces
    My colleague, CORRINNE MAY, has posted some delightful compositions for equal voices: that is, choirs consisting of all men or all women. Included there are settings of the “Ave Maria” and “Tantum Ergo.” They strike me as relatively simple and not excessively lengthy. (In other words, within reach of volunteer singers.) Even better, all the scores have been made available as instant PDF downloads, completely free of charge. Bravo!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
    Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 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 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

To the extent that the new sacred music is to serve the liturgical celebrations of the various churches, it can and must draw from earlier forms — especially from Gregorian chant — a higher inspiration, a uniquely sacred quality, a genuine sense of what is religious.

— Pope John Paul II (June 1980)

Recent Posts

  • “Music List” • All Souls (2 November)
  • 2-Voice Arr. • “Creator of the Starry Height”
  • PDF Download • Christmas Piece (SATB) — “Angels We Have Heard on High” with Text in Latin
  • “Equal Voices” Choir Pieces
  • A Practical Method of Projecting Solfege for Chant

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