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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

Sound the Bell of Holy Freedom

Fr. David Friel · December 7, 2014

HE EXCITEMENT brewing over the next World Meeting of Families (WMOF) intensified a few weeks ago when Pope Francis confirmed that he will be attending the event. This will be the Holy Father’s first visit to the United States of America, and preparations are well underway. Our local church here in Philadelphia is already being energized by the plans for what organizers hope will be a very memorable week of activities.

Local coverage here in Philadelphia has been largely positive, calling to mind the memories of John Paul II’s historic visit to our city in 1979. Plans for the coming World Meeting & papal visit have also stirred up memories of the Eucharistic Congress held here in the bicentennial year 1976. Although I wasn’t alive to experience either of those events, I have listened many times as people—both Catholics & non-Catholics—have recalled the impact that one or both of those occasions had on their faith. We are hopeful that this World Meeting of Families will have the same sort of profound & lasting impact, not only in Philadelphia, but throughout our nation and the Americas.

Just over a week ago, the staff for the World Meeting rolled out the official hymn for the event, entitled Sound the Bell of Holy Freedom. You can go to the WMOF homepage to view the LYRICS of the hymn. You can also go to YouTube to listen to a VIDEO recording. Take note, also, of the WMOF 2015 Icon, pictured above.

The text of the hymn was written by a priest from Saint Norbert College, Fr. Andrew Ciferni, O. Praem. The hymn tune has been given the appropriate name PHILADELPHIA, and its meter is 87.87.87 (like PANGE LIGUA, ST. THOMAS, GRAFTON, PLEADING SAVIOR, etc.). Its composer is a very capable artist named Normand Gouin, who formerly served as music director of Old St. Joseph’s Church in Old City, Philadelphia (America’s “most historic square mile”). Recently, Norm took the position of Assistant College Chaplain & Director of Liturgical Music at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.

Gouin has a number of excellent published compositions for the sacred liturgy. Two of his best pieces are given an excellent review HERE. Among his compositions are several commissioned works, together with a few collections of choral antiphons appropriate for certain seasons (Lent, Advent, Easter, etc.). His Mass of Ss. Peter & Paul is one of the finest & sturdiest settings of the new translation of the Roman Missal I have encountered.

The idea of having an official hymn for a massive event like the WMOF makes sense, just as in the case of World Youth Days and similar occasions. In fact, it makes eminently more sense than the incorporation of hymns into Mass, since the native home of hymns, in the Catholic tradition, is not the Mass, but devotions & other non-liturgical settings. Popular religious hymnody has a great power to draw people together, to catechize, and to foster genuine piety. Hopefully this new hymn will serve those purposes well.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Hymns Replacing Propers, Marriage Synod, Pope Francis 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” • 29th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 19 October 2025, which is the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). 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 sensational feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
    Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    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
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Let us ponder the incontrovertible fact that Eucharistic Adoration in the Ordinary Form (“Novus Ordo”) is always and everywhere celebrated “ad orientem.” Why, then, is there such opposition to Mass being celebrated in that way, which is actually stipulated by the 1970 Missal rubrics?

— A Benedictine Monk (2013)

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  • Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
  • PDF Download • Liturgical Round (“Canon”) for your Children’s Choir

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