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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

Bill Belichick and the Liturgy

Richard J. Clark · May 1, 2015

HE NEW ENGLAND Patriots are universally hated in forty-four of the fifty United States. Furthermore, there is no head coach in the NFL more hated than Bill Belichick. There are many reasons that range from that little “Spygate” incident to Gisele. Furthermore, we still await with bated breath the results of Ted Wells’ investigation on the national tragedy that is “Deflategate.”

Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, a Massachusetts native and former Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, is known for his playful sense of humor. He once joked at a Presbyteral Convocation in Boston (and I paraphrase), “What do Payton Manning and I have in common? We both only have one ring.” That gets big laughs around here. Not so much anywhere else. (Did I mention how much people hate N. E. Patriots fans? Andrew Motyka likely knows this pain.)

So what can we learn from Bill Belichick? Darrelle Revis, arguably the greatest cornerback to ever play the game, recently told the New York Daily News: “I think I’m better than I was before. I’m smarter and way more intelligent at the game. I had a great learning experience last year with Bill…” If the best can learn from him, so can we.


“DO YOUR JOB.”

Probably the most important liturgical advice we can get from Bill Belichick is his simple mantra: “Do your job.” Wow. That’s it? That’s perfectly obvious, isn’t it? It’s not to everyone.

A visiting priest once asked me how I know so much about the liturgy. Perhaps he was surprised that a musician would know certain minutia of the Roman Missal or a particular Rite. I was taken aback by the question because it’s a fundamental part of my job. Furthermore, if I don’t know something, it’s my job to know where to look it up or whom to ask. This happens frequently enough.

I recently wrote about five things that help the liturgy come together. In short, it is teamwork and everyone fulfilling their respective roles. As such, doing your job also means “it’s not about you or me.” It is about humility. It’s about God and serving the people. It’s requires humility to not take over the liturgy. Musicians, priests, and liturgists are guilty of this. I’ve been guilty of this.

Furthermore, when the priest and musician each do their jobs, it often appears that they collaborated all week. They probably didn’t as much as one might think. Both are focused on the scriptures (another reason to sing the propers.) Both know the rubrics and know what is coming next. Both put Christ at the center. As such, so do the people. It requires focus to worry about one’s own responsibility, and trust that others are doing the same.


PREPARATION

The most successful of athletes talk over and over about one thing: Preparation. The best catchers in baseball spend as much time studying the weaknesses of opposing hitters as they do on the playing field.

Even with preparation, things still may go wrong. No one is perfect. But fewer problems will arise. Without preparation, the liturgy appears sloppy. While this may not concern some, the liturgy becomes out of balance with emphasis or focus in the wrong areas. Reverent music seems out of place with a game-show style celebrant. Less than reverent music with problematic theology will be out of place with a well prepared celebrant and homilist.


“DISAPPEAR”

A very wise Deacon recently told me, that when preaching, it is his job to edify and then to disappear. Likewise, if I am playing a hymn or an accompaniment, it is my job to not draw attention to myself. This is not the same as being boring. There will be changes of registration, subtle reharmonization, and perhaps soloing of the melody to keep multiple verses interesting. But my job is to be at the service of worship—and then disappear.

Finally, the most important thing to remember is to do our work with humility and love. Do your job. Do it in the spirit of service. Do it with love.

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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About Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th 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 dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Offertory” for this Sunday
    This coming Sunday, 12 October 2025, is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). Its OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF) is gorgeous, and comes from the book of Esther, as did the ENTRANCE CHANT last Sunday. Depending on a variety of factors, various hand-missals (all with Imprimatur) translate this passage differently. For instance, “príncipis” can be rendered: King; Prince; Lion; or Fierce lord. None is “more correct” than another. It depends on which source text is chosen and what each translator wants to emphasize. All these pieces of plainsong are conveniently stored at the blue-ribbon feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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

When a friend speaks of his accomplishments and triumphs, he stands at a distance from our heart. When he shares his weaknesses and failings, he’s very near.

— Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

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