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“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

Why Should We Sing the Psalms at Mass?

Richard J. Clark · May 8, 2015

HE PSALMS ARE AN endlessly rich source of spiritual nourishment. Whether it is the liturgy of the hours or the mass, the Psalms—some of the most ancient of scripture—are a central focus of our prayer. But for many who attend mass regularly, this is a head scratcher. Often “The Psalm” only refers to the Responsorial Psalm. And that’s it. No more psalms sung in the mass.

Furthermore, only a few short verses appear in the Responsorial Psalm. This is intentional, of course, as it is a direct reflection or “response” to the previous reading. However, if we do not sing the antiphons proper to the day—and the corresponding psalm verses—this may be all we get.

AM VERY FORTUNATE to have a number of choir members with training in theology, some with advanced degrees. We have lively discussions, and I am often the beneficiary of their insights.

Recently, I received some reflections from one such choir member, comparing the version of Psalm 22 we sing as the Responsorial on Palm Sunday, and the verses of Psalm 22 we sing on the Fifth Sunday of Easter in Cycle B. (Keep in mind, that if one sings the Communion Antiphon on Psalm Sunday, a great deal more of Psalm 22 is sung!)

Each year on Palm Sunday we rehear the striking words “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” I would propose for reflection that the many iterations of reflections on this one verse have trapped us into thinking a quite narrow and certain way. A case in point: if we say the word “prodigal,” we immediately add the word “son.” However, the father is much more lavish and generous in a substantial way than the younger son’s wild spending.

The real point in the use of the psalm comes from an understanding of how those who heard it said would have understood. Jesus was preaching from the cross. He was using the words his Father spoke through him [THE WORD] to proclaim his mission to the last breath. The psalms are among the earliest scripture. By and large they were handed over orally. If a person heard the first words of a PSALM it would trigger the recollection of the whole psalm. So, the verses of Ps 22 on Palm Sunday lead us to the verses used here [Easter 5B] as well and those of today looking back to Palm Sunday—certainly much more than a lament and how “abandoned” Jesus felt. We are not abandoned, we are saved.

The final words of Psalm 22 are not well known: Psalm 22:32. “The generation to come will be told of the Lord, that they may proclaim to a people yet unborn the deliverance you have brought.” Jesus’ message from the cross was ultimately that of redemption.

This is what the psalms teach us. Jesus taught through the psalms. Sing the Mass. Sing the Psalms!

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Propers, Singing the Mass 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

    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

“It would be a grave error to imagine that the principle orientation of the sacrificial action is towards the community. If the priest celebrates «VERSUS POPULUM», which is legitimate and often advisable, his spiritual attitude ought always to be «VERSUS DEUM PER JESUM CHRISTUM», as representative of the entire Church.”

— Official Vatican Statement (25 September 2000)

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