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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

Six Things Of Which We’ve Lost Sight

Richard J. Clark · September 4, 2015

ORE RECENTLY I’ve taken the opportunity to bring my children to Mass with me while I am working. Doing so affects my experience in prayer subtly and not so subtly. One such experience was having my daughter unexpectedly reach up to hold my hand just as I was intoning the Alleluia. Pleasantly startled, it was a sensation I have never felt in such a context–it left quite an impression on my soul.

She held my hand until I was done singing. She didn’t say anything. That was that–a child doing what comes naturally to them: being a beacon of light and truth.

HIS PROVIDES PERSPECTIVE on the many debates about liturgy and especially music. Every music director is quite used to fielding critiques, comments, opinions, etc., about what music would be better than what one is currently providing. Everyone would like more of this and less of that. And less of this and more of that.

Forget style. Here are things we’ve lost sight of and need to get back:


1. THE MASS IS A SUNG PRAYER.

Regardless of the style of music, are we singing the Mass? Are we singing the dialogues, the acclamations, both considered even by Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship (SttL) to be the most important things that we sing? (And hymns and songs the least important as indicated by SttL §115d and the GIRM §48.)

Are we helping our priests—especially those who are not inclined to sing—to chant the presidential texts, Preface, or dialogues?

If not, why not?

Singing the Mass is integral; music is not an “addition” to the Mass. Sacred song grew up side by side with the Roman Rite in the singing of the texts of the Mass and hence scripture. This is our core understanding. This is the core understanding of Vatican II. (SC§ 112)


2. OUR PREFERENCES DON’T MATTER

What happens at Mass is entirely the work of God and a gift from God. Our personal tastes don’t matter very much in light of this. Corporate prayer necessitates the subjection of our will to God’s will. This is difficult. It’s supposed to be difficult, yet joyous!

Like a family, we naturally put the greater good ahead of our own desires. God’s will is all. This understanding comes naturally when we align ourselves to trust God. It may also come as a blessed relief as God carries our burdens.


3. CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF OUR MUSIC—NOT US.

Losing sight of this is perhaps the most dangerous. We should see Christ in our neighbor. That is what we are called to do.

But liturgical music is often manipulated and abused as a god of personal gratification. Music of all styles can become an idol when used for this purpose.

Is Christ the center of our music both in the text and intent? If we are the center, we’ve missed the opportunity to be intimate with God and nurture our relationship with Him. Furthermore, God at the core creates the opportunity to strengthen our relationships with each other.


4. WE LIVE TO SERVE.

We live to serve God and His people. It’s that simple. Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Incidentally, this is where we find true fulfillment and happiness.


5. CHRIST IS ETERNAL. OUR MUSIC MIGHT NOT BE.

Consider that the fifty years since Vatican II are but a blink of an eye in the history of music, no less the world. Hundreds of years or even a millennium are nothing in the sight of God. But God also knows every hair on your head and knows all good things that you need.

Consider that the often-used terms “traditional” and “contemporary” are not styles. They describe aspects of time. Every note I’ve composed this year is “contemporary.” I’ll be fortunate if in a couple hundred years any of it becomes “traditional.” I won’t care by then I hope, because Christ is eternal.


6. GOD WANTS YOU CLOSE.

Pray unceasingly. God wants you close. He will find you, hunt you down and draw you near in an eternal loving embrace.

Y DAUGHTER REACHING FOR MY HAND while I was singing will probably teach me more than any books will. She communicated far more than my music ever will. It was love beyond words.

If God’s love is anything like my daughter’s for her parents, we have reason to rejoice. We have great reason to look forward to the Heavenly Banquet. We have the greatest reason to glorify God in divine worship.

Soli Deo gloria

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

“Life need not mean something. Life is something. And what is it? It is: —the present moment (the only one I really have); —my body and soul; —the task at hand; Almighty God, (source of everything) asks just one thing: that I put my body and my soul into this one moment, this one task … that I might do it as God desires it to be done.”

— Based on an article by Robert Keim

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