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Corpus Christi Watershed

“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

Is this the “Proper” solution for you?

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · October 1, 2015

NTRODUCING THE PROPERS to a parish’s liturgies is a laudable goal. Accompanying the Entrance and Communion processions with Biblically-based antiphons alternating with psalm verses is so much more effective than just another ‘song’ which, as some like to say, “covers up the movement.” The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) gives four options for the Introit, Offertory, and Communion (GIRM 48, 87). The first option is the appointed chant from the Graduale Romanum and the second is from the Graduale Simplex. Much has been written in recent years about how to re-introduce chant into the Ordinary Form liturgy. Likewise, many wonderful musical resources have been made available, from new compilations and free on-line downloads to newly composed collections in both Latin and English. Many are based on chant. But what if you can’t use chant?

Without getting into the pros and cons of—or the style wars over—chant vs. no chant, let’s just assume that for whatever reason, it is not an option at this point in time to sing chant. Must the Proper be abandoned and replaced by another hymn? Very recently I’ve decided to try an experiment that may work in other parishes. Perhaps this is not a new idea, but it’s not something that I’ve run across, so here goes.

I looked at the Communion antiphons in all of the Ordinary Time Masses in the Graduale Simplex (in English, referencing By Flowing Waters by Dr. Paul F. Ford), and all the ad libitum Communion chants from the Graduale Romanum. Some of the texts leapt out at me. I wondered if I could use the texts of the actual antiphon, but within a musical language that was a little more, well, contemporary in style. I then wondered if I could keep the actual psalm verses assigned to that antiphon, set them in a way that is not Gregorian chant, but rather, in a still noble and at the same time familiar musical language. In short, could I maintain the intent of the musical structure of the Proper itself?

For example, in Mass III of the Graduale Simplex, the Communion chant is “Seek first the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 3:16). In place of a chant setting, I extracted the first eight measures of the contemporary hymn, “Seek Ye First,” (SEEK YE FIRST) by Karen Lafferty. Our people know it well and it is essentially the same text as found in the Graduale Simplex. This became the antiphon. Next, I set the psalm verses in one of the Gelineau tones in D major to create a simple, slightly tuneful, and accessible rendering of the verses. This past Sunday, as the Priest received the Sacrament, the organ played the first two measures of the ‘hymn’ as an incipit, the cantor sang through the eight-measure hymn/antiphon, and then repeated it with the people. They sang it! Verse one followed, repeat the antiphon, sing the rest of the verses, and we now have a ‘contemporary’ style Communion proper. Other possible antiphons are “Taste and See” (Gustate et videte, Ps. 34), “Where charity and love are present” (Ubi caritas), or the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55).

Is this an ideal and permanent solution? Probably not. I still hold fast to the idea that “all things being equal, Gregorian Chant holds pride of place.” And so it should. But being flexible and putting one’s own musical tastes on the back burner for a while is sometimes part of the job of being a Catholic music director. So is being a good teacher. So, if it’s important to sing approved texts instead of just another song, and if anyone is looking for noble simplicity, a way to introduce the idea of a Communion antiphon with its psalm verse, and a teaching tool that may well lead to the use of actual Gregorian chant propers, then perhaps this is a solution for you.

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 Dr. Alfred Calabrese

Dr. Alfred Calabrese is Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas, TX. He and his wife have two children.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “What Martin Luther Said…”
    My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

“To suggest, even loosely, that Catholics walk a more or less similar path to God as other religions drains martyrdom of its meaning. Why give up your life for Christ when other paths may get us to the same God? Such a sacrifice would be senseless.”

— Archbishop Charles J. Chaput

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