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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

Not Your Grandmother’s Creed

Jeff Ostrowski · January 26, 2016

HE FIRST TIME I HEARD the name “David Haas” was on a CMAA website a few years ago. He was posting there, but when people started asking him questions he left—and never returned. (At least that’s my recollection.) It turns out David Haas is an extremely popular composer for the Ordinary Form. 1 I’ve never forgotten his last name because of its memorable spelling. A Facebook Creed by David Haas was sent to me this morning. Much could be said about his edict, but I don’t have time for a long post today. 2

Many have expressed deep concern over the lyrics in popular Catholic hymnals—and this “Creed” illustrates the validity of such concerns. Consider a few excerpts:

“Ministry Creed” by David Haas (Excerpts)
Copyright © 2015 by David Haas

Ministry is not about whether one believes in God
—it’s about following the Christ.

Ministry is not about getting into heaven
—it’s about the promise of a paradise.

Ministry is not about striving to be holy
—it’s about recognizing that without God we can do nothing.

Ministry is not about convincing others about a truth
—it’s about allowing discovery to be nurtured.

Ministry is not about promoting doctrine
—it’s about announcing Jesus.

Ministry is not about providing a map for eternal life
—it’s about nurturing life right now, to the full.

Ministry is not about providing solutions
—it’s about facing the quandaries.

Ministry is not about providing clarity
—it’s about celebrating ambiguity.

Ministry is not about reading scripture
—it’s about becoming the living Word.

Ministry is not about providing answers
—it’s about provoking more and more fresh questions.

819 David Haas It’s difficult to understand why Mr. Haas feels the need to condemn the beliefs of others. Many of us believe that ministry is about trying to help people attain Heaven; many of us believe part of ministry is providing answers & solutions; and so forth. Moreover, this “Creed” by David Haas contradicts in a powerful way the example of ministry given to us by Jesus Christ.

That is why I hope Mr. Haas will consider getting rid of his “Creed” and instead focus on positive things, like promoting authentic sacred music by great composers.

 


NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Growing up in the 1990s, my (Ordinary Form) parish used the GLORY & PRAISE HYMNAL. I suspect David Haas came to prominence after this book was published, which explains why I don’t know his songs. The ones I knew as a child were: Abba Father; Be Not Afraid; Yahweh I Know You Are Near; Sing A Simple Song Unto The Lord; You Who Dwell In The Shelter Of The Lord; This Little Light Of Mine; Though The Mountains May Fall; and so forth. As far as I know, none of those are by David Haas.

2   For example, haeresim sapiens comes to mind when I read statements like “ministry is not about believing in God.”

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: David Haas Composer GIA Last Updated: April 17, 2024

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    (Part 2) • Did they simplify this hymn?
    Choirs love to sing the resplendent tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1929, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. Their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1929 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. As always, the Germans added an organ INTRODUCTION. For the record, I posted a different harmonization a few months ago which was downloaded more than 2,000 times.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Lectionary Comparison Chart”
    Various shell corporations (in an effort to make money selling Sacred Scripture) have tinkered with the LECTIONARY texts in a way that’s shameful. It’s no wonder Catholics in the pews know so few Bible passages by heart. Without authorization, these shell corporations pervert the official texts. Consider the Responsorial Psalm for the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If you download this PDF comparison chart you’ll notice each country randomly omits certain sections. Such tinkering has gone on for 60+ years—and it’s reprehensible.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Monsignor Klaus Gamber Speaks!
    An interesting quotation from the eminent liturgist, Monsignor Klaus Gamber (d. 1989): “According to canon law, a person’s affiliation with a particular liturgical rite is determined by that person’s rite of baptism. Given that the liturgical reforms of Pope Paul VI created a de facto new rite, one could assert that those among the faithful who were baptized according to the traditional Roman rite have the right to continue following that rite; just as priests who were ordained according to the traditional Ordo have the right to exercise the very rite that they were ordained to celebrate.”
    —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 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

“The Church has always kept, and wishes still to maintain everywhere, the language of her Liturgy; and, before the sad and violent changes of the 16th century, this eloquent and effective symbol of unity of faith and communion of the faithful was, as you know, cherished in England not less than elsewhere. But this has never been regarded by the Holy See as incompatible with the use of popular hymns in the language of each country.”

— Pope Leo XIII (1898)

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