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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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)
    I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.
    —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

And since it is becoming that holy things be administered in a holy manner, and of all things this sacrifice is the most holy, the Catholic Church, to the end that it might be worthily and reverently offered and received, instituted many centuries ago the holy canon, which is so free from error that it contains nothing that does not in the highest degree savor of a certain holiness and piety and raise up to God the minds of those who offer.

— Council of Trent (1562)

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