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Views from the Choir Loft

What to Do with the “Fourth Option”

Fr. David Friel · March 19, 2017

N A WEEK’S TIME, we will celebrate Laetare Sunday. It can be difficult to explain the meaning of that term to your average Mass goer, and it is not because of the Latin. It is, rather, because most Catholics have none of the framework necessary to understand the proper of the Mass to which it refers. Thus, one must begin by explaining that there is such a thing as an introit.

This state of affairs is a reflection of the near-total domination that has been achieved by the so-called “fourth option”—the provision in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal that permits “another suitable song” (alius cantus congruus) to replace the propers at will. The eminent professor, László Dobszay, suggested in a 2010 essay that rescinding this permission may be the best path to reclaiming the musical genius of the Roman Rite.

A brief article I wrote on this subject was published in this month’s issue of Adoremus Bulletin. It is freely available, along with many other excellent articles and resources, on the group’s website. Adoremus remains one of the foremost organizations working for the renewal of the sacred liturgy. If you are not already familiar with their work, do yourself a favor, and explore the riches available on their website.

    * *  A Call to Action: Take Up Thy Cross in Proper Style!

Great strides have been made over the last decade in promoting more propers-based liturgies, but much work remains to be done if we are to regain a widespread appreciation for the structure of the Roman Rite, with its brilliant balance of proper and ordinary elements.

As a bonus, since this is the feast of St. Joseph, I am also including links to a “triduum” of reflections in his honor that I posted five years ago. Ite ad Joseph!

St. Joseph Triduum I • Joseph of the Old Testament

St. Joseph Triduum II • Joseph of Arimathea

St. Joseph Triduum III • Joseph of Nazareth

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Adoremus Bulletin, Graduale Romanum Roman Gradual Propers, Hymns Replacing Propers, Mass Propers Proprium Missae, Propers, Reform of the Reform, Singing the Mass Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anselm Church in Northeast Philly before earning a doctorate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America. He presently serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and teaches liturgy at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    “Glory To God” • (For Choir + Congregation)
    I wish to thank everyone for the nice comments I received vis-à-vis my Glory To God setting for Choir & Congregation. A gentleman with a musical doctorate from Indiana University wrote: “Love this setting so much. And I will pray, as you asked, for your return to composition more fully. You are very very good.” A female choir director wrote: “I love your harmonizations, your musicality, and the wonderful interplay you have with dissonance and consonance in your music. So fun to listen to, and great for intellect, heart, and soul!” A young woman from California wrote: “Thank you for releasing your new Glory To God in honor of Saint Noel Chabanel. I'm enjoying reading through the various parts and listening to your recordings.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    William Byrd • “Mass for Five Voices”
    Our volunteer choir is learning the “Sanctus” from William Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices. You can hear a short excerpt (recorded last Sunday) but please ignore the sound of babies crying: Mp3 recording. We still have work to do—but we’re on the right track. Once we have some of the tuning issues fixed, I desire to use it as an example proving volunteers can sing complicated polyphony.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Baptism” • A Unique Hymn
    Father Christopher Phillips is the founding Pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church. One of his hymns is unique and (in my humble opinion) quite beautiful. His hymn is basically a prayer to the Holy Trinity but also speaks of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. It would be an ideal Communion hymn on Trinity Sunday or the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. You can hear live recording from last Sunday by clicking here.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The replies to this committee (of which Mgr Bugnini was the secretary) reveal a desire to reform the liturgy. In what sense? Out of 2,109 responses from bishops, just three expressed the desire to restore Communion under both kinds. There was a sizable demand for limited use of the vernacular, but only one French bishop wanted the entire Mass in French.”

— Fr. Dominic Allain (2019)

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