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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

The Turns at Benediction

Fr. David Friel · April 8, 2018

HEN giving benediction, the question sometimes arises among clerics of which direction to turn when lifting the monstrance from the altar and returning it there. The question does not apply when benediction is given while standing behind the altar, as is commonly done nowadays. Standing before the altar, however, raises the question of whether the presiding cleric should turn to his left or his right at two points: 1) when lifting the monstrance from the tabor, and 2) when replacing the monstrance upon the tabor.

Recently, I was interested to learn that O’Connell and Schmitz address this question directly in their Book of Ceremonies. With respect to the first turn, the correct method is always to approach the altar, lift the monstrance, and turn to the right.

For the second turn, O’Connell and Schmitz use a footnote to describe three potential methods, giving priority to the first:

There are three approved ways of placing the monstrance back on the altar after the Blessing. The most acceptable way—when the C[elebrant] is assisted by the D[eacon] or priest—is given above [to turn left to the altar after having given the blessing]. . . . Another accepted way is to place the monstrance on the altar immediately after completing the first swing to the right, i.e., to complete the circle as at the Orate, fratres. A third acceptable way is to return the monstrance to the center before the breast, after having completed the first swing to the right, pause momentarily, then turn right again, and place it on the altar. 1

In the Philadelphia area, we have a local custom of appending a short, devotional prayer to the end of the Divine Praises recited at benediction. The prayer is as follows:

May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even until the end of time!
Amen.




NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Laurence J. O’Connell and Walter J. Schmitz, The Book of Ceremonies, rev. ed. (Milwaukee: Bruce, 1956), 377, footnote 68.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Ad Orientem, Mass Facing The People, Versus Populum Altars Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(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

Luys de Villafranca, master of the altar boys—who are to be distinguished from the choirboys (“seises”) because they study only plainchant whereas the choirboys live with the chapelmaster and study polyphony and counterpoint as well—is rewarded on October 17 with a salary increase of 6,000 maravedís and an extra 12 bushels of wheat.

— Sevilla Cathedral: Chapter Resolution (7 September 1565)

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