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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 New Spanish Missal as Opportunity

Fr. David Friel · August 12, 2018

OST English-speaking Catholics can remember the days of Advent 2011, when the present translation of the Missale Romanum was in its infancy. Anyone who has been involved in sacred music since that time can recount how significant that moment was for the Church in the Anglophone world. The adoption of that missal was about much more than just a new translation. That moment provided an opportunity for renewal in every area of parish liturgical life—a renewal that has taken root and borne fruit in many places.

A great deal of preparation went into the implementation of the 2011 English missal. There were pew cards, musical inserts, clergy workshops, adult education sessions, diocesan guidelines, etc. Well before it went into effect, the 2011 English missal was recognized as an important juncture in the life of the Church, and leaders rightly made sure that this juncture would not be crossed unaware.

Another moment, with similar possibilities, is upon us.

The rollout of a new Spanish translation of the Latin, 3rd typical edition of the Missale Romanum has begun. This new missal—the Misal Romano, tercera edición— has been produced for use in the United States of America. It became available from publishers beginning in May 2018, and its use has been optional since the Vigil of Pentecost (19 May 2018). Its implementation becomes mandatory on the First Sunday of Advent (2 December 2018).

Although my assessment is undoubtedly affected by the fact that I don’t presently work directly with any Spanish-speaking communities, it seems to me that preparation for this new Misal Romano has been less extensive than was the preparatory phase of the 2011 English missal. In one respect, this makes sense, inasmuch as the contrast between the new Spanish translation and the former version is not nearly as pronounced as was the difference between the old and new English translations. Nevertheless, making an adequate effort to prepare for the new Spanish missal remains essential.

One aspect of the new Misal Romano which deserves serious attention is its incorporation of chant. Just as the 2011 English edition of the missal was groundbreaking in its extensive use of musical notation for many of the chants of the Mass, so too the new Misal Romano, tercera edición will feature a wealth of quality chants for the Ordinary. The music of the new Spanish missal affords parish priests and musicians a prime opportunity to reintroduce truly sacred music into their celebrations, in place of the American-Hispanic music that has for so long been imposed upon their communities.

EADING THE WAY in this regard is the Zipoli Institute, an apostolate of the Institute of the Incarnate Word that provides resources to help make sacred music accessible in mission territories. The institute has published a lovely and user-friendly website that is rich with musical resources.

The new Spanish missal chants, which have been authorized for free and wide dissemination by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL), are available from their website. Among their excellent Spanish resources are:

1. Practice recordings of the Misal Romano chants (in both standard and low pitches)

2. A printable booklet of the Misal Romano chants for congregational use (in both single-sheet and double-sheet formats)

3. A collection of quality, Spanish hymns for various occasions

In addition to their online resources, the Zipoli Institute is also sponsoring workshops to prepare clergy and laity for the implementation of the new Misal Romano. Their first workshops were held this spring in Washington, DC (27-28 April 2018).

Their next set of workshops will be held in Philadelphia, with a clergy-only presentation set for 9 November 2018 at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. A presentation tailored to music directors, choirs, and congregations (but open to all) is scheduled for the next day, 10 November 2018, at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center. The presenter on both days will be Fr. Andres Ayala, IVE.

A flyer with more details on these free workshops in Philadelphia is available:

    * *  PDF Download • SPANISH VERSION

    * *  PDF Download • ENGLISH VERSION

It should be noted that the Zipoli Institute is also a treasure trove of materials for the sung Mass in English and for Mass in the Extraordinary Form. Additional materials are provided or referenced for sacristans, for funeral/wedding planning, and for singing polyphony.

UCH GOOD has been accomplished over recent years in the world of Catholic sacred music in the English language. It took several decades to pass after the Second Vatican Council, but finally quality resources have emerged to facilitate the widespread use of English Propers and a nobler singing of the Ordinary.

The world of Catholic sacred music in the Spanish language cannot and should not be ignored. This new Misal Romano presents an immense opportunity for the Church in the United States of America. Let us pray that the introduction of this new translation of the Misal Romano will enable Spanish-speaking Catholics to sing a truly new song to the Lord!

Cantad al Señor un cántico nuevo, porque ha hecho maravillas . . . Aclamad con júbilo al Señor, toda la tierra; prorrumpid y cantad con gozo, cantad alabanzas. (Salmo 98)

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: ICEL New Translation of the Roman Missal, Misal Romano, Roman Missal Third Edition, Spanish Hymnal for Catholics, Zipoli Institute 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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President’s Corner

    A Nice Hymn In Spanish
    In my humble opinion, this is a really beautiful hymn in Spanish. If I practice diligently, I’ll be able to pronounce all the words properly. If you’re someone who’s interested in obtaining a melody only version (suitable for your congregational ORDER OF WORSHIP) you can steal that from this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 21st in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir returns on Sunday, 24 August 2025. Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for it, which is the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website. When it comes to the feast of the Assumption (15 August 2025), I have uploaded the music list for that Mass—but not the “bi-lingual” Mass in the evening (Spanish, Latin, and English) which has completely different music.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Entrance Chant” • 21st Sunday Ordin. Time
    You can download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) which is coming up on 24 August 2025. Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. It’s set in a melancholy mode, but if you heard my choir’s female voices singing it your soul would be uplifted beyond belief. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, this morning I tried to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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

Random Quote

At papal Masses, the regulations against tardiness were more stringent than at Masses celebrated by cardinals or bishops. Giovanni Maria Nanino records that any singer who is not in his place—and in his vestments—by the end of the repetition of the “Introit” will be fined eight vinti. At papal Vespers, the singer who is not present at the “Gloria Patri” of the first psalm pays a fine of fifty balocchi.

— Giovanni M. Nanino (d. 1607), Papal “Maestro di Cappella”

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