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Views from the Choir Loft

Bishop Barron Vs. Hymn by Marty Haugen (2018)

Jeff Ostrowski · January 16, 2019

RESENTING at the “Adoremus Congress” (8 September 2018) in England, Bishop Robert Barron spoke of a hymn that’s become popular in many Catholic churches. The lyrics of this song are not based on authentic Catholic hymns, such as English translations found in the Brébeuf Hymnal: Pange Lingua, Ave Maris Stella, Sancti Venite, Ave Vivens Hostia, Christe Redemptor Omnium, Adoro Te Devote, and so forth.

Instead, these lyrics were written by a Protestant composer named Marty Haugen:

Not in the dark of buildings confining,
Not in some heaven, light-years away,
But here in this place, the new light is shining,
Now is the Kingdom, now is the day.

This heretical song has been included in major Catholic hymnals for decades; and here’s proof from the Worship Hymnal (GIA Publications). Here’s what Bishop Barron says:


Marty Haugen’s assertion about the Light “not shining in Heaven” contradicts Catholic teaching. Look at this 12th-century Catholic hymn:

    * *  PDF Download • Excerpt from the Brébeuf Hymnal (Page 746)

Did you notice the literal translation at the bottom?

85646 Marty Haugen Heresy

Oh, how beautiful is the Catholic teaching!!!

Christ is the light that consoles heaven, but is unseen by man on earth.

Of course, we do see Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament (Holy Eucharist), but we do not see His full glory. If we saw Jesus in His full glory, it would overwhelm us. The purity of God would be “too terrible for words,” as Fulton J. Sheen once said. But the Apostles got a glimpse of the true glory at the Transfiguration; and this hymn is often used for the Feast of the Transfiguration. Fr. Michael Irwin, FSSP, once told me that if we saw Jesus Christ in His full glory, we would die instantly.

Why do songs by Marty Haugen—who has never claimed to accept Church teaching—replace authentic Catholic hymns, such as the one I just quoted? I urge you to obtain a copy of the Brébeuf Hymnal and see whether you agree that the ancient Catholic hymns are worth singing.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Heretical GIA Hymns Last Updated: March 24, 2021

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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

Let us ponder the incontrovertible fact that Eucharistic Adoration in the Ordinary Form (“Novus Ordo”) is always and everywhere celebrated “ad orientem.” Why, then, is there such opposition to Mass being celebrated in that way, which is actually stipulated by the 1970 Missal rubrics?

— A Benedictine Monk (2013)

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Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

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