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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

New Musical Settings for the Blessing of the Holy Oils

Fr. David Friel · March 24, 2019

HE ANNUAL blessing and disbursement of oils within the diocese is an eloquent expression of ecclesiology. Just as Jesus is the Christ—the Anointed One—who came to bring to bring good news to the afflicted and to bind up the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1), so the bishop blesses the sacred oils in order to perpetuate the Lord’s ministry within the local Church. The gathering of the priests, deacons, religious, and lay faithful of the diocese, together with their bishop, expresses the unity to which the Church is called. Apportioning the oils to each parish after the Chrism Mass highlights the connection between the bishop and the whole of the ministerial activity that takes place within his see.

Anointing, of course, is an action central to many of the Church’s liturgies. The Church makes use of sacred oils to initiate new Christians and to heal the sick, to ordain new clergymen and to dedicate new churches.

The Chrism Mass, as a whole, is perhaps the most exemplary manifestation of the local Church and of the bishop’s ministry. That the blessing and consecration of the sacred oils is among the principal features of this liturgy reflects the oils’ tremendous importance in the life of the Church.

The prayers for blessing and consecrating the oils have been newly translated and published in a ritual book entitled, Order of Blessing the Oil of Catechumens and of the Sick and of Consecrating the Chrism. It is available exclusively through the USCCB bookstore. This book took effect for all dioceses in the USA on Ash Wednesday 2019. The new prayers, therefore, are normative for the Chrism Mass from 2019 onward.

LONG with the fresh translations, this volume includes musical settings for the prayer texts and responsories. In order to assist bishops and liturgical musicians, the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship has made PDF versions of these new chant settings freely available on their website.

The PDF chant settings include:

The hymn for the procession of the oils, O Redemptor (O Redeemer)

The prayer of blessing of the Oil of the Sick

The prayer of blessing of the Oil of Catechumens

The three texts related to consecration of the Chrism: 1) Invitation to Prayer, 2) Prayer of Consecration (first option), and 3) Prayer of Consecration (second option)

The website with the new musical settings also features useful catechesis on the significance of the rite of blessing and consecration. It offers recommendations, moreover, for the reception of the oils during the parish Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: ICEL Chants, Proper of the Mass in English, Singing the Mass, USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship 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

    New Bulletin Article • “21 September 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 21 September 2025) discusses some theological items—supported by certain verses in ancient Catholic hymns—and ends by explaining why certain folks become delirious with jealousy when they observe feats by Monsignor Ronald Knox.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!
    It’s always amusing to see old diocesan newspapers—in huge capital letters—advertising the Cheapest Catholic Paper in the United States. The correspondent who sent this to me added: “I can think of certain composers, published by large companies in our own day, who could truthfully brag about the most tawdry compositions in the world!” I wonder what she could have meant by such a cryptic comment…
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies
    Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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

Random Quote

“Custom preserves many things in liturgy after their first reason has ceased.”

— Father Adrian Fortescue (writing in 1916)

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