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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

Exploring the 5th/6th-Century Mosaics of Ravenna

Fr. David Friel · February 23, 2020

Y CURRENT research project had me studying the stunning mosaics of Ravenna over the last two weeks. These artworks were not completely unknown to me, but I had never had the occasion to explore all the secondary literature that has been devoted to these mosaics. These magnificent images, crafted mostly in the fifth and sixth centuries, are not only attractive to behold, but also deeply theological.

For those who may be unfamiliar with these works of art, a good, concise introduction to the Ravenna churches is found here.

One of the most interesting pieces is the mosaic adorning the apse of Sant’Apollinare in Classe. The presence of Moses and Elijah make clear that the mosaic depicts the scene of the Transfiguration. The figure at the center, however, is not a radiant Christ in splendor, but rather a jeweled cross set in a blue orb. An excellent analysis of the details in this mosaic is found here.

Another masterpiece among the Ravenna mosaics is the set of panels adorning the nave walls of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo. These images show a procession of saints, bearing their gifts to the altar and, ultimately, to the enthroned Christ. The Gospel side of the nave features 22 virgins (all female), while the epistle side features 26 martyrs (all male).

The most architecturally interesting church in Ravenna is undoubtedly San Vitale, consecrated in the year 547. The basilica combines Roman and Byzantine elements. The basic floorplan consists of two concentric octagons, surmounted with a dome.

The apse within San Vitale presents an extraordinary program of interconnected mosaics. The central image displays Christ in Majesty, alongside St. Vitalis and Bishop Ecclesius. On either side of the apse, one finds mosaics of the Emperor Justinian and his Empress, Theodora. In order to understand how all the mosaics in the apse of San Vitale relate to one another, I highly recommend watching this video:

The cluster of Ravenna churches housing these mosaics stand as testimony to the beauty of ancient Christian faith. They also remind us not to fall into the all-too-easy trap of thinking that people living in ancient times were somehow primitive, unrefined, or unintelligent (a position encountered surprisingly often both in popular imagination and in historical studies).

The artist-theologians who crafted the mosaics of Ravenna still have much to teach.

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

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Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Sacred Architecture, Traditional Catholic Artwork Last Updated: February 26, 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

    “The Worm That Dieth Not”
    My pastor asked me to write a column for our parish bulletin with reflections on the sacred liturgy and church music. In my most recent article, I discuss “The Worm That Dieth Not.” At this website, you can access it conveniently; simply scroll down to the one dated 31 August 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

“If you begin by telling a man that in a word like ‘Deus’ the first syllable corresponds to the weak beat, the second to the strong beat of a modern bar, the one thing that will succeed in accomplishing is to bewilder him thoroughly.”

— Father Heinrich Bewerunge writing to Dame Laurentia

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