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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

Reopening our Churches – Encouragement – Resources

Richard J. Clark · May 22, 2020

S CHURCHES work towards reopening, there is a great deal of understandable anxiety for those responsible for its implementation. In the Archdiocese of Boston, it is also no small change for us to concede congregational singing and choirs of any size. So many of you have already sacrificed so much, spiritually, artistically, and economically.

Whenever a challenge or difficulty would arise, my father would half-joke, “Offer it up for Lent.” It didn’t matter if it was July, Christmas, or Pentecost, he would wisely invoke the Lenten fast. We are certainly experiencing an extended period of Lenten self-sacrifice — far longer than forty days — and with no end in sight. The sacrifice is for the greater good, something many of our elders are quite familiar with.

I hope to offer some words of encouragement, perspective, and some practical resources perhaps helpful to some.

Encouragement

I’ve witnessed so much extraordinary hard work to keep communities together. I’ve seen great musical creativity, problem solving, generosity, and selfless concern from musicians who have all been hit terribly hard. Your pastoral work is clearly a mission. 

I am hoping that despite captivity, despite adversity, and despite many in our very midst facing death, we will elevate to new understandings of love, compassion, and consciousness.

While becoming better Christians, we may also turn out to become better musicians. Forced to operate differently we have become resourceful, flexible, and creative problem-solvers. We may expand our repertoire into new areas. We are acquiring new skill sets that will add more color to our musical palette.

In doing so, be patient with yourselves. Be forgiving of yourselves. Do not be afraid to fail. Failure leads to success.

We are being pruned. We will grow back stronger. 

This is Good News. And we will be ok.

Perspective

Re: No congregational singing and no choirs: While a tough pill to swallow, many of us have been closely following reports of potential dangers posed by even small choirs of four-five members spaced six apart. These reports were offered by institutions with much to lose. Aerosols might travel much father than six feet, and we don’t know yet how aerosols affect transmission. I’m not betting my choir’s health (or lives) on it.   

Yes, there is the one study from two German scientists that states singing is not dangerous. I hope to God it is true, but I have yet to see corroborating evidence or any scientific peer review in that direction. I’m not betting my choir’s health (or lives) on it. 

Churches in Massachusetts were not expecting to reopen in Phase One. It is time to be abundantly cautious, see what works, and what does not.

If we are not cautious, we won’t reach Phase Two.

Resources

Here’s a short video from the Archdiocese of Boston with guidance about reopening. You can share this with your congregation. To watch click here. 

Entrance processions are limited. There is no offertory procession. Communion processions may be longer or unpredictable in length.

Therefore, in addition to utilizing reverent instrumental or sacred solo music, now may be a time to explore singing Entrance, Offertory, and/or Communion antiphons often seen printed in any missalette.  The Church has always asked us to sing these, as they are the first option in the GIRM, and the often point back to the Gospel. Maybe start with an occasional communion antiphon. Consider adding some from time to time as an additional tool from which to draw.

I also encourage anyone to compose your own in whatever style or instrumentation. Use piano guitar, organs—whatever works best for you. Keep it simple, maybe devise your own psalm tone or harmonization that you can use from week to week.

Christopher Walker has composed many antiphons published with Oregon Catholic Press

All of the following are FREE:

  • I am giving permission to musicians in the Archdiocese of Boston to use my own set of Communion Antiphons for Ordinary Time: Download here: Communion Antiphons for Ordinary Time They are designed to work well with cantor and accompaniment. I play these with organ or piano. Add guitar chords if you need. I have no problem with that! This collection might be published in the future, but I feel the current need demands I share them for free. The rest of my communion antiphons have been published by World Library Publications.
  • The Propers of the Mass in English ~ Fr. Samuel F. Weber, Organ Accompaniments and modern notation available at this link
  • Simple Choral Gradual ~ Richard Rice
    • Textsin English from 1986 Sacramentary
  • Simple English Propers ~ Adam Bartlett – Organ Accompaniment and modern notation available at this link.
  • Communio ~ Richard Rice ~ Chants of the Gradale Romanum – verses written out. Also available with Verses in English!
  • Parish Book of Chant ~ Richard Rice
  • Gregorian Missal for Sundays ~ in accordance with the Novus Ordo Solesmes *contains English translations

Some are opening on Pentecost Sunday. Here is a free setting in English of the Pentecost Sequence. 

• To download click here. 

• To listen to a demo, click here. 

Scroll to last pages, and you’ll see guitar chords in three different keys.

God bless all of you in your amazing work. We may have limitations placed upon us. Be assured, your pastoral music ministry is more important now than ever!

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: May 23, 2020

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About Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
    The 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM was a transitional missal. It was on its way to becoming the 1970 version, but wasn’t there yet. It eliminated certain duplications, downplayed the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, expanded the role of laymen, minimized the Last Gospel, made many items optional, and so forth. Father Valentine Young spotted many typos in the 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM, especially incorrect accents. The Offertory Antiphon for this coming Sunday (OF kalendar) contains an error, citing the wrong verse from Psalm 118. It should be 118:107b, not 118:154. If you read verse 154, you’ll understand how that error crept in. [In this particular case, the error pre-dates the 1962 Missal, since the 1940s hand-missal by Father Lasance also gets it wrong.]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 26 October 2025, which is the 30th 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 top-notch feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Little Encouragement?
    In the Gospel, our Savior tells about 10 lepers who were healed. Only one went back to give thanks. Precious few express gratitude, yet many have endless energy to complain. For that reason, I deeply appreciate receiving messages like the following, which arrived a few days ago (about the parish where I direct in Michigan): “Last Sunday, a couple I knew from Grand Rapids was at Mass at 10:00 a.m. I got a chance to talk to them after Mass. I wanted to let you know what they said about the choir. They were absolutely floored by our sound!!!!! They both said they could continuously listen to our choir and the beauty of it. They asked me: “Do you always sound like that?” And they were also very surprised at how packed the church was. They said it was nice for them to be in such a full church. I just thought you would be interested to know their thoughts about our choir.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
    Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 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 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Although the New Testament is now so much more important to us than the Old, we must remember that the archetype of the Canon of Scripture is the Old Testament. At first that was the whole Bible, to Christians as to Jews. When the apostles speak of “Scripture” they mean the Old Testament only. Indeed, the way in which the books of the New Testament came to be considered canonical was by making them equal to those of the Old.

— Rev’d Doctor Adrian Fortescue

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  • “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
  • Little Encouragement?
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