Views from the Choir Loft

Indispensable & Accessible: Fr. Samuel F. Weber Propers in English

Richard J. Clark · October 16, 2020

N INDISPENSABLE resource and gift to the Church is the comprehensive work of Rev. Samuel F. Weber O. S. B. In 2014 Ignatius Press published his Proper of the Mass. More recently, he has published additional volumes including Propers for Weekdays, Proper and Common for the Saints, and for Christian Initiation:

• Volume II: Proper of the Mass – Entrance, Offertory, and Communion Antiphons for Weekdays of the Temporal Cycle • Click here to download

• Volume III : Proper of the Mass – Entrance, Offertory, and Communion Antiphons for Proper Commons of Saints • Click here to download.

• Volume IV: Proper of the Mass – Entrance, Offertory, and Communion Antiphons for the Conferral of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation Click here to download.

MORE ASTONISHING is that they are available for FREE at Fr. Weber’s website: Sacred Music US. There is so much on this website that it is perhaps overwhelming at first. It is a treasure-trove!

ORGAN ACCOMPANIMENTS

In addition, he offers organ accompaniments. Although handwritten, they are clear and easy to read. This offers an opportunity for those not as familiar with chant notation to access the abundance Fr. Weber has offered. You may download the complete organ accompaniments (2,502 pages!) here.

These three volumes are especially useful for daily Mass. Often there are multiple options for each antiphon that range from Solemn to more simple, to a simple psalm tone. This too accommodates a range of abilities, rehearsal time, and preference. The antiphons possess sublime elegance that grace the Novus Ordo Mass with simple, yet proper reverence and solemnity. These are clearly rooted in the traditions of Gregorian Chant, as one will recognize myriad chant formulae.

While Fr. Weber’s work has become a staple at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and at St. John’s Seminary in Boston, this music is truly for every parish. He makes singing the propers at Mass easy to access both musically and financially.

While Fr. Weber is generous in offering free downloads, I find the hard volumes to be most useful and easier to navigate on a daily basis. Please support his extraordinary work!

Thank you, Fr. Weber!

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

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

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).

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

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