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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

Four Eucharistic Motets for the Year of the Eucharist

Richard J. Clark · July 9, 2021

IN 2019 CARDINAL Seán Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap. announced 2020 would begin the “Year of the Eucharist” in the Archdiocese of Boston (extended to June of 2022). This was in response to a Pew survey that revealed only a minority of Catholics believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist. Indeed, “The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life.'” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1324)

The Catechism also states:

The Council of Trent summarizes the Catholic faith by declaring: “Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No.1376)

Little did we know what was in store for the entire world in 2020. Forced abstinence from the Eucharist heightened for many the appreciation of the sacraments that one can take for granted. During countless daily virtual Masses, I felt I was one of the lucky ones to be in the presence of the Eucharist while many could not.

Further inspired by the artistry of the Cathedral’s quartet, I composed a set of four Eucharistic motets. Composed early in 2021, these have all been sung at various liturgies at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. These were also recorded in the South Bell Tower of the Cathedral. Working with pandemic restrictions, these motets are limited to four SATB voices. You may listen here:

Four Eucharistic Motets • Clark

** Scores are available here. 

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Ave Verum Corpus • Richard J. Clark • Boston Cathedral Singers
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Adoro te devote • Clark • Boston Cathedral Singers
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Pange Lingua • Richard J. Clark • Boston Cathedral Singers
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O sacrum convivium • Clark • Boston Cathedral Singers
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• Ave verum corpus • Clark

• Adoro te devote • Clark

• Pange lingua • Clark

• O sacrum convivium • Clark

Tremendous gratitude is owed to Barbara Hill, soprano, Jaime Korkos, mezzo-soprano Michael González, tenor, and Taras Leschishin, bass for creating beauty and upholding dignity and reverence in the Sacred Liturgy during this time.

Photo: Michael Kieloch, Blessed Sacrament Chapel at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston 

Soli Deo gloria

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: September 1, 2022

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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

    “Music List” • 17th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (27 July 2025). 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 the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Communion • “Ask & You Shall Receive”
    All of the chants for 27 July 2025 have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down” menu. The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (both text and melody) are exceedingly beautiful and ancient.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Jeff’s Mother Joins Our Fundraiser
    To assist our fundraiser, Mrs. Kathleen Ostrowski has drawn several beautiful sketches which she offers to all our readers free of charge. If you have a moment, I invite you download them at this link.
    —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

“Much of the reordering [in 1970] of the pieces of the Roman Gradual seems arbitrary and useless; nevertheless, with some exceptions, it does not affect the shape of the service, since like pieces are exchanged for like.”

— Dr. William Peter Mahrt

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