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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

Gospel Acclamation Verses … Nowhere Assigned?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 1, 2025

OR SUNDAYS in Ordinary Time, the 1970 LECTIONARY doesn’t indicate specific verses for the ALLELUIA. Instead, it sends the reader to this generic page for each Sunday’s Gospel Acclamation. I don’t understand why this decision was made by the publishers, since the official LECTIONARY (in Latin) does indicate specific verses for each ALLELUIA.1 If someone knows the answer, please email me. The 2011 edition of LECTIONARY published in the United Kingdom seems to agree with the 1970 American LECTIONARY, inasmuch as it gives multiple options for each ALLELUIA (for Sundays in Ordinary Time).

1969 Rubrics • Regarding a slightly different topic: the MISSALE RECENS was released at the very end of 1969, just four years after the 1965 Missale Romanum had been printed. The rubrics for the Responsorial Psalm read as follows:

The cantor of the psalm sings the verse at the lectern or other suitable place, while the people remain seated and listen. Unless the psalm is sung straight through without response, the congregation takes part by singing the response.

If sung, the following texts may be chosen: the psalm in the lectionary, the gradual in the Roman Gradual, or the responsorial or alleluia psalm in the Simple Gradual, as these books indicate.

Notice that the official rubrics nowhere indicate the gradual found in the GRADUALE ROMANUM must be sung in Latin. Nor do the rubrics forbid the gradual being sung in the vernacular. This contradicts a claim occasionally made by “terminally online” liturgical commentators.

Nomenclature • The MISSALE RECENS goes by many names. Several of the more common names would include: Ordinary Form; Pauline Rite; post-conciliar rite; the 1970 Missal; Novus Ordo; and so forth.

1 Strictly speaking, any Gospel Acclamation can be used at any time according to the MISSALE RECENS. Indeed, one could (technically) use the same verse Sunday after Sunday ad infinitum. But that’s not what I’m speaking of in this article.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Free Gospel Acclamations Last Updated: August 1, 2025

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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
    “Entrance Chant” • 21st Sunday Ordin. Time
    You can download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) which is coming up on 24 August 2025. Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. It’s set in a melancholy mode, but if you heard my choir’s female voices singing it your soul would be uplifted beyond belief. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, this morning I tried to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.
    —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

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“Orlando de Lassus died in Munich on 14 June 1594, the selfsame day his employer decided to dismiss him for economic reasons. He never saw the letter.”

— New Grove

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