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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

Installment #3 • “Serious Problems with the Lectionary Translation”

Guest Author · August 4, 2025

OME ARE REFERRING to the (supposedly) forthcoming LECTIONARY as the “Wuerl Lectionary.” We can only assume this epithet was adopted because in 2012, Donald Cardinal Wuerl was the one who announced this (allegedly) forthcoming LECTIONARY. Specifically, Cardinal Wuerl said: “The biblical scholars responsible for the revision will be sensitive to pastoral, doctrinal, and liturgical considerations as they produce a draft.” This announcement by Cardinal Wuerl contradicted the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship, which on 11 November 2011 declared: “There is no plan to do a major revision of the Lectionary at this time.”

Mystery People • Those who have been following our series (which we’ve called: “Serious Problems with the Lectionary Translation”) will have undoubtably detected an idée fixe. We keep asking: “Who is responsible for this?” For instance, Cardinal Wuerl mentioned “biblical scholars responsible for the revision”—what are their names? Who selected them, using what criteria?

Horrible Track Record • In previous articles we mentioned a reprehensible effort that took place during the 1990s. Male words were changed to ‘inclusive’ words. For instance, in Psalm 77, we find : patres nostri narravérunt nobis; non sunt occultáta a fíliis eórum. In 1991, they changed patres (“fathers”) to “ancestors” and they changed fíliis (“sons”) to “children.” Furthermore, references to God as “he” or “him” were bowdlerized. Because of such items, Rome forced several USA bishops to withdraw their IMPRIMATUR. In an April 1996 letter, Cardinal Ratzinger referred to “an unacceptable manipulation of the texts of sacred scripture” in the proposed Psalter.

(1 of 2) Nasty Sensibilities • We don’t claim that scripture translations can never be improved. For instance, in Psalm 77, we find this sentence: Apériam in parábolis os meum; loquar propositiónes ab inítio. In 1949, Monsignor Knox translated that as: “I speak to you with mysteries for my theme, read the riddles of long ago.” He avoided “I will open my mouth” to eliminate a HEBRAISM. As Knox put it:

‘Mr. Churchill then opened his mouth
and spoke’— is that English? No, it is
Hebrew idiom clothed in English words.

The Douay-Challoner version has: “I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter propositions from the beginning.” The word propositiónes becomes “propositions” … is that competent translation? To an educated Englishman, treating a cognate with such ‘ruthless exactness’ is detestable.

(2 of 2) Nasty Sensibilities • But those who run the various shell corporations—which falsely claim copyright over the mandated texts—exhibit quite a ‘nasty sensibility’ when it comes to language. For instance, Psalm 77 has: Panem angelórum manducávit homo. Some Hebrew texts, for the word angelórum, do not have “of angels.” Instead, they have “of the mighty.” Monsignor Knox suggests “of angels” was probably meant—but it isn’t for us to advocate one version or the other. Either version is defensible. But look what the shell corporations came up with in 1991:

“All ate a meal fit for heroes.”

Would any Catholic defend such a translation of panem angelórum manducávit homo? Any reference to the word homo (“man”) seems to have caused those in charge of running the shell corporations to become hysterical. Are these the same people who will be revising the WUERL LECTIONARY?

Psalm 77 • Several times (above) we’ve used examples from Psalm 77. We will conclude today’s article with one more. We have mentioned how various shell corporations have been illegally selling the mandated texts for the Mass. What they claim are “translations under copyright” are no such thing. In a previous article, we mentioned that the psalm ‘translations’ were mainly stolen from Father Cuthbert Lattey. Consider the following example:

Psalm 77 (Vulgata)
Apériam in parábolis os meum;
loquar propositiónes ab inítio.

Now look at the so-called “Abbey Psalms and Canticles” (which is actually identical to the Twice-Revised Grail Psalter):

Psalm 77 (Abbey Psalms)
I will open my mouth in a parable
and utter hidden lessons of the past.

We see that they have basically ‘borrowed’ or ‘stolen’—without giving credit—the 1939 version by Father Cuthbert Lattey:

Psalm 77 (Father Lattey)
I will open my mouth in exposition:
I will pour forth the hidden lessons of the past.

They eliminated “pour forth,” changing it to “I will utter”—which they took from the Douay-Challoner translation.

Sometimes, all they did was make Father Lattey’s translation more colloquial. For instance:

Psalm 77 (Abbey Psalms)
He remembered they were only flesh,
a breath that passes, never to return.

Psalm 77 (Father Lattey)
He remembered that they were but flesh,
A breath that passeth and returneth not.

(2 of 2) Conclusions • There’s an old saying: “Personnel is policy.” With regard to the forthcoming WUERL LECTIONARY, who is in charge of this project? What specific criteria are they using to change the LECTIONARY? More importantly, the ‘profits’ they have been collecting by selling the sacred texts were procured fraudulently. What is their specific plan to return all the money?

To be continued.

ROBERT O’NEILL
Former associate of Monsignor
Francis “Frank” P. Schmitt
at Boys Town in Nebraska

JAMES ARNOLD
Formerly associated w/ King’s College, Cambridge
A convert to the Catholic Church, and
distant relative of J. H. Arnold

MARIA B.
Currently serves as a musician in the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte.
Those aware of the situation in
her diocese won’t be surprised she
chose to withhold her last name.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Donald Cardinal Wuerl, New Lectionary Edition USA, Novus Ordo Lectionary, Serious Problems with the Lectionary Translation Last Updated: August 4, 2025

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”
    My pastor asked me to write brief 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 most recent article speaks about the recent announcement by Pope Leo XIV, which does have an impact on church musicians. Scheduled for publication on 2025 08 10th, it’s called: “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Chants” • 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
    All the chants for 3 August 2025—which is the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)—have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down” menu. The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (from the book of Wisdom) is stunning. That feast website has been called “the best kept secret of Church music.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Corn” From Heaven?
    The Westminster Version of the Sacred Scriptures was produced by Roman Catholics in England and bears a 15 March 1958 IMPRIMATUR from the Archbishop of Westminster. Its IMPRIMI POTEST was given by the director of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Sometimes words chosen by translators sound funny to American ears. For instance, one of our Responsorial Psalms has as its refrain: “The Lord gave them bread from heaven.” But the British version has “The Lord gave them corn from heaven.” Feel free to examine this with your own eyes. (It comes from Psalm 77.)
    —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

Never before have men had so many time-saving devices. Yet, never before have they had so little free time. When the world unnecessarily accelerates, the Church must slow down.

— Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Recent Posts

  • Installment #3 • “Serious Problems with the Lectionary Translation”
  • “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”
  • “Chants” • 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
  • “Corn” From Heaven?
  • Gospel Acclamation Verses … Nowhere Assigned?

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