Views from the Choir Loft

Father Friel • Article Archive

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anselm Church in Northeast Philly before earning a doctorate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America. He presently serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.—(Read full biography).

Fr. David Friel · December 31, 2017

USCCB Assesses Impact of “Magnum Principium”

Seven Observations on Liturgical Translation and the Recent Motu Proprio

Fr. David Friel · December 24, 2017

Lux Fulgebit: Mass at Dawn of Christmas Day

New recording by the Schola Cantorum of St. Mary’s Church in Norwalk, CT

Fr. David Friel · December 17, 2017

Gray Book for Baptism of Children Approved

How will the “confirmatio” and “regonitio” processes unfold in light of “Magnum principium”?

Fr. David Friel · December 10, 2017

Knowledge of the Infant Lord

Sheer Grace

Fr. David Friel · November 5, 2017

Prayers of Preparation and Farewell

Two prayers for improving one’s liturgical disposition

Fr. David Friel · October 29, 2017

All Saints and the Extraordinary Form of the Mass

The Roman Rite gives strong attention to the presence of the saints.

Fr. David Friel · October 22, 2017

The Spirit of All Souls’ Day

A thought from Dietrich von Hildebrand

Fr. David Friel · October 15, 2017

6th-Century Icon: God of Mercy and Justice

A thoughtful reading of an icon at the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai, Egypt

Fr. David Friel · October 8, 2017

In the Beauty of Holiness: Music and the Transcendent

New Lecture Series at the International Institute for Culture

Fr. David Friel · October 1, 2017

Printable Card • “Prayers at the Foot of the Altar”

A handy resource for priests and servers

Fr. David Friel · September 24, 2017

Album: Sacred Treasures of England

Reflections on a recently released album of English choral music

Fr. David Friel · September 17, 2017

Two Transatlantic Choir Tours

The USA will soon receive the Sistine Chapel Choir and the Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory School on tour.

Fr. David Friel · September 14, 2017

Origins of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

A summary of the complex history of a unique sanctoral feast

Fr. David Friel · September 10, 2017

Art of the Beautiful Lecture Series 2017-2018

Six upcoming presentations in New York City

Fr. David Friel · September 6, 2017

Sacred Music Workshop • Allentown, NJ

The workshop presenter will be Peter Carter, a graduate of Westminster Choir College in organ performance.

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Luis Martínez Must Go!

Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]

—Jeff Ostrowski

Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!

A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!

—Jeff Ostrowski

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