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Views from the Choir Loft

Gregorian Propers at a Nuptial Mass in “Southie”?

Richard J. Clark · January 17, 2014

OUTH BOSTON, KNOWN around here as “Southie” is a section of Boston most familiar to many around the country from the films “Good Will Hunting” and “The Departed.” It is also infamous for the convicted murderer and gangster, James “Whitey” Bulger, who inspired the latter of the two films. Yes. Glorious Gregorian Propers, polyphony, and hymnody at a Nuptial Mass in “Southie.”

South Boston (nowhere near the “South End” where the Cathedral of the Holy Cross is located…Boston geography is complicated…) is a colorful neighborhood, but forget what you know from TV and film. Historically a neighborhood of Irish immigrants, it is a deeply proud and Catholic neighborhood and a world unto itself. Once you go over the bridge into “Southie,” be certain you have entered a different realm.

This unique realm is where the wedding of Nori Elisabeth Pifer and Stephen David Fahrig enters, celebrated at the beautiful and historic Gate of Heaven Church, established in 1863. (Church musicians’ weddings are often extraordinary and unusual. We all might have our own wonderful stories. Please share them in the combox!)

O WHEN A GREAT PROPONENT OF GREGORIAN CHANT marries a Professor of Sacred Scripture at both St. John Seminary and Blessed John XXIII National Seminary, one is treated to a liturgical delight of joy, reverence, and catechesis. Not only was the Word of God sung in the propers, but the level of congregational singing was astounding, evident in the singing of the dialogues, the responsorial psalm and the glorious hymns.

Perhaps a model wedding in the Ordinary Form, it was also a model of catechesis. In the beginning of the wedding program, the couple offered no less than four pages of beautiful and fully accessible commentary on the Nuptial Mass. You can download the entire program (sans copyrighted material) here. Some excerpts:

“As our wedding ceremony begins, some of you might be asking yourselves, “Where are the bridesmaids? Where are the groomsmen? Why are the bride and groom walking down the aisle together instead of meeting at the altar?” Others might be wondering, “What’s with all the rituals? Incense, candles, Latin chant—I’ve never seen any of this at a wedding, and I’ve been to plenty of weddings!

“These are all excellent questions. While it is entirely permissible for Catholic couples to incorporate such traditions as bridesmaids and flower girls into their ceremony, these customs are actually rooted in royal and secular traditions that have little to do with the Catholic nuptial Mass. In fact, the rubrics (ritual instructions) of the present-day Catholic Rite of Marriage call for the nuptial Mass to begin with a procession of altar servers and clergy followed by the bride and groom, who walk down the aisle together…”

Take note that the procession included the hymn “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!” followed by the Introit, Deus Israel during the incensing of the altar. Listen to the recording and you can almost smell the incense!

The couple writes further:

“Because we believe that Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist, it is deeply fitting that our wedding vows should be celebrated within the context of the Mass…How appropriate it is then, that we begin our married life together by being united with one another and with our Lord in the sacrament of the Eucharist.”

Notable too was the large number of clergy and seminarians present:

”The elaborate ritual gestures – precessions, incense, involvement of many deacons and priests – is not for the sake of pomp or show, but to give glory to God. In a particular way, we hope to glorify God through the beauty of the sacred music that we have selected for our nuptial Mass….”

HE CHANT AND HYMNS were exquisitely directed by composer, tenor, and founder of the Blackstone Valley Catholic Youth Choir, Michael Olbash. The greatly acclaimed virtuoso organist Mark Husey and rising star Ryan Lynch played the hymns with soaring dignity and transcendence. A beautiful Responsorial Psalm by Brian Michael Page was cantored by Sarah Rogevich. The incomparable Emily Lau cantored the the Gregorian Alleluia. Such remarkable voices graced the choir: Amanda White, Camilia Paris, Clare MacNamara, Erin Seaver Blazek, Patricia Almond, Sarah Mitchell, Matthew Stansfield, and longtime CMAA friend, Richard Chonak.

While I had the privilege of conducting two works by Victoria, these singers were so wonderful, I could have waved my arms like a chicken (I most assuredly did at times) and they still would have sounded beautiful.

UESTS AT A WEDDING USUALLY bring gifts for the bride and groom. But I felt as though the couple had given us a gift with such a profoundly prayerful experience. This experience uplifts and fortifies the soul, strength that we can take with us for a long time to come. Mark Husey put it best when he said of his experience, “I was so blessed to be a part of this. Such a rich harvest of grace was gleaned from this extraordinarily spirited celebration…we couldn’t help but be moved to greater love and joy.”

Congratulations, Nori and Stephen! Thank you for the gift!

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: congregational singing, Nuptial Mass, Propers, Singing the Mass Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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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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President’s Corner

    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

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

“Every experienced choirmaster’s work is founded on the following three axioms: (1) Few boys have a really good natural voice; (2) No boy is able to control his voice and produce good tone without training; (3) Most boys have a good ear, and considerable imitative capacity. It is on the last of these axioms that the choirmaster must begin his work.”

— Sir Richard Runciman Terry (1912)

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