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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

1970s Theology Has Affected The Celebration Of Mass

Jeff Ostrowski · March 11, 2014

743 Leisure Suit Composer David Haas wrote the following in 2002:

“Acclamations … help empower and form the assembly as co-celebrants in the liturgy.”

Father Edward Foley wrote in 1998:

“The associate formerly said Mass, but now this redefined parochial vicar and member of the Parish Ministry Staff presides at the eucharist at which the assembly is the principal celebrant.”

Composer Marty Haugen wrote in 1984:

“With the advent of post-Vatican II liturgies, the assembly was given a new mandate and opportunity — to rediscover and express its integral importance as the primary minister of the Sunday eucharistic experience.”

Father Eugene Walsh, a seminary professor in Baltimore and principal author of The Place of Music in Eucharistic Celebrations, wrote in the 1970s:

“The entire parish assembly, therefore, is celebrant of the eucharist. The presider is simply the leader of the assembly. As leader, his task is to engage the assembly in the eucharistic prayer.”

Whence cometh such theological notions?

A good place to search might be this stupefying tome of PDF documents:

      * *  NPM Magazine Archive — (1970s and more)

It would take several decades to quote and explain those articles, so I won’t try. However, here’s a fairly good “sample” of what’s there:

      * *  “First, the Assembly Gathers” — Article by Fr. Eugene Walsh (1982)

Reading that article, you’ll find quotes like:

The most important thing that people can do at a parish Sunday Mass is to take the trouble to gather with each other.   [ … ]   The parish assembly is the first and primary minister of the parish Sunday Mass.   [ … ]   The full, life-giving sacramental sign of eucharist is the parish assembly.

Dull and feeble and half-hearted sacraments are not life-giving. In fact there comes a point where they begin to be death-dealing.

The first task of all specially designated ministers [i.e. priests and deacons] is to serve the assembly. Their conscious and deliberate target is to help the assembly bring itself to life …

Feel free to let me know your reactions to that article by Fr. Eugene Walsh. I found it shocking … and quickly phoned my spiritual advisor for counseling!   (Not kidding.)


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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Fr Eugene Walsh Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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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

    “The Worm That Dieth Not”
    My pastor asked me to write a column for our parish bulletin with reflections on the sacred liturgy and church music. In my most recent article, I discuss “The Worm That Dieth Not.” At this website, you can access it conveniently; simply scroll down to the one dated 31 August 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

Random Quote

“Whether celebrated with priest and people facing each other or with priest and people together facing the same direction, every Eucharist is Christ coming to meet us, gracing us with a share in his own divine life.”

— Most Rev’d Arthur J. Serratelli (1 December 2016)

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