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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

Lalemant Propers • Graduale Romanum in English

THE GRADUALE ROMANUM in English set to the music of Gregorian Psalm Tones for all Sundays and Solemnities. Includes 45 fully pointed Psalms for Singers.

* *  Click Here to purchase the book • 391 Pages

* *  Click Here to download the free PDF • 391 Pages

* *  Click Here for Preface & Table of Contents

The exceptional English translations used in this book have been approved for liturgical use in the United States. They are identical to the Solesmes Gregorian Missal (Imprimatur, 1989), the St. Isaac Jogues Illuminated Missal, the Simple English Propers (CMAA, 2011), the Laudate Communion Antiphons, and many more liturgical books.

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Summary of Contents
The Lalemant Propers are extremely simple settings (in English) of the Mass Propers which make it possible for any person to sing these sacred prayers, even people who have no musical training whatsoever. Many “bonus” features are included, such as the Good Friday Reproaches and forty-five complete Psalms pointed musically.

Press Release
Those who wish to follow the teachings of the Second Vatican Council by implementing the Mass Propers realize that absolute consistency is the only way forward. So what happens when your cantor gets sick or your choir doesn’t have time to learn one or more chants from the Simple English Propers? The answer is simple: pull out the Lalemant Propers. Each one is fully written out, and can be sung by absolutely anyone with ease.

Offertory Example
Let’s say you’re unable to prepare the full Offertory (PDF) for All Saints Day. You had planned to use the Simple English Propers, but your choir couldn’t learn it in time. No problem! Your choir can easily do use the Lalemant Propers and add Psalm Tones, like so:


Holy Saturday Example
The Lalemant Propers contain all kinds of handy settings for various feasts. For instance, the complete Holy Week is included. Here’s an example of singing the assigned “Canticle” for Holy Saturday. This beautiful text is almost always replaced by a Responsorial Psalm, but the Lalemant Propers makes it possible to sing the ancient Canticle, which is the more traditional option:


Textual Considerations
The Lalemant Propers are very simple, allowing the congregation to meditate upon the beautiful Scripture passages. The Lalemant Propers employ an Accentual Psalm Tone perfectly suited to the English language. Incidentally, many pseudo-scholars of Gregorian chant who have published articles since the Second Vatican Council are totally ignorant of the difference between Cursive and Accentual cadences in Gregorian chant. They assume all Psalm Tones are Accentual, which is why so many of their articles are filled with contradictions and confusion. That being said, there is certainly nothing wrong with Accentual Tones.

Using Both A Hymn & The Proper
The USCCB Committee on Divine Worship recently confirmed a practice already in place in many parishes wherein the “Entrance Hymn” is followed by the Mass Proper. The Lalemant Propers allow for this practice to be used without exception in every single parish in the United States. The Entrance Antiphon as set by the Lalemant Propers is incredibly short, less than 20 seconds if the verses are not used.   Therefore:

Is there any reason why the Propers cannot be sung in every English-speaking parish?

DOCUMENTS FROM VATICAN II encourage Catholics to “sing the Mass” rather than replacing the Mass with non-liturgical texts. This practice is an outgrowth of a maxim attributed to Pope St. Pius X: “Don’t pray at Mass, pray the Mass.” However, those attempting to introduce the Mass Propers at their parishes realize absolute consistency is necessary. Therefore, what happens when a cantor gets sick or there is not adequate time for the choir to learn a chant from the Graduale Romanum or Simple English Propers? Or what about circumstances where a choir is not present, such as a 7:00am Sunday Mass, or (perhaps) a special Holy Day? What about the summer months, when some choirs do not meet? If the Propers are simply omitted, this causes considerable confusion for the congregation, which was previously told that each Mass has special Propers which ought to be sung. We know very well that the Liturgy is complex and must not constantly switch back and forth with changing texts, practices, and musical choices. Constant changes are quite disruptive to Liturgical prayer.

In an effort to make sure that the Mass Propers can always be sung at every Mass no matter what, I have created this 391-page book containing very simple musical arrangements of the Graduale in English.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “7 September 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short 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 latest article is called: “Professor Bouyer’s Regret.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Cardinal Ranjith on “Active Participation”
    From 2005–2009, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith served as Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. He was considered ‘papabile’ during the last conclave. On 8 December 2008, he wrote this powerful statement concerning Gregorian Chant, participatio actuosa, celebration “ad orientem,” and other subjects. When it comes to the question of what “sacred” means, Monsignor Robert A. Skeris provides a marvelous answer.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 22nd in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 31 August 2025, which is the 22nd 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 alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —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

[on Latin] “No change in Mass: people have missals and can read. More vernacular can be useful in the Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Extreme Unction, Matrimony.”

— Cardinal Spellman (one of the Vatican II fathers)

Recent Posts

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  • New Bulletin Article • “7 September 2025”
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  • “Dynamic Equivalence” • Serious Problems with the Forthcoming Lectionary Translation
  • Cardinal Ranjith on “Active Participation”

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