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Views from the Choir Loft

Instruction on Sacred Music (“De Musica Sacra”) • Issued by Pope Pius XII in 1958

Jeff Ostrowski · April 11, 2013

ERE’S A QUESTION I would have gotten wrong until a few days ago: “Is it allowed for the entire congregation to recite the Mass Propers along with the priest at Low Mass?” My answer would have been, “Such a practice is absolutely forbidden in the 1962 Missale Romanum. Nor is it allowed for the congregation to join in praying the Pater Noster, except on Good Friday.”

However, as I’ve already said, I was dead wrong. The 1958 Instruction by Pope Pius XII allows the entire congregation to recite the Introit, Gradual, Offertory, Communion, and Pater Noster along with the priest during Low Mass. Never in my life have I seen this done, but here’s the proof:

Translation No. 1:

(31) d. The fourth and final degree is that in which the faithful also recite with the celebrant parts of the Proper of the Mass: the Introit, Gradual, Offertory, and Communion. This last degree can be practiced with fitting dignity only by select and well trained groups.

(32) In read Masses, the entire Pater Noster, an appropriate and ancient prayer in preparation for Communion, may be recited by the faithful, but only in Latin and with all joining in the Amen. Its recitation in the vernacular is forbidden.

Translation No. 2

31. d) Fourthly, the congregation may also recite with the priest parts of the Proper of the Mass: Introit, Gradual, Offertory, Communion. Only more advanced groups who have been well trained will be able to participate with becoming dignity in this manner.

32. Since the Pater Noster is a fitting, and ancient prayer of preparation for Communion, the entire congregation may recite this prayer in unison with the priest in low Masses; the Amen at the end is to be said by all. This is to be done only in Latin, never in the vernacular.

You can download the entire “1958 Instruction” in two translations:

      * *  1st Translation, De musica sacra et sacra liturgia (1958) [pdf]

      * *  2nd Translation, De musica sacra et sacra liturgia (1958) [pdf]

Let me repeat, I have never seen this practice followed. Nor have I ever seen a commentator used during Mass, but I believe Pope Pius XII also allowed that practice.

Just to give a little background, Pope Pius XII died on 9 October 1958, and Pope John XXIII announced his plans to convoke the Second Vatican Council on 25 January 1959.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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Jeff Ostrowski

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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

6 January 2021 • Anglicans on Plainsong

A book published by Anglicans in 1965 has this to say about Abbat Pothier’s Editio Vaticana, the musical edition reproduced by books such as the LIBER USUALIS (Solesmes Abbey): “No performing edition of the music of the Eucharistic Psalmody can afford to ignore the evidence of the current official edition of the Latin Graduale, which is no mere reproduction of a local or partial tradition, but a CENTO resulting from an extended study and comparison of a host of manuscripts gathered from many places. Thus the musical text of the Graduale possesses a measure of authority which cannot lightly be disregarded.” They are absolutely correct.

—Jeff Ostrowski
2 January 2021 • Temptation

When I see idiotic statements made on the internet, I go nuts. When I see heretics promoted by people who should know better, I get angry. Learning to ignore such items is difficult—very difficult. I try to remember the words of Fr. Valentine Young: “Do what God places in front of you each day.” When I am honest, I don’t believe God wants me to dwell on errors and idiocy; there’s nothing I can do about that. During 2021, I will strive to do a better job following the advice of Fr. Valentine.

—Jeff Ostrowski
31 December 2020 • “COMITES CHRISTI”

The feasts for Saint Stephen Proto-Martyr (26 December), Saint John the Evangelist The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved (27 December), and the Feast of the Holy Innocents (28 December) seem untouched by any liturgical reforms. These are very powerful feasts—I believe they once possessed octaves—and I believe they could sometimes “overpower” a Sunday feast. The rules for octaves in the olden days are extremely complex. These feasts are sometimes referred to as a single entity as: Comites Christi (“Companions of Christ”). This is just a guess, but there seems to be a triple significance: STEPHEN martyred after Christ lived, JOHN was a martyr who knew Christ personally, and the HOLY INNOCENTS were martyred before Christ’s birth.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

It should be borne in mind that there is no preference expressed in the liturgical legislation for either “versus populum” or “ad orientem.” Since both positions enjoy the favor of law, the legislation may not be invoked to say that one position or the other accords more closely with the mind of the Church.

— ‘Congregation for Divine Worship (Vatican City), 10 April 2000’

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