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Views from the Choir Loft

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

Jeff Ostrowski · April 11, 2013

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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 Tagged With: 1958 Pope Pius XII, De musica sacra et sacra liturgia, His Holiness Pope Pius XII, Insane Pacelli Liturgical Practice, Low Mass Vernacular Hymns Last Updated: January 4, 2023

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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

    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

Why do we never sing “De Spiritu Sancto” (St. Athenogenes) in our churches? There are a dozen translations in English verse. Where could anyone find a better evening hymn than this, coming right down from the catacombs? Our hymnbooks know nothing of such a treasure as this, and give us pages of poor sentiment in doggerel lines by some tenth-rate modern versifier.

— Rev’d Adrian Fortescue (d. 1923)

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