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Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Liturgy And Our Television Age

Jeff Ostrowski · November 2, 2012

HE OTHER DAY, I conceived of a theory (conclusion?) I wish to share. It was regarding the capacity of the modern Catholic to understand Liturgy. In particular, I asked myself whether we have reached a point of our “television culture” where everything is so informal and unstructured that any notion of dignified, proper Liturgical actions at Mass are lost. Perhaps the kind reader will allow me to explain.

First of all, we never discuss politics on the CCW Blog, because talking politics is not our calling: it is not something we focus on. When it comes to politics, all we really feel called to share is that the life issues are paramount for us. In other words, we must always promote what Pope John Paul II called a “Culture of Life” and do what we can to stop the murder of the innocent. This is very important.

In spite of this, I hope the reader will permit me to mention a small bit about politics, because it is impossible for me to make my point otherwise. I happened to see a section from one of the National Conventions on YouTube, where Cardinal Timothy Dolan was giving an important closing prayer for the convention. Hopefully my memory of the event is correct (my memory is not always reliable). To put it mildly, I was appalled.

First of all, the Cardinal was introduced by the Speaker of the House, who seemed to me (without question) to be drunk. For myself, I don’t drink, so I’m not an expert in this area, but I really felt that he was severely intoxicated, which I find scandalous. Drinking to excess is a sin. Furthermore, the Cardinal was trying to start the prayer, but the lights, sound, and special effects wouldn’t let him. (* Note this point) He just stood there, patiently waiting, and looking really foolish as balloons were coming down from the ceiling. Finally, he got sick of waiting (I, frankly, would have simply walked off the stage) and started the prayer. Nobody payed attention. Eventually, some of them stopped what they were doing and paid attention. It was a mess.

Why I am relating these events? Because I feel it gives us a clue why our liturgies have reached the point they have. We no longer seem to appreciate any sense of propriety, dignity, respectful behavior, “ordered movement” if you will. (In the liturgy, things must be done in a reverent, orderly way.)

I wonder if the constant and relentless “television society” has contributed to this. Have you noticed that absolutely everything is shown on television these days? Even the most intimate and private things are shown. Bad and ugly behavior is shown. Childish actions are glorified. There are even numerous shows that are “reality shows” or take you “behind the scenes,” so you see your favorite actors doing things that make you lose respect for them. Whose idea was this? It seems to me that in the old days they had a better sense of what types of things ought to be shown . . . and how they should be presented. I have reached a point where I will not watch television in public anymore: I’m just too embarrassed for the human race. In private I will watch Brother Cadfael movies, early episodes of Andy Griffith, documentaries about famous musicians, or other well-produced things. (And, ever since we started having kids, I cannot even remember the last time I watched anything!).

When people become accustomed to seeing sick, perverse, childish, ridiculous presented on the television screen, perhaps we should not be surprised that our liturgies are not dignified and reverent. Furthermore, showing intimate and special things on television really does “cheapen” life.

I hope that Corpus Christi Watershed can always continue to “build up” the culture, and be a real force for what is true, good, holy, and beautiful.

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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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

    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

“Gerard Manley Hopkins once argued that most people drank more liquids than they really needed and bet that he could go without drinking for a week. He persisted until his tongue was black and he collapsed at drill.”

— A biography of Fr. Gerard M. Hopkins (d. 1889)

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