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Views from the Choir Loft

A German Franciscan Soldier who Sang

Veronica Brandt · March 16, 2019

Un Franciscain chez les SS HE STORY of the life of Fr Gereon Goldmann OFM is amazing on many levels. A seminarian who was drafted into the Nazi army, ascended ranks, all while keeping and defending the Faith, is bound to have some capitivating experiences to share.

Amongst all the horror of war, the amazing close escapes, the heart wrenching tragedies, there are pieces of consolation. One small glimpse into this priest’s background comes out in a few adventures involving sacred music. Here are two such episodes.

Being discovered as Christians as new recruits:

The young lieutenant, younger even than I, turned white and screamed at me and the other seminarians who had been pointed out to him: “Up a tree—quick, march!” Promptly, tongues in cheek, we obeyed the command and climbed the nearest tree. We found comfortable perches on handy cross-branches and peered down. Somehow, our expressions did not seem to the lieutenant to be suitable; we were not contrite, but triumphant, and so once again he gave a command: “Sing a hymn!”

With all the dignity at our command, considering our perch, we loudly sang the Te Deum— in Latin, of course. The poor lieutenant understood only his army German and roared, “What was that? I ordered you to sing a church song!”

“But, lieutenant,” I replied loudly, so that the others who were standing around showing various emotions at this spectacle, could hear, “that was a church song. We are sorry that you do not understand it. But of course the language of the church is Latin or Greek or Hebrew. Those who do not understand these languages cannot, unfortunately, understand the songs of the church.”

And later, when stationed in France:

On July 14 in Vaux sur Blaise, the French celebrated their national holiday—which we did not know at the time. We went to Mass as usual, and three or four choirgirls began to whine away at singing the High Mass. We could not long endure that, and some six Franciscan seminarians opened up and sang a true choral Mass. The French were speechless.—and so were we next morning. The entire staff was in an uproar. Word quickly got around that we sang, in SS uniform, in a French church on Bastille Day…

After the war, Fr Goldmann did wonderful work in Japan. Later in life he founded St Gregory House in Tokyo, an institute for teaching Sacred Music in 1979, where he taught for 15 years.

The Shadow of His Wings is available from Ignatius Press as Paperback, eBook, Audio Book and Graphic Novel. The Graphic Novel doesn’t mention these musical escapades, but my kids found it much more approachable.

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 Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(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

I feel the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a direct war, a direct killing—direct murder by the mother herself. And we read in the Scripture, for God says very clearly: “Even if a mother could forget her child, I will not forget you: I have carved you in the palm of my hand.”

— Mother Theresa (11 Dec 1979)

Recent Posts

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  • “My First Year with the Latin Mass” • A Music Director’s Perspective
  • Boston Auxiliary Bishop: “In offering the Traditional Mass for the first time, after removing the vestments, I knelt in the back pew and wept.”

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