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Views from the Choir Loft

“On this day O Beautiful Mother” … Blacklisted?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2013

ELOW, I quote from an article [pdf] by Fr. Francis Brunner. I will explain why a little later. First, a quick word about the background. The article was published in the 1953 Caecilia Magazine (Vol. 80, No. 4). During those years, the editorial staff for Caecilia included many “big names” like Theodore Marier, Fr. Elmer F. Pfeil, Fr. Francis Brunner, and others. These days, Brunner is remembered primarily for his English translation of Missarum Sollemnia (“The Mass of the Roman Rite: Its Origins and Development”) by Fr. Josef Jungmann, S.J. This is a two volume set, and each page has a whole bunch of footnotes. I am told that some joker actually published this book as a single volume . . . by leaving out all the footnotes! How incredible! How reprehensible! The primary value of Jungmann’s work these days is found in the footnotes.

Years ago, Jungmann was taken very seriously, in spite of some embarrassing episodes, such as the one I describe in this article [url]. However, when “the dust settled” on his scholarship, it was found that he fell into the same trap as so many other historians. Jungmann would find evidence of a liturgical practice in some ancient manuscript and assume that the practice was widespread and/or universal in the Catholic Church at that time. This is an unfortunate trap to fall into, because the responsible historian realizes that the mere fact that some practice is described in one manuscript or another does not necessarily mean the practice was universal. In fairness to Jungmann, his scholarship was incomplete, because when he got close to publication, he was chased out of his city by the Nazi armies. As you might imagine, Jungmann was not able to carry with him all the books he needed, which made it very difficult for him to complete his “masterpiece” in an adequate way. That being said, his work is still very valuable on account of the footnotes (as I’ve already mentioned), and Fr. Francis Brunner did the world a great service by making an English translation of Jungmann’s German text.

Anyway, getting back to Fr. Francis Brunner, here’s what he wrote in 1953:

Q. According to the “White List” the “St. Basil’s Hymnal” is on the list of disapproved hymnals; however, it is the only hymnbook which contains “On this day O Beautiful Mother”, which is much loved hereabouts. Would you tell me whether that piece is suitable?

A. The whole question of hymnody is so tangled and twisted, that it is generally difficult to give a straightforward answer regarding particular hymns. There is the problem of the verse — some of it atrocious as to form, some of it equally atrocious as to content. There is the question of melody — sometimes unsingable, sometimes worldly in tone, sometimes trite and inartistic. Catholics in America have been the heirs of a sentimental and subjective hymn tradition that, for some reason or other, has taken a deep and fast hold on the fancy of the average person. And no one has yet had the courage to do anything about the problem that is thus created. However, in the case of the piece mentioned in the question, this writer would venture an unqualified “unsuitable, unfit.” The verse is the sort that is unsubstantial and sugary. The musical setting is waltzy. Read the words and tell me what they convey to you. Then dance to the tune, and you’ll understand what I mean.

In several rather long articles regarding the Campion Missal [url], I have spoken about this problem. If you go visit the Campion website and scroll to the bottom, you will find several of those articles. Therefore, when I find a quote like this by a respected priest like Brunner:

Catholics in America have been the heirs of a sentimental and subjective hymn tradition that, for some reason or other, has taken a deep and fast hold on the fancy of the average person.

I rejoice, because these words by Fr. Brunner are in accord with the other authors I have quoted. After all, when somebody “tosses out” statements like that, it can be difficult to believe, unless many authors say the same thing.

We worked very hard to choose ONLY the finest hymns for the Campion Hymnal [url], and I could not be happier with the final results. Laudetur Jesus Christus in vitam aeternam!

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Father Francis Brunner Hymns Last Updated: April 25, 2024

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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

“The plan to definitively abolish the traditional Tridentine Mass … if it is true, seems to me to be an insult to the history of the Church and to Sacred Tradition, a diabolical project that seeks to break with the Church of Christ, the apostles, and the saints.”

— The Vatican’s chief liturgist (appointed by Pope Francis) from 2014-2021

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