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Views from the Choir Loft

Msgr. Richard Schuler and the Piccoluomini

Jeff Ostrowski · March 18, 2013

EADERS will most likely recall what I have spoken about so often in the past: viz. the phenomenon of “notice a rare word and see it within 24 hours.” I promised myself I would never post about this again, lest the readers become bored, but I couldn’t help myself. Here’s how it happened:

Yesterday, I was on the phone with an old friend who happened to bring up Pope Pius II. So, keep “Pope Pius II” in mind as you read. Earlier in the day, I had emailed that same friend, trying to recall the specific word Msgr. Schuler used for “little people,” but had not received an answer at that point.

It will be remembered that following the Second Vatican Council a great number of unqualified people arose who (sadly) made major decisions for the Church and the Liturgy which holy men and women are still trying to rectify (even after all these years!). These were labeled by Schuler as “little people.” But I couldn’t remember the term because I am the world’s worst speller and have the world’s worst memory.

Sure enough, a few hours after the phone call, I happened to be searching the internet and I came upon the biography of Pope Pius II. What was his name before becoming pope? It was “Piccolomini.” That is the exact word Msgr. Schuler used for “little people” in his articles, although occasionally he used an alternate spelling: “piccoluomini.” If you don’t believe my claim that Pius II’s name was Piccolomini, you can look at the second paragraph here [url]. Now, what are the odds of that?

To read my other articles on this phenomenon, Google search: “Learn a new word, see it within 24 hours.”

P.S.

My wife, Cynthia, and I call our children “little people.” I have decided I don’t want our kids to ever grow up. I want to keep them as “little people.” I want to keep them as “piccoluomini.” Please email me if you have found a way we can keep our children small, just like the picture you see in the upper right hand corner.

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

    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

“It introduces us to a still and serious world, deserted and rigid, without colour, without light, without motion; it does not gladden, does not distract; yet we cannot break away from it.”

— ‘Schweitzer on the THEME from Bach’s “Art of Fugue”’

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