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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Alfredo Cardinal Ottaviani (1890-1979)

Jeff Ostrowski · April 13, 2013

ANY TIMES in the past I have talked about the following phenomenon: one notices a word or person and then within 24 hours one finds that same word or person mentioned in a completely random, surprising place. I’ve also said that I will not blog on this topic anymore, since readers are probably sick of hearing about it. That doesn’t mean I’m not tempted . . . this phenomenon happens so frequently. For instance, the self-same day I happened to research Cardinal Ottaviani, a friend of mine posted the picture in the upper right hand corner. Odd, is it not?

I feel the time is right for somebody to write a biography of Cardinal Ottaviani. Here are three (3) things I recently read about him (if I make any mistakes, I hope readers will correct me):

1. He was made a Cardinal before being consecrated a bishop, which is rarely done these days.

2. He had a triple doctorate, just like Fr. Adrian Fortescue.

3. He was blind later in life (similar to how Beethoven and Fauré were deaf later in life, but that’s another story!).

Over the course of my life, I’ve often read about Cardinal Ottaviani, but I am certainly no expert. I will mention just a few more things before I bring this blog to a close.

During the Second Vatican Council, before being famously cut off, he said:

“Are we seeking to stir up wonder, or perhaps scandal, among the Christian people, by introducing changes in so venerable a rite, that has been approved for so many centuries and is now so familiar? The rite of Holy Mass should not be treated as if it were a piece of cloth to be refashioned according to the whim of each generation.”

This sounds very much like Pope Benedict XVI, who said (speaking without a translator in an off-the-cuff interview [url]):

“We are today not another Church as 500 years ago. It is always the same the Church. What is one time holy for the Church is always holy for the Church and is not in another time an impossible thing.”

Benedict XVI also said:

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful.” — 7 July 2007 (Letter accompanying Summorum Pontificum)

Someone has written that as a young Peritus at the Council, Ratzinger acted as “one of the theological young Turks leading the charge against the status quo Ottaviani emodied . . . Ratzinger was among the behind-the-scenes plotters who ensured theat the council foiled Ottaviani on virtually every issue.” This may or may not be the case. Probably, young Ratzinger had some problems and issues with the Curia Romana. That’s ironic, because people “in the know” have told me Benedict had to resign as Pope because he no longer had the strength to fight against the out of control Curia Romana. In any event, perhaps we’ll know someday, if a true historian writes a biography of Ottaviani. Unfortunately, really good historians who actually know something are rather short in supply these days, and that’s a fact.

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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

When you consider that the greatest hymns ever written—the plainchant hymns—are pushing the age of eight hundred and that the noble chorale hymn tunes of Bach date from the early eighteenth century, then what is the significance of the word “old” applied to “Mother at Thy Feet Is Kneeling”? Most of the old St. Basil hymns date from the Victorian era, particularly the 1870s and 1880s.

— Paul Hume (1956)

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