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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

A Personal Remembrance . . .

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 22, 2013

We have obtained permission to share the following reflection by Fr. Christopher Phillips, originally posted on 13 February 2013. Fr. Phillips knew Cardinal Ratzinger personally.

IKE SO MANY OTHERS, I have my personal memory of Pope Benedict, which took place some years ago, when he was the Cardinal Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In November of 1983 the small Commission of which I was a member had just finished our work on The Book of Divine Worship. As is the case with the Ordinariates, the Pastoral Provision came under the authority of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, working in conjunction with the Congregation for Divine Worship. Cardinal Ratzinger had greeted us as we began our deliberations, but we saw no more of him during the time of our meetings. When we finished, however, we were told that the Cardinal Prefect would like to invite us to a dinner to celebrate our accomplishment.

We were given the name of a very nice restaurant on the Via della Conciliazione, only a block or two from where we had been meeting. We were told to be there at such-and-such a time, and we would be taken to a private dining room upstairs.

As I said, the Commission was comprised of a small group (perhaps a dozen or so), and when we entered the room we were individually greeted by Cardinal Ratzinger. I had the good fortune to have been befriended by then-Archbishop (later Cardinal) Virgilio Noe, who was the chairman of our Commission. He had always seen that I was given time to speak at our meetings, and he often showed little kindnesses during our deliberations. For this final dinner, he made sure I was seated between him and the Cardinal Prefect.

Could I have imagined at that time that I was sitting and conversing with the future Pope? Not in a million years! It was dramatic enough to have had that time with him as a Cardinal. A few years ago I was able briefly to meet him again at one of the General Audiences, and I couldn’t help but remember the time we had shared so many years before.

And now, the man with whom I was privileged to share dinner and some conversation is the Pope who is making history in such an unexpected way. From that evening onward, I felt a connection with him, and I cannot describe how happy I was when he was elected to be the Successor of St. Peter. And because of that experience with him — fleeting though it was — I made the mistake of feeling [his resignation] personally. I know now why at first it upset me so. But over these past few days I have come not only to accept it, but to see it as part of God’s plan for the Church, and for Benedict himself.

Our beloved Holy Father — soon to be Joseph Ratzinger again — is not retreating, nor is he easing into retirement. He is going deeper into the Heart of God, where he will pray and suffer and intercede. It is almost as when the high priest of the Temple went into the Holy of Holies to plead for God’s mercy upon His people. However, unlike the high priest of old who would return, Benedict will remain veiled from us. But we will know he is there, praying for us and suffering for us and interceding for us, until his life on this earth is over.

This whole thing is a gift from God to us, even though it did not seem so at first. And the next Pope, already known by God, will be a gift as well. Such extraordinary happenings foretell extraordinary challenges ahead for the Church. But God is not letting us face the battle empty-handed and leaderless. We will have a new Pope. And we will have the man whom we have known as Benedict quietly and steadily protecting us with his prayers.

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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Quick Thoughts

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

To end an impropriety, noticed particularly at orchestral Vespers, when two or three Psalms are sung with full orchestra, and then the other Psalms and the Hymn are rapidly hurried through with organ accompaniment only […] we order that at Mass all portions of the text, including “Agnus Dei,” be sung with orchestral accompaniment. […] Moreover, the musicians are not allowed to put the instruments away and leave their places before the conclusion of the sacred function.

— Cardinal Patrizi (18 November 1856)

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