• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

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

  • About
  • Symposium
  • Hymnal
  • Jogues Missal
  • Site Map
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

“The Liturgical Hall of Shame”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 29, 2013

“And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man’ s religion is vain.” —Epistle of St. James 1:26

COTT HAHN, DURING ONE of his presentations, invented the term “hall of shame” (a play on “hall of fame”). I already knew Fr. Godfrey Diekmann, OSB, belonged in the Liturgical Hall of Shame because of his incessant efforts to promote the “hootenanny Mass” following the Second Vatican Council.

Recently, however, I stumbled across these disgusting quotes by Fr. Godfrey Diekmann:

On occasion he would pound the desk and say, “Damn it! We are not like sons and daughters of God, we are sons and daughters of God.”

Many a time he would again pound the table and say, “Damn! It is not the resurrection, but the incarnation.” And here he often returned to the text of Athanasius, even in its crude exclusivist language: “God became man so man could become God.”

SUCH LANGUAGE is totally unbecoming of a Christian, especially when talking about Theology, and I don’t care what Fr. Diekmann’s intentions may have been. For a priest to speak in such a way is insufferable.

Some people like to point out that the Church wasn’t perfect before the Second Vatican Council. They exclaim: “There were major problems back then, too!” I couldn’t agree more, based on the scandalous example of Fr. Diekmann, who was ordained before the Second Vatican Council.

HEY! WAIT A MINUTE! I thought this was supposed to be a “positive” blog?!! Yes, it is. I’m sharing this anecdote to illustrate how revolting it is to hear Christians use distasteful language (especially when talking about holy subjects) so we can all try and do better in this area:

Lord Jesus Christ, please help us remember that people judge the Catholic faith by the way we, ourselves, act and speak. Amen.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe to the CCW Mailing List

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).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

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
7 June 2022 • FEEDBACK

From Chelan, Washington: “CCWatershed is a God-sent resource that I can’t function without! Such great work by the team to bring beauty back to our liturgy!” From Gainesville, Florida: “I am so appreciative of the work, of my brothers and sisters in music!” From Troutman, North Carolina: “Keep up the excellent work in service of the Liturgy!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“I would hope there is a place [at Mass] for the avant-garde in the same way I think there has to be a place—and we have to be careful with this—a place for Jazz and a place for Evangelical and all of that. […] On theological grounds, I do think we need interaction with the culture at the level of high art or at the level of more commercial pop culture.”

— Fr. Anthony Ruff (22 June 2016)

Recent Posts

  • “How Has Nobody Done This Before?” • Vol. 1
  • “Exceeded Every Expectation!” • Mr. O’Brien’s Review
  • “81 Photos” • Sacred Music Symposium 2022
  • Photograph • Dom André Mocquereau (d. 1930)
  • “I Found Myself Weeping, Almost In Disbelief…”

Copyright © 2022 Corpus Christi Watershed · Gabriel Lalemant on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.