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Views from the Choir Loft

Why Some Older Priests Hate Liturgy

Jeff Ostrowski · October 14, 2013

337 DOL Documents on the Liturgy (1963-1979) N MONDAY, a father tell his kids that jumping on the trampoline is forbidden. On Tuesday, he allows it under certain circumstances. On Wednesday, he allows it without any restrictions. On Thursday, he forbids it again. On Friday, he says they can jump on the trampoline if necessary. Leave aside for a moment whether jumping on the trampoline is good or bad. What kind of parenting skills are displayed here? What kind of men and women will those children become when they’re grown? I would suggest they’ll turn out pretty confused, with a disdain for “meaningless rules that change on a whim.”

Several seminarians have said to me:

“Don’t try to talk with older priests about Liturgy. They place it in the same category as Canon Law: boring, pointless, and impossible to comprehend.”

For years, I rejected their advice. How could any priest not like liturgy? However, consider what happened a few months ago. A visiting priest came and chose the Sprinkling Rite … without telling the music director! How awkward and uncomfortable it is when the priest walks up and down the aisle sprinkling the congregation accompanied by complete silence. This type of thing happens all the time, yet could easily be avoided with a 9-second conversation. What possible reason could there be for the priest not to let the musicians know in advance he’s going to choose the Sprinkling Rite? So, maybe the seminarians are right.

SHARING THE STORY about the trampoline (above) is my way of emphasizing that liturgical law has been changed far too often. A renowned Canonist, Fr. Georg May, has made this point better than I ever could:

      * *  Fr. Georg May • “Ecclesiastical Legislation on Liturgy and Church Music”

If you don’t believe me, feast your eyes on the size of the book in the image on the upper right! It’s 1,500 pages long, and that only covers legislation from 1963-1979. And they used to say the Tridentine Rite was complicated … sheesh!

One could go down a whole list of things that have been changed in a confusing way. Obviously, I’m not going to do that right now. But, take just one example. Read what Pope John XXIII wrote about Latin — “We are fully determined to restore Latin to its position of honor” etc. Then, take a look at what Pope Paul VI said about Latin:

      * *  Pope Paul VI • Address To General Audience About Latin (November 1969)

You will see that Pope Paul VI contradicts his immediate predecessor, yet believes abolishing Latin will lead to a “new and resplendent awakening” of Latin! This crazy logic reminds me of certain piccoluomini today who label mass apostasy, open heresy, and empty seminaries “renewal.” That, folks, is not true renewal.

(By the way, notice what Paul VI says about the required language for private celebrations in light of the observations made by Fr. Georg May.)

THE SACRED CONGREGATION OF RITES, to a great degree, saw the dangers and excesses of Bugnini’s Reform. Incidentally, Pope Paul VI saw them too late, but when he finally did, he dismissed Bugnini and banished him. Listen to what the Sacred Congregation said on 23 July 1964 (pointing out that the Second Vatican Council never said Latin should be gotten rid of):

These observations [by the Congregation] are dictated by a sincere desire to cooperate, in the best possible manner, for a full, happy, and fruitful application of the Constitution. We wish also to say that the Instruction is undoubtedly the result of much work; this is however a complex subject with many delicate points. Even one incautious word could have unpleasant consequences. Therefore, much caution must be taken, because of the matter in itself, and also to avoid a repetition of the case of bitter, unpleasant controversy, which arose over certain points in the Motu Proprio of January 25, 1964. […] Number 59 oversteps the spirit and letter of the Constitution, which in the mentioned article 63 foresees, in the Sacraments and Sacramentals, not a total change to the vernacular, but rather “amplior locus” given to the vernacular.

Finally, let me once more emphasize that the Pope does have the authority to make the changes he made. Similarly, the father does possess the authority to keep changing the trampoline rules. However, there is no divine guarantee assuring us the Pope will always act prudently regarding disciplinary laws.

As I’ve said before, the answer to all this is found in following the example of the saints. To learn more, read my series called “no salvation from decrees”   [1]   [2]   [3].

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Annibale Bugnini Reform Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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Jeff Ostrowski

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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Can You Spare 33 Seconds?

Here’s an audio excerpt (33 seconds) of a setting for Kyrie VIII which was recorded live last Sunday at our parish in Los Angeles. The setting (“Missa de Angelis”) is by composer Richard Rice, and you can download the free PDF if you click here and scroll to the bottom. I think Richard’s composition is marvelous. I missed a few notes on the organ, but I’ll get them right next time.

—Jeff Ostrowski
5 April 2021 • When Girls Sing

Covid restrictions here in California are still extremely severe—switching “two weeks to flatten the curve” into “two years to flatten the curve.” Since 2020, we’ve had police breaking into our church to check if everyone is wearing a mask…even when only 5-6 people are present! But we were allowed to have a small percentage of our singers back on Easter Sunday, and here is their live recording of the ancient Catholic hymn for Eastertide: Ad Cenam Agni Providi. The girls were so very excited to sing again—you can hear it in their voices!

—Jeff Ostrowski
29 March 2021 • FEEDBACK

“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families receiving Low Masses twice a month to several families (and many individuals) receiving Mass every Sunday, two Saturdays a month, and every Holy Day. Our priest has been incorporating more and more High Masses and various ceremonies into our lives, which has made my job as a huge newbie choir master very trying and complicated. CCWatershed has been an invaluable resource in helping me get on my feet and know what to do!!! Thank you more than I can express! May God bless you abundantly and assist you in your work and daily lives!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The Church has always kept, and wishes still to maintain everywhere, the language of her Liturgy; and, before the sad and violent changes of the 16th century, this eloquent and effective symbol of unity of faith and communion of the faithful was, as you know, cherished in England not less than elsewhere. But this has never been regarded by the Holy See as incompatible with the use of popular hymns in the language of each country.”

— Pope Leo XIII (1898)

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