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Views from the Choir Loft

With Regard to the New Document by Francis: “Evangelii Gaudium”

Jeff Ostrowski · November 27, 2013

992 Pope What I have been trying in vain to explain for years, Pope Francis has brilliantly stated on 24 November 2013:

HE HOMILY CANNOT BE a form of entertainment like those presented by the media, yet it does need to give life and meaning to the celebration. It is a distinctive genre, since it is preaching which is situated within the framework of a liturgical celebration; hence it should be brief and avoid taking on the semblance of a speech or a lecture. A preacher may be able to hold the attention of his listeners for a whole hour, but in this case his words become more important than the celebration of faith. If the homily goes on too long, it will affect two characteristic elements of the liturgical celebration: its balance and its rhythm. When preaching takes place within the context of the liturgy, it is part of the offering made to the Father and a mediation of the grace which Christ pours out during the celebration. This context demands that preaching should guide the assembly, and the preacher, to a life-changing communion with Christ in the Eucharist. This means that the words of the preacher must be measured, so that the Lord, more than his minister, will be the centre of attention.
— §138 Evangelii Gaudium   [source]

MY RECENT ARTICLE (here) spoke about these exact qualities of the Liturgy: balance and rhythm.

The only thing I wish F1 would have added is a condemnation of priests who give announcements for 15 minutes after each Mass. Sadly, I’ve known quite a few priests who think of themselves as Rush Limbaugh, Chris Matthews, Bill O’Reilly, or [ Insert Sermonizer of your choice here ]. These priests preach for 40 minutes every Sunday and make announcements for 15 minutes (jokes, birthdays, etc.) before giving the dismissal. However, if the choir did a Gloria lasting more than 2 minutes, they got yelled after Mass. The reason I know this for a fact: years ago I would take a stopwatch out when they started making announcements. Yet … they always used Eucharistic Prayer No. 2 (cf. GIRM §365).

For this precise reason, I composed a whole bunch of extremely short Mass settings, like this one.

P.S.

I think the worst sermon I ever experienced was a school Mass wherein the priest preached for over an hour (my students missed 1st period) and was literally bouncing all over the pews, screaming at the students. He even brought a “Boombox” to the pulpit so he could blast excerpts of rock music at the students.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Pope Francis 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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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

No concession should ever be made for the singing of the Exsultet, in whole or in part, in the vernacular.

— ‘Fr. Augustin Bea, S.J. in the years immediately before the Second Vatican Council’

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