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Views from the Choir Loft

The Liturgical Style of Pope Francis & John 12:5

Jeff Ostrowski · December 26, 2013

915 Pad VER SINCE the election of our Holy Father, some have striven to convince us of something Pope Francis never said, viz. concern for the poor is incompatible with traditional practices of Catholic liturgy. The primary reason Pope Francis will never make this claim is John 12:5 … and Pope Francis is no Judas Iscariot!

These unqualified sensationalists fail to realize something rather basic. Francis has a slightly different liturgical “style,” not because he rejects John 12:5, but due to his liturgical formation. Similarly, Pope Benedict’s liturgical formation caused him to like orchestral Masses (which, as I’ve said before, are somewhat problematic). Those who misunderstand these matters are often the same people who hope Francis will alter Church teaching on certain moral issues. Perhaps these folks believe Pope Francis will also (somehow) delete or change John 12:5 when he makes those other changes.

Why are some pushing this false narrative? It’s been suggested that these unqualified sensationalists are simply ignorant of John 12:5, or have forgotten about it. I suppose that’s possible. Others have suggested that such people fully understand what true Catholic liturgy is all about, realize how pleasing it is to Almighty God, and (in a diabolical way) have decided to go to war against it. I certainly hope that’s not the case.

For myself, I suspect that such people just don’t believe in the Real Presence. After all, following Church teachings regarding the Liturgy must seem rather silly to those who don’t believe the Holy Eucharist to be the Body, Blood, Soul, & Divinity of Jesus Christ!


“The chalices, corporals, appointments of the altar, and everything that pertains to the sacrifice must be of precious material. And if the most holy Body of the Lord is very poorly reserved in any place, it should be placed in a precious location under lock and kept according to the mandate of the Church and carried about with great reverence and administered to others with discretion…”

— St. Francis of Assisi


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

It is clear the Church is facing a grave crisis. Under the name of “the new Church” and “the post-conciliar Church,” a different Church from that of Jesus Christ is now trying to establish itself: an anthropocentric society threatened with imminent apostasy which is allowing itself to be swept along in a movement of general abdication under the pretext of renewal, ecumenicism, or adaptation.

— Cardinal Henri de Lubac (29 August 1967)

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