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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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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Urban VIII appointed four Jesuits to reform the hymns, so that they should no longer offend Renaissance ears. These four, in that faithful obedience to the Holy See which is the glory of their Society, with a patient care that one cannot help admiring, set to work to destroy every hymn in the office.”

— Fr. Adrian Fortescue (1916)

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