• 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)

  • Our Team
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Saint Antoine Daniel KYRIALE
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Positive Liturgical Fruits Of Vatican II: First Part

Jeff Ostrowski · January 20, 2014

ATHOLICS ARE THRICE REMOVED from Vatican II. Firstly, the reform of the Liturgy was not done according to the Council’s prescriptions. Secondly, reprehensible techniques were used to undermine ecclesiastical decrees. 1 Thirdly, many clerics simply ignored the Council’s documents. But I shall not speak of such things today, because I promised to mention some good fruits of the conciliar liturgical reforms.

860 Tridentine Mass THE COUNCIL ENCOURAGED THE LAITY to closely follow the liturgical ceremonies, and I believe this goal to be noble and fully appropriate. Because of notorious distortions 2 by certain parties, it’s easy to overlook the importance of this encouragement, and the same thing could be said about the Council’s promotion of congregational singing.

Perhaps a story will help convey what I’m getting at. Years ago, my wife and I attended Mass in Europe and the priest used the 1962 Missal. As shown by this illustration, the Altar was placed at the front. The nave was further separated by a massive space that (perhaps?) was once used for choir stalls. However, the sparse congregation was mainly situated at the very back of the Church. Believe it or not, about 25% were standing behind the nave, underneath the choir loft.

In essence, the ceremonies were separated from the people by the length of a football field — at least it felt that way! While I’m definitely NOT a person who advocates lay people flippantly entering the Sanctuary, in this instance, I wondered why the people weren’t invited to sit where the old choir stalls used to be. I suppose even suggesting this makes me sound like a “progressive.” On the other hand, I agree that parents with small children should be free to go sit in the back of Church — but that’s a whole different subject!

Consider another example. Before the Council, the celebrant, deacon, and subdeacon would often pray their breviary as the choir was singing the Gloria and Creed. Or, take another example: a few weeks ago, I attended a celebration of the Extraordinary Form and not a single member of the large congregation followed a Missal or booklet. This was doubly frustrating to me, since we have produced an affordable congregational book for the Extraordinary Form.

VATICAN II REMINDED US THAT SUCH SITUATIONS are not the ideal, and it would be difficult to contest this. The odd thing is, in some respects, Vatican II didn’t go as far as Pius XII had in 1958 regarding active participation of the faithful. Many people still don’t realize that, in addition to the “dialogue Mass,” Pius XII allowed the congregation to recite the Propers at Mass:

      * *  1958 Document — Congregation allowed to recite Propers along with the priest

In fact, Pope Pius XII was very ill when this bizarre permission was promulgated. I say “bizarre” because the Propers have never belonged to the congregation. (To understand why, see the series by László Dobszay.) The Second Vatican Council backpedaled from this position, as Msgr. Schmitt explained in 1964:

ONCERNING “PEOPLE’S PARTS”: Following the language of American commentators of the popular liturgical school, the bishops had lumped all of the ordinary and proper parts of the Mass together under the “quod pertinet ad populum“ banner. This, of, course, is not the language of the Constitution, which uses the “quod pertinet“ phrase only in reference to the ordinary; and, even there, in the original draft, a foot-note explained that, along with the acclamations, the Sanctus and Creed were the two essential and traditional parts quod pertinet ad populum. The foot-note was dropped, not because it did not hold water, but because, in the questionable interests of brevity, all foot-notes were dropped. Anyway, the post-conciliar commission again pulled things back into the context of the Constitution by dropping the “quod pertinet“ phrase altogether, and Cardinal Lercaro’s commission could hardly be classified as conservative.

You can read more about this subject on pages 19-20 here.

OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN CRITICAL of folks who disregard the clear provisions of Vatican II, and we will continue to do so. If we don’t, how will these errors ever be corrected? Those who doubt the power of thoughtful, respectful, persistent criticism should read Number 4. One thing in particular we will continue to comment on is the “War on Thee, Thou, & Thine.” We touched on this subject briefly here, but much more needs to be discussed.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Examples of this second type abound. For instance, Bugnini discarded the provision in Inter Oecumenici requiring all Missals to include the full Latin alongside the vernacular claiming “Asian printers” aren’t smart enough to print Latin characters.

2   Sadly, this principle was frequently taken to extremes, as hundreds of authors have chronicled. This principle can never mean that every person will participate at Mass in exactly the same way. Cardinal Ratzinger reminded us that sometimes the best way an individual of limited education (e.g. the illiterate) can participate at Mass is praying the Rosary. Msgr. Schmitt agrees, and says forcing all to participate in exactly the same way would be “recruiting candidates for the lunatic asylums” (cf. concluding paragraph here). Furthermore, suitable time must be allotted for meditation and contemplation.



UPDATE (17 September 2014) :

I might be wrong about the Ratzinger quote (see comments below). And here are some nice paragraphs by Pius XII, courtesy of Fr. Kevin Vogel:

Thank you for the clarification. The distinction between the levels/forms of participation reminds me of what Piux XII said in Mediator Dei. Paragraph 105 seems to express more the ideal, while 108 affirms one can still participate in other ways:

105. Therefore, they are to be praised who, with the idea of getting the Christian people to take part more easily and more fruitfully in the Mass, strive to make them familiar with the “Roman Missal,” so that the faithful, united with the priest, may pray together in the very words and sentiments of the Church. They also are to be commended who strive to make the liturgy even in an external way a sacred act in which all who are present may share. This can be done in more than one way, when, for instance, the whole congregation, in accordance with the rules of the liturgy, either answer the priest in an orderly and fitting manner, or sing hymns suitable to the different parts of the Mass, or do both, or finally in high Masses when they answer the prayers of the minister of Jesus Christ and also sing the liturgical chant.

108. Many of the faithful are unable to use the Roman missal even though it is written in the vernacular; nor are all capable of understanding correctly the liturgical rites and formulas. So varied and diverse are men’s talents and characters that it is impossible for all to be moved and attracted to the same extent by community prayers, hymns and liturgical services. Moreover, the needs and inclinations of all are not the same, nor are they always constant in the same individual. Who, then, would say, on account of such a prejudice, that all these Christians cannot participate in the Mass nor share its fruits? On the contrary, they can adopt some other method which proves easier for certain people; for instance, they can lovingly meditate on the mysteries of Jesus Christ or perform other exercises of piety or recite prayers which, though they differ from the sacred rites, are still essentially in harmony with them.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Consilium of Pope Paul VI, Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

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 • “For General Use Until Advent”
    If you conduct a volunteer choir, you might consider using this Simple Piece #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) which can be used during the rest of the liturgical season until Advent. It's based on the well known hymn tune: OLD HUNDREDTH. Rehearsal videos are available at #40691. A live recording of #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) by a volunteer choir is here (#40065).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

It is frightful even to think there are children, victims of abortion, who will never see the light of day.

— Pope Francis (13 January 2014)

Recent Posts

  • “Reverent Catholic Mass Finder” (Website)
  • Powerful Images • “Father John Brébeuf”
  • “Best & Worst Responses” • This Survey Was Responded To By 300+ Church Musicians
  • “Offertory Verses and Why You Should Sing Them” (Includes PDF Download)
  • “Colorado Sacred Music Conference” August 9-10 (2023) • Highlands Ranch, CO

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues 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.