• 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
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

“Father Bugnini has only one interest: press ahead and finish.” — Cardinal Antonelli, 1967

Jeff Ostrowski · March 10, 2014

744 Cardinal Antonelli VERYONE SHOULD OWN a copy of The Development of the Liturgical Reform: As Seen by Cardinal Ferdinando Antonelli from 1948 to 1970, by Nicola Giampietro. Cardinal Antonelli served as peritus (“expert”) during the Second Vatican Council. In 1965, he was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. He is generally regarded as one of the most reliable witnesses of the Council proceedings. Cardinal Antonelli was appointed as “Secretary of the Conciliar Commission on the Liturgy” on 4 October 1962.

The following paragraphs were written by Cardinal Antonelli about Bugnini’s Consilium on 23 April 1967:

1.)  There is no denying that colossal work has been done.

2.)  There is a lack, however, of that kind of organization which favors mature judgment. Move on, move on, get it out. Schemata are multiplied without ever arriving at a considered form.

3.)  The system of discussion is bad:

a. There are 50 Fathers: sometimes they do not all come, but there are always at least 30. Few have any specific competence. In itself, it would be difficult to conduct a discussion involving so many people;

b. Often the schemata arrive just before the discussions. Sometimes, and in important matters, such as the new anaphoras, the schema was distributed the evening before the discussion was to take place;

c. Cardinal Lercaro is not the man to direct a discussion. Father Bugnini has only one interest: press ahead and finish.

4.)  The voting system is worse. It is ordinarily done by a show of hands, but nobody counts who has raised a hand and who has not. Nobody says “so many approved” and “so many said no.” It is disgraceful. Although the question has been asked several times, nobody has succeeded in ascertaining whether the necessary majority must be absolute or two thirds of the votes. Voting by scheda only takes place at the request of the Fathers. The scheda are subsequently examined by those from the Secretariat.

5.)  A further grave lacuna is the absence of any minutes of the meetings. There certainly has been no reference to them and they certainly have never been read.

Cardinal Antonelli’s written comments (19 April 1967)

It is clear that Paul VI closely followed the work of this Consilium. I well remember that Paul VI personally intervened at one of the meetings of this Consilium (that of April 19, 1967). The fact struck me that Paul VI, speaking of the course taken by the implementation of the liturgical reform, declared that he had been hurt by certain arbitrary liturgical experiments and pained by a certain tendency to de-sacralize the liturgy. He re-confirmed his confidence in the Consilium, however. The Pope did not seem to realize that all the difficulties had been created by the manner in which the reform was interpreted by the Consilium.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Cardinal Ferdinando Giuseppe Antonelli OFM Last Updated: October 19, 2022

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

    Vespers Booklet (4th Sunday of Lent)
    The organ accompaniment booklet (24 pages) which I created for the 4th Sunday of Lent (“Lætare Sunday”) may now be downloaded, for those who desire such a thing.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Vespers Booklet, 3rd Sunday of Lent
    The organ accompaniment I created for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (“Extraordinary Form”) may now be downloaded, if anyone is interested in this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Weeping For Joy! (We Hope!)
    Listening to this Easter Alleluia—an SATB arrangement I made twenty years ago based on the work of Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel—one of our readers left this comment: “I get tears in my eyes each time I sing to this hymn.” I hope this person is weeping for joy!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

In the Orthodox Churches they have kept that pristine liturgy, so beautiful. We have lost a bit the sense of adoration. They keep, they praise God, they adore God, they sing, time doesn’t count. God is the center, and this is a richness …

— Pope Francis (8/2/2013)

Recent Posts

  • Four (4) Shimmery Hymns for Lent & Passiontide
  • “Go!” • The Word That Changed My Life Forever
  • Vespers Booklet (4th Sunday of Lent)
  • At the Cross • Stabat Mater
  • Summer Ward Method Courses • CUA 2023

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.