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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

“Turn Those Altars Around!” — Cardinal Lercaro, Consilium President (1965)

Jeff Ostrowski · March 27, 2014

704 John XXIII in 1962 HE OLD LATIN MASS had special rubrics for Masses said facing the people (versus populum) but such rubrics were unknown to most priests because Mass was seldom offered in that way. However, in the 1960s, this new form of celebration seemed to “spread like wild fire” even though the Second Vatican Council never mandated it. In fact, the Council never mentioned it!

Many people have wondered how such things came about, and I may have discovered a new “clue” from the BCL Newsletter (September 1965):

      * *  BCL Newsletter — September 1965

Did you notice this quote?

“Wherever it is reasonably possible, the altar must be turned toward the people. The seat of the celebrant when possible must be placed in the apse.” — Cardinal Lercaro, president of the Consilium, NCWC News Service, 6 March 1965, Foreign, p. 5.


FOUR EXPERTS have assured me this was simply Cardinal Lercaro’s personal opinion — no official document expresses this requirement. Remember that Pope Paul VI had set up the Consilium in opposition to the Sacred Congregation of Rites, causing great confusion. Furthermore, the Consilium meetings themselves were chaos. According to Cardinal Antonelli (who would know, because of his roles) many Consilium meetings didn’t even count the votes (much less record them), nobody knew if a simple majority or 2/3 majority was required, and even documents of great importance (like the new Eucharistic Prayers) were often passed out the night before the meetings!

Perhaps Cardinal Antonelli said it best when he made the following comment:

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

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Ad Orientem, Mass Facing The People, Versus Populum Altars 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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “What Martin Luther Said…”
    My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“Much of the reordering [in 1970] of the pieces of the Roman Gradual seems arbitrary and useless; nevertheless, with some exceptions, it does not affect the shape of the service, since like pieces are exchanged for like.”

— Dr. William Peter Mahrt

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