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Views from the Choir Loft

How I Learned What Liturgy Really Is

Jeff Ostrowski · May 11, 2014

522 Liturgy EARS AGO, as a boy, I was part of an FSSP parish. In those days, their American seminary hadn’t been built, so priests from all over — France, Switzerland, Boston, New Zealand — passed through our parish, which was located in the center of the United States. I served Mass for these priests and created a little notebook filled with their Latin pronunciation “mistakes.”   1

One day, four priests were staying there, and someone suggested they pray their office together. All agreed. Bear in mind, these men came from four different countries: Germany, Australia, France, and Texas.

They entered the Church, pulled out their books, and prayed the Divine Office. The priest from Germany had a nicer voice, and seemed to be given the more demanding sections. I hadn’t even realized the priest from Texas could sing, but he did just fine. 2 It was truly inspiring.

This, my friends, is the meaning of liturgy.

There was no sense of “performance.” There was no unhealthy feeling of “entertainment.” There was no attempt by these priests to “outdo” one another, or impress anyone by belting out a solo. They didn’t applaud at the conclusion of each psalm or hymn. 3

LITURGY, therefore, can be defined as “people who love Jesus Christ coming together and praying the ancient texts assigned by the Church.”

I DON’T REMEMBER ANY OF THEM suggesting that popular tunes be substituted for the ancient chants, or that “upbeat” instruments be used (to make the liturgy more interesting, relevant, or engaging). Nor do I recall any of the priests recommending that the ancient prayers be “adapted” for the sake of “proper inculturation,” in spite of the fact that each came from a different country.

Again, they simply walked into Church, opened their books, and sang the prayers assigned by the Church. And it was beautiful. And they each received grace. And I did, too.

EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONLY A YOUNGSTER, I was greatly moved. The Gregorian prayers were such a perfect vehicle of unity. At least, to me they were. Perhaps I’m not as sophisticated as professional liturgists, who eliminated Gregorian chant in the 1960s. Perhaps if I were smarter, I’d realize that Gregorian chant is a “weapon” (as an SttL drafter referred to it several times in 2010).

After the Council, significant liturgical disintegration set in, often because of changes too quickly introduced. For years, it was not possible to simply “walk into Church and pray the assigned prayers” because the proper books were not available.

Now — at last ! — after five decades, we are witnessing an unbelievable flood of resources which allow us to reclaim our Roman Rite. I’m particularly excited about the Jogues Illuminated Missal, which will begin shipping this week. This book allows every man, woman, and child in our pews to come to know & love the liturgy in an exciting new way!



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Years later, I’d come to understand these weren’t true “mistakes,” but merely a reflection of each priest’s nationality.

2   Some sections were done recto tono.

3   Congregations in South Texas normally applaud for the singers during Mass. Today being Mother’s Day, the Communion Meditation at a local parish was Mary, Did You Know? (sung during Holy Communion) and everyone applauded at its conclusion.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Reform of the Reform 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

    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —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

“Both of these appointments—of Cardinal Lercaro and Father Bugnini—to key positions on the Consilium made it possible for voices to be heard that could not be heard during the proceedings of the Council, and likewise silenced others.”

— Alfons Cardinal Stickler, Vatican II ‘peritus’

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