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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Collected Works of Joseph Ratzinger

Fr. David Friel · May 18, 2014

T MUST BE A STRANGE experience to witness your “collected works” beginning to be assembled. It says something about not only a person’s scholarship and distinction, but also his or her age. I would imagine it is an experience that demands humility, docility, & prayer.

As you may be aware, Ignatius Press has begun the compilation of the Collected Works of Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI). The first volume has just been published this month. Interestingly, the first volume to appear is actually labeled Volume 11. This is because the Holy Father expressed the desire to have his writings on the liturgy published first, before the rest of the collection. That liturgy should be his priority will not surprise those who have studied Ratinzger’s writings over the years; the sacred liturgy has always been the center of the cosmos and of all reality in his theological worldview.

For a good introduction to this new release, check out the summary posted by Ignatius Press. Included there are several quotes from the author’s Introduction, which help to explain some of the professorial mind of our Pope Emeritus.

I look forward to the completion of these Collected Works.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Pope Benedict XVI, Reform of the Reform Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anselm Church in Northeast Philly before earning a doctorate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America. He presently serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”

I’m still trying to decide how to visually present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores, using what is (technically) the official rhythm of the Church. You can download my latest attempt, for this coming Sunday. Notice the “trochee trouble” as well as the old issue of neumes before the quilisma.

—Jeff Ostrowski
16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“A penalty is decreed against clerics, who, being in sacred Orders, or holding benefices, do not wear a dress befitting their Order. […] In these days, the contempt of religion has grown to such a pitch that—making but little account of their own dignity, and of the clerical honor—some even wear in public the dress of laymen…”

— ‘Council of Trent (Session 14, Chapter 6)’

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