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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

Three Categories of Liturgical Problem

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · May 22, 2014

0319_firefighter-mass-LG N DISCUSSIONS OF LITURGY, one often notices people lumping together problems that are really quite distinct and, therefore, demand different treatments. As a Thomist, I find it helpful to make distinctions and place phenomena in categories.

It seems to me that we are dealing with three categories:

1. The Discontinuous.
2. The Dubious.
3. The Abusive.

As an example of the first, one may cite the new calendar of the modern Roman rite, with its substitution of Ordinary Time for the Season after Pentecost, its abolition of the ancient octave of Pentecost, the removal of pre-Lent, Rogation days, and Ember days, and so forth. Speaking generally, many features of the Ordinary Form are discontinuous with the liturgical tradition that preceded it. This is a problem so serious that it can be repaired only by a pope or an ecumenical council, although naturally bishops and priests can do much to circumvent it simply by returning to the last integral expression of the Roman Rite, the 1962 Missale Romanum, and celebrating it more and more widely. This, in itself, will bring long-term healing by setting up the highest standard and introducing many faithful to the timeless riches of the ancient form of the liturgy.

The second category contains things that are anti-traditional but currently permitted―for example, communion in the hand, females in the sanctuary, the celebration of Mass against the people rather than towards the East, the use of organ during Lent, and other departures from centuries-old practice. Unlike the first, however, this category can be addressed directly by bishops and priests. In particular, bishops are empowered to keep the liturgical life of their dioceses safe from corruption or, if it is already damaged, to bring it back into harmony with Catholic tradition.

The third category refers to things that are not permitted by the Apostolic See but are nonetheless widespread, of which by far the most common example is the “habitual use of extraordinary ministers of holy communion,” which has been repeatedly excluded by church legislation. Of course, the combination of worldwide rebellion against the rules and an utter lack of will-power on the part of ecclesiastical authorities to implement them means, in practice, that nearly everything is tolerated and the rules are made a mockery of. Still, problems in this category are precisely the kind that any priest is allowed to repair on his own authority, since they are abuses of the discipline that he is required to uphold.

THE MORE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE become educated about their Catholic Faith, its traditions and history, the less they will be able to tolerate the postconciliar aberrations in any of these categories. The hermeneutic of rupture and discontinuity can survive only to the extent that people are poorly catechized and educated. Give them the truth, and they will say: “Why are we doing all this other stuff?” A sound theological education is pretty much the direct opposite of the spirit of Vatican II.

The Church is changing: the youth are more demanding and discerning, and they are not satisfied with glib, sentimental, condescending, or duplicitous answers. They are attracted to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman rite for its awesome stillness, its eloquent gestures, the richness of its prayers. It breathes the spirit of prayer, and if prayer is what you’re looking for, you want the real thing―glowing hot coals in the woodstove, not the electric heater. Yes, the rupturists and discontinuists will be around a lot longer, but the logic of their own position is such as to push them increasingly to the margins of the Church, from which they will eventually bail out when they see that their progressivist-modernist agenda is never going to win the day. Meanwhile, the tightly-knit, highly motivated, and extremely pro-clergy, pro-religious, and pro-family traditionalist movement, though relatively small in numbers, has the bloom and boldness of youth on it, and, simply from a demographic point of view, looks poised to be the major force shaping Catholicism in the coming decades.

As Fr. John Hunwicke so rightly said: “Benedict’s Age is a good age in which to be alive, an age of the very truest instauratio catholica.”

Please visit THIS PAGE to learn more about Dr. Kwasniewski’s exciting new publication,
Sacred Choral Works, a 273-page collection of a cappella choir music for the Liturgy.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Dr. Peter Kwasniewski

A graduate of Thomas Aquinas College (B.A. in Liberal Arts) and The Catholic University of America (M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy), Dr. Peter Kwasniewski is currently Professor at Wyoming Catholic College. He is also a published and performed composer, especially of sacred music.

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President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 14 September (Holy Cross)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for 14 September 2025, which is the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “14 September 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 14 September 2025) discusses OFFERTORY ANTIPHONS and contains a wonderful quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Draft Copy (Pamphlet)
    A few days ago, I posted a draft copy of this 12-page pamphlet with citations about the laity’s “full, conscious, and active participation.” Its basic point or message is that choir directors should never feel embarrassed to teach real choral music because Vatican II explicitly ordered them to do that! We’ve received tons of mail regarding that pamphlet, with many excellent suggestions for improvement. Please feel free to chime in!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

But the revisers did not leave them altogether untouched. Saint Ambrose had to be “corrected.” The ‘Iste Confessor’ was greatly altered and the hymn for the Dedication of a Church (which no one ought to have touched) was completely recast in a new meter.

— Father Joseph Connelly

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