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Views from the Choir Loft

The Famous “Agatha Christie” Indult

Jeff Ostrowski · June 9, 2014

381 Latin ANY IN OUR SOCIETY live and die by surveys. It’s a free country, so folks can do as they wish, but I know a bit too much about polling methodologies to take seriously such things. “Law and sausage are two things we should never see being made.” Similarly, surveys are nice things to toss around, as long as nobody starts asking uncomfortable questions.

For example, I never respond to surveys, because I’m too busy doing things like providing for my family. Therefore, surveys can never represent my views, in spite of the most sincere assurances by creators: “Oh, we take people like you into consideration.” In the end, surveys only reveal the feelings of people willing to take surveys.

Many love to imagine how “ordinary Catholics” felt about post-conciliar liturgical changes. One extreme claims that 100% of good Catholics rejected 100% of the changes. The other extreme adheres to the “black hole” theory of Bugnini. At some point in the future, I will give my own opinion — although I’m not sure what difference it makes.

Anyhow, search Google for Agatha Christie Indult. I think you’ll be surprised at what you find. I’d be interested to learn from our readers in England how widespread this indult was. However, it’s important to realize that this was for the 1965/1967 Missale Romanum, not the 1962, and there’s a huge difference. I was surprised to see Vladimir Ashkenazy on the list. 1

THOSE WHO HAVE READ HIS BOOK realize that Archbishop Bugnini was a staunch opponent of the 1962 Missale Romanum. His book comes across as one gigantic “pout” — those who disagree with him are called “slanderers” and “persecutors” — and appears to have been published to “even the score” with everyone who crossed him. By the way, here’s what Bugnini wrote about the Agatha Christie Indult.

A few tidbits from his book:

Page 287:   After all, despite his well-known traditionalist views, he was an intelligent man…

In other words, “In spite of his traditionalist leanings, he wasn’t an idiot.” How insulting!

Page 282:   On the feast of Corpus Christi, 1967, Una voce sent the Pope a petition, signed by, among others, educated non-Catholics and expressing “alarm and amazement” at the liturgical reform.

The way he stresses “non-Catholics” strikes me as gratuitous: does he oppose ecumenism? Hundreds more examples could be cited, especially when Bugnini talks about liturgical musicians like Fr. Hignio Anglés. Those who read the book can decide whether they agree that Bugnini’s tone is “hysterical.”

But let us consider one more quote:

Page 296:   It must be acknowledged in all honesty that the Roman authorities were even too understanding and patient.

I disagree strongly with this assertion. (See below.)

ON 3 OCTOBER 1984, the Vatican gave limited permission for use of the 1962 Missal, but the document (Quattuor Abhinc Annos) seems to treat lovers of the Traditional Mass as if they’re criminals. For example, look how “rigid” the rules are:

(a) That it be made publicly clear beyond all ambiguity that such priests and their respective faithful in no way share the positions of those who call in question the legitimacy and doctrinal exactitude of the Roman Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970.

(b) Such celebration must be made only for the benefit of those groups that request it; in churches and oratories indicated by the bishop (not, however, in parish churches, unless the bishop permits it in extraordinary cases); and on the days and under the conditions fixed by the bishop either habitually or in individual cases.

(c) These celebrations must be according to the 1962 Missal and in Latin.

(d) There must be no interchanging of texts and rites of the two Missals.

(e) Each bishop must inform this Congregation of the concessions granted by him, and at the end of a year from the granting of this indult, he must report on the result of its application.

Sometimes I wonder what might have happened if Church authorities had been as “rigid” when it comes to prohibiting secular styles of music at Mass.

Last Sunday, visiting a parish we don’t normally attend (in a very rich part of town), we saw that somebody had decorated the entire Church with little “doves” made of white plastic — in honor of Pentecost, I guess. Yet, they totally omitted the Sequence (which is forbidden by liturgical law). If somebody asked why the Sequence was omitted, they’d probably respond, “Oh, singing the Sequence would require too much preparation.”

Can you imagine if such “rigid” rules were in force?

(f) It is not allowed to omit the Sequence on Pentecost. If hundreds of little plastic doves are used for decorations on Pentecost, these efforts shall be redirected to learning the Sequence from the Lalemant Propers, which is an easy version consisting of only three notes.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Of course I know all about him, and have followed his career for years, but I consider him a “minor” pianist compared to giants like Hofmann, Godowski, Tiegerman, Rachmaninov, and Horowitz. Then again, almost all the truly great pianists had died by 1971 …

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Annibale Bugnini Reform, Omitting The Sequence On Pentecost 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

    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
    “Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)
    I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.
    —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

“Some of our younger parish clergy read their sermons. This should not be done except for some very special reason. The priest who is not capable of preparing and delivering a brief, clear instruction on Catholic teaching to his people is not fit to be in parish work. The people as a rule do not want to listen to a sermon reader.”

— Archbishop of Baltimore (9 July 1929)

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