• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

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.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Feasts Website
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

Fr. Enrico Zoffoli and the Passion of the Lord

Aurelio Porfiri · July 17, 2014

0319_Pope_Fran-XL F THERE IS ONE THING I have really come to despise, it is this kind of sweet Christianity that is so much in fashion in the last decades. Everything is good, everyone is nice, everything is allowed. This kind of honey atmosphere really makes me sick, because it is really far from true Christianity. As Pope Francis said, the church is more like a field hospital.

Many have criticized him for this, but I find this is a deeply Christian definition that takes into account the sickness of our souls, beyond the suffocating hypocrisy that surrounds us. Indeed the church is there to console those that are fighting in the spiritual fight, “Il combattimento spirituale”, as it says in a famous book by Lorenzo Scupoli (1530-1610).

Our liturgies are now the receptacle of sad shows with uplifting music “for the youths”, as if in life all is joyful and gracious. It is not. I know many people fight to show that scientific Darwinism is a theory. I am not in the position to judge about that. But social Darwinism is a reality, people fighting each other pursuing their own agenda. The church is not different. How many church men, priests and laypeople, are just following their own agenda to be served by the church and not to serve the church? So, this emphasis on the joyful Christianity I think is misleading, to say the least.

IT WILL NOT BE BAD here for me to remember a man that has meant a great deal to me. Father Enrico Zoffoli (1915-1996) was a Passionist, a philosopher and a man sincerely seeking God. I met him when he was already nearing 80 and I became one of his philosophy students. I remember talking with him about all his upcoming books (he wrote many, I think over 70) and for some of them I followed the whole process through his confidences. He was a man sincerely seeking God and defending the church, and for this he made many enemies. My girlfriend of that time and I were very close to him. I remember him on his death bed calling us “his angels”.

He was a member of the Pontifical Academy of Saint Thomas, an elite pontifical institution for philosophers and theologians. And this academy—in commemoration of him—organized a seminar with speakers, among them, Father Raimondo Spiazzi (1918-2002), a famous Dominican preacher, that I also had the pleasure to meet several times. On the occasion of the commemoration I presented one of my oratorios called “Via Crucis”, dedicated to padre Zoffoli using his texts. Padre Zoffoli in his books always emphasizes one point: the Mass is the memory of the Passion of the Lord, his Sacrifice, and so to move the emphasis on the Resurrection is misleading.

In a 1994 book called “Questa e’ la Messa, non altro!” (This is the Mass, not other!), there is this passage:

“This is, in essence, Christian theology of the mystery of the Cross; for whom the glory of the Risen Christ would be an illusion, if was not real and infinitely meritorious the atoning immolation of the Crucified Christ. Catholic worship, does not know neither offer others in the Eucharistic liturgy; and it is for this that, if the Mass would not be the Sacrament of the Sacrifice; the Church – as visible, religious, hierarchical society – would never been in existence” (pg. 18, my translation).

A few lines after saying this he emphasizes again: “Dunque, per Gesu’ – e per noi – la Passione e’ tutto, la Passione decide tutto” (And so, for Jesus – and for us – the Passion is everything, the Passion decides everything). How far is this from many of our forced joyful liturgies?

I have had the fortune of having my books reviewed in national newspapers by well-known journalists. My last book, “Il canto dei secoli” (The song of the centuries) was quoted by Camillo Langone (Il Foglio, November 19, 2013) in his column called “Preghiera” (Prayer). And after appreciating my pointing out this issue of the forced joyful liturgies, he raises this praise to Saint Cecilia: “Saint Cecilia, pray for us little loved, lovers of austere liturgical music, severe, even sad, we that in church are looking for the reasons of pain, because the reasons for pleasure we can find everywhere”. And I cannot say it better than this.


BOTTEGA • Aurelio Porfiri is where you can discover
many of Mæstro Porfiri’s compositions in PDF format.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Father Enrico Zoffoli Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Aurelio Porfiri

Renowned as composer, conductor, theorist, author, pedagogue, and organist, Aurelio Porfiri has served the Church on multiple continents at the highest levels. Born and raised in Italy, he currently serves as Director of Choral Activities and Composer in Residence for Santa Rosa de Lima School (Macao, China).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 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 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

These prayers were not peculiar to Good Friday in the early ages (they were said on Spy Wednesday as late as the eighth century); their retention here, it is thought, was inspired by the idea that the Church should pray for all classes of men on the day that Christ died for all. Duchesne is of opinion that the “Oremus” now said in every Mass before the Offertory—which is not a prayer—remains to show where this old series of prayers was once said in all Masses.

— Catholic Encyclopedia (1909)

Recent Posts

  • Why A “Fugue” Here?
  • “Three Reasons To Shun Bad Hymns” • Daniel B. Marshall
  • “Puzzling Comment” • By A Respected FSSP Priest
  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
  • “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.