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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

Five Questions No Liturgist Can Answer

Jeff Ostrowski · August 5, 2014

983 Pope Paul VI Fanon ERE IN TEXAS, there’s been much discussion about undocumented minors entering the USA. A few weeks ago, in a doctor’s waiting room, I saw an argument on television about this very issue. One of the talking heads said we should accept all these minors and allow them to be USA citizens. The other said the USA cannot accept all the minors in the world who’d like to come here. Again and again, he asked this question: “How many minors can we accept? A hundred thousand? A million? Six million? Give me a number, and we’ll proceed.”

It would be totally inappropriate for me to comment on which course of action we should take. However, I must admit the 2nd man’s tactic was very effective. He insisted upon a number, and the other guy refused to answer.

WATCHING THAT MAN REFUSE to answer the question “struck a nerve” with me. For a long time, serious liturgists have been asking questions which simply will not be answered. This is perplexing. 1

                    QUESTIONS WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN ANSWERED :

It has been asserted that music for Mass ought to be chosen according to the individual tastes of members of the congregation. But what happens when Person A likes rock’n’roll, Person B prefers jazz, and Person C likes Gregorian chant?

The Traditional Mass contained 1,182 orations. The reformers eliminated 760, and altered about half of the remaining ones. Why were these prayers deleted? Where did the Second Vatican Council ask for anything like this?

Were the liturgical reforms an effort to adapt the ancient rites for “Modern Man,” or restore a “Pristine” liturgical era? How does that square with what the Consilium’s Secretary said? “The entire revision must be carried out in accordance with the tradition of the Church.”

Some liturgists have called Gregorian chant a “weapon” and said there’s no such thing as “sacred” music. But surely not every musical style is suitable for Mass, right?

Why were clear directives of the Second Vatican Council ignored, distorted, and contradicted? For example, why was Latin eliminated in some dioceses, 2 when the Council had expressly ordered that it be preserved?


UNDOUBTEDLY, YOU NOW DESIRE to hear my brilliant solution, right? All we have to do is imitate Dom Pothier, who worked for the restoration of authentic Gregorian chant decades before it actually happened, at a time when no sane person believed his research would ever sway the current situation.

I feel it’s our duty to form some sort of coalition in support of true liturgical reform. Then, when the time comes for Rome to correct “reforms” not in accordance with the Council, the rationale will already be available. Indeed, much has already been accomplished, 3 so perhaps we could start by assembling all those statements in one place: carefully, professionally, and with discernment.

UPDATE:

Here’s a “riddle” that liturgists will understand:

The Roman Rite has gotten off track before. Homo Modernus of Paul VI is akin to the “Classicism” of Urban VIII.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Please recall, while reading this list, that the reformers began their work in earnest only after the Council ended.

2   A list of dioceses which illicitly “corrected” the Council on this point is given toward the end of this document by Msgr. Johannes Overath.

3   Dr. James Hitchcock is the husband of Helen Hitchcock, whose organization (Adoremus) is intended to suggest improvements to the Ordinary Form. Consider what he wrote in 1974:

The process of liturgical change was handled badly from a number of points of view: the people were never consulted as to their wants and needs; there was insufficient education in the new ways prior to their introduction; change was often presented as a hierarchical command to be obeyed; there were conflicting signals about the rationale for the changes (for example, was it to restore the ancient liturgy or to come to terms with modern culture?); change was piecemeal and hence doubly confusing. Although many liturgists oppose it, a permanent missal for the laity would be an important symbol at this time, implying that a new age of stability has been reached. The present welter of discardable booklets, mimeographed sheets, divergent paperback hymnals, etc. is not only confusing but appears to signify a haphazard, impermanent, jerry-built liturgy and has unfortunate psychological effects. Habits of irreverence and in attention are built up, for example, by the feeling that rites currently being used may be revised or discarded and hence are of little significance.

Dr. Hitchcock would probably be pleased with this book, published four decades after his statement.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Annibale Bugnini Reform, Helen Hull Hitchcock Adoremus 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

    New Bulletin Article • “21 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 21 September 2025) discusses some theological items—supported by certain verses in ancient Catholic hymns—and ends by explaining why certain folks become delirious with jealousy when they observe feats by Monsignor Ronald Knox.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!
    It’s always amusing to see old diocesan newspapers—in huge capital letters—advertising the Cheapest Catholic Paper in the United States. The correspondent who sent this to me added: “I can think of certain composers, published by large companies in our own day, who could truthfully brag about the most tawdry compositions in the world!” I wonder what she could have meant by such a cryptic comment…
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies
    Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”
    —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

“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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