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Views from the Choir Loft

When Disobedience Is Not Only Good, But Necessary!

Aurelio Porfiri · September 2, 2014

903 obey WANT TO GET this straight: I don’t really like those who bow to everything the Pope says, whoever the Pope is. After all, according our faith, the Pope is infallible only for certain pronouncements; not for everything he does or says. This kind of papolatry—although not absolutely irreconcilable with our Faith—certainly causes disturbance to those desiring to be CATHOLICS in the deep, strong meaning of this word. Now, of course, we must listen to the Pope with attention because we know that most of the time his words are intended for the good of our spiritual life, so—even if we’re not “bound” strictly speaking—it would be wise to follow his advice and teachings. But not everything he says is a definitive pronouncement.

Here’s what often happens: new Pope, new lifestyle. Some who formerly took delight in displaying their lovely high notes singing Gregorian chant during the reign of Benedict XVI now suddenly discover a south American soul with Pope Francis. We are surrounded—both in and beyond the Vatican—by “men without qualities,” to cite a novel of the writer Robert Musil. The problem is, such undisputed acceptance is demanded by some for everything uttered by a cardinal, bishop, or pastor … However, when they say things that our conscience finds unsound, they are announcing a doctrine that misleads us instead of leading us. In such cases, disobeying is good! 1

How many fights I’ve had with priests because of liturgy! How many times concerned Catholics were saying to me that I should respect the pastor, the priest, blah blah blah. To all these people, I have one answer: who cares?!! If the pastor, the priest, the nun, the bishop, the cardinal, and beyond are saying that which my conscience rejects, I follow my conscience. This is not “freedom of conscience,” condemned by Gregory XVI in Mirari vos (1832). Our conscience should never be encouraged to commit evil; so in this sense, the freedom of conscience cannot be encouraged, but also a conscience deciding to walk on wrong ways cannot be stopped.

GOD LEAVES US FREE and ultimately responsible for our actions. But in the case of consenting to certain teachings, if they’re not in line with what an educated conscience feels is good, they have to be rejected, no matter whom they come from. Father Enrico Zoffoli, in one of his pamphlets about clergy, has said that we are not interested in private opinion of priests: they are the announcers of the Gospel, that’s all. We respect Pope, cardinals, bishops, priests … but up to a point. When they cross a line, we need not jump on the other side with them.

Indeed, in the encyclical of Gregory XVI, there’s another interesting point, and in this case I feel quite near to Mauro Cappellari (Gregory XVI’s name before his election):

“The holiness of the sacred is despised; the majesty of divine worship is not only disapproved by evil men, but defiled and held up to ridicule.” —Mirari Vos, §5 (1832)

Mmm … in this very case, I think that if these words were not written almost 200 years ago but today, they would still sound reasonable and sound, even to my own (maybe not very well educated) conscience.


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



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Editor’s Reminder: According to Catholic teaching, those under obedience must refuse obedience if ordered to commit sin.

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 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).

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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

To the extent that the new sacred music is to serve the liturgical celebrations of the various churches, it can and must draw from earlier forms — especially from Gregorian chant — a higher inspiration, a uniquely sacred quality, a genuine sense of what is religious.

— Pope John Paul II (June 1980)

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