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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.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

A Catholic Nun Challenged Reagan As Vice-President … For The Communist Party!

Jeff Ostrowski · September 15, 2014

868 Sung vs Spoken Propers IANE DRUFENBROCK, also known as Sister Madeleine Sophie, was a Franciscan Sister who challenged Ronald Reagan in 1980 as VP candidate for the Socialist Party. She taught mathematics at Alverno College (Wisconsin), which had published the famous Alverno Hymnal during the 1940s. For the record, Sister Drufenbrock also wrote a hymn text called “Going out to spread the light,” which GIA published in their Worship hymnal.

Is Sister Drufenbrock relevant to discussions of Sacred music? Certainly, because her bizarre actions 1 remind us that the 1970s were A VERY STRANGE TIME for the Catholic Church.

We’ve discussed many times the 1970s mystery of “Sung Propers” vs. “Spoken Propers.” Yet, many people still demand to know why this confusion was introduced. I repeat: The 1970s were a very strange era!

WE’VE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED how the Jogues Missal is the safest & best way to help your congregation fall in love with authentic liturgy, because it lays out ATTRACTIVELY each Mass Proper & Reading using gorgeous letters. At the same time, we’ve never failed to point out that priests who desire to improve their parish music programs will often face obstacles. These obstacles can seem insurmountable at times, but we have an advantage over the 1970s era: novelty !

Over the years, every possible style of music has been tried at Mass: mariachi, jazz, broadway, rap, and so on. After such rampant experimentation, the introduction of styles mandated by the Second Vatican Council—Gregorian chant, sacred polyphony, dignified organ interludes, etc.—seem novel and fresh, because our congregations lack any experience with them. It reminds me of a Protestant girl I dated in college. Once, she explained to me a new fad certain Protestant ministers were introducing. The fad was called “courting,” and basically meant that fornication was not allowed. Needless to say, “courting” was identical to the Roman Catholic way to date … but Protestants had “repackaged it” as a novelty.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Cf. Pope Pius XI: “No one can be at the same time a good Catholic and a true socialist.” (Quadragesimo Anno, §120).

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Sung Vs Spoken Propers Novus Ordo 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

“The Church, which so long had preserved Latin consciously as a bond of unity, had quite suddenly decided to discard it as a useless encumbrance. With this rejection, and as an almost inevitable consequence, went out the window also the whole magnificent musical heritage of the Church. For when you change your language you also change your song. The Jewish exiles hanging their harps beside the waters of Babylon, so long ago, made that discovery.”

— Most Rev’d Robert J. Dwyer, Archbishop of Portland (26 October 1973)

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