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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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Finally, let us not forget that listening especially is active participation. When we listen to the performances of Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion, we can fully participate actively in the Passion of Christ. And so, if we listen attentively to the singing and organ music during the celebration of the divine services, our participation is not less complete. The real significance of this objective and very important aspect is insufficiently understood.”

— Flor Peeters

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