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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

“Music Of An Altogether Profane And Worldy Character Is Unworthy For Church” —Bugnini

Jeff Ostrowski · October 13, 2014

771 Cardinal Julius August Döpfner HE SACRED CONGREGATION of Rites and the Consilium issued a joint statement on 29 December 1966 prohibiting profane music in church. The Consilium spokesman, asked during a press conference to clarify PROFANE music, said it meant things like “jazz Masses” and secular instruments like the guitar. The spokesman’s name? Annibale Bugnini.

Cardinal Lercaro, President of the Consilium, expressed similar sentiments in this fascinating letter (25 January 1966) which you’ll notice he wanted to remain secret, except to the bishops.

Since the Vatican has unequivocally banned “music of an altogether profane and worldy character” as being “unworthy of a sacred service”—and Bugnini clarified that as guitar music—why was the following song 1 used as the Responsorial Psalm at a Catholic Church in Texas yesterday?

      * *  Mp3 Download: Resp. Psalm, 12 October 2014 • “Live” Recording

You’ll notice its heavy dependence on rhythm 2—which ought to leave you tapping your foot—and its quite predictable melody.

Things have been bad for a long time. I remember tons of songs from my youth that were wrongly inserted into the Mass. For example, during Lent they often sang a piece called Remember, Remember Your Mercy Lord. Just like the song above, it placed heavy emphasis on rhythm and had predictable melodic structures. It went something like this:

      * *  Mp3 Download: A Song I Remember Hearing In Church

(Pardon my horrible singing: I’m just demonstrating how they sang it when I was a kid.)

The composer of that piece would probably say, “I had to use predictable melodies and heavy rhythm so the congregation could join in the singing.” But why not use simple melodies composed in a sacred style? After all, making our people feel silly will not encourage them to sing. 3 Here’s a melody I just composed—literally it took me less than 3 seconds:

      * *  Mp3 Download: A Version Composed In Under Three Seconds

I’m not saying it’s perfect; I’m simply suggesting that dignified settings are not beyond the capabilities of the congregation.

THERE IS CERTAINLY ROOM for liturgical improvement on the “traditionalist” side, as well. One of the most prominent enemies of the postconciliar reforms is Bishop Richard Williamson. I recently stumbled upon a liturgy he presided over in June of 2014, and I was appalled:


Williamson’s approach illustrates why people wanted to “fix” the liturgy. Did you notice his congregation has no clue what’s going on? Did you observe the complete lack of preparation before the liturgy began? Did you see how he was pointing to different people, telling them what to do, sending them away to fetch missing books, and even ordering around the camera person at one point? Williamson here makes a farce of liturgy, which is deplorable for a person who has spent so much time being critical of others’ sloppiness in the liturgy.

When I see the excesses in that video, I think of what Pope Paul VI said on 27 March 1966:

Be, then, fervent at the Sunday Mass. […] Say to your priests: make us understand; open the book to us. And learn to sing. A Mass celebrated with the song of the people makes for the full raising up of the spirit.

When I experience the excesses described earlier, I think of what the Consilium President declared in 1966:

It is necessary moreover that the principles of sacredness and dignity which distinguish church music—for both its singing and its instruments—should remain intact. All that which is merely secular should be proscribed from the house of God. Jazz, for example, cannot today be part of a musical repertoire designed for worship.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Yesterday afternoon, I researched that song. It turns out the text doesn’t even match the assigned Responsorial Psalm. Moreover, it was composed by a non-Catholic.

2   This is not to say that rhythm is always a bad thing. If you want to hear some really amazing rhythm, pick up a piece by Victoria, Morales, Marenzio, or Palestrina. Their use of rhythm is unsurpassed and sophisticated.

3   The Church I attended yesterday had more than 1,000 people, yet probably less than 2% joined in any of the singing.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Cardinal Giacomo Lercaro Consilium President 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 • “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
    “Music List” • 27th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 5 October 2025, which is the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin. Readers will want to check out the ENTRANCE CHANT posted there, which has a haunting melody (in the DEUTERUS MODE) and extremely powerful text.
    —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

Far from dreading an encounter with the Iroquois, Fr. Garnier often told us he would be quite content to fall into their hands and remain their prisoner if—while they were torturing him—he at least had a chance of instructing them as long as his torments lasted. If they allowed him to live, it would afford him a golden opportunity to work for their conversion, which was now impossible, since the gateway to their country was closed as long as they were our enemies.

— Father Ragueneau (Jesuit Relations)

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