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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

Jacqueline Kennedy & The Roman Catholic Liturgy

Jeff Ostrowski · October 20, 2014

755 Jacqueline Jackie Kennedy OON AFTER the assassination of her husband, Jacqueline Kennedy instructed agents to go into special archives and research the funeral of Abraham Lincoln. She wanted JFK’s funeral arrangments to resemble Lincoln’s. Because the lights were controlled by a timer—only turned on during normal business hours—the agents had to use flashlights. (How cool is that?)

But why did Jacqueline Kennedy want the funeral to be modelled after Lincoln’s? Was she acting eccentric, similar to how she insisted upon wearing her blood-stained dress as Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in on a Roman Catholic Missal? 1

I would suggest that Catholics who grasp the crucial role played by Tradition in our Faith do not require an explanation. Nor is an explanation required for those who understand the reasons behind the Church’s insistence on LITURGICAL TRADITION, like the priest’s vestments which—because they stretch back all the way to the Roman Empire—serve as a constant reminder of our Church’s antiquity.

If Jacqueline were asked why, she’d surely reply: “Traditions are important.”

756 Richard SOME PEOPLE WILL NEVER understand this. Similarly, some people will always mock the ancient ceremonies of the Church. Wagging their fingers, they’ll exclaim: “Why use liturgical torches? Why use candles? Those were used before electric lights were invented.” They’ll continue: “Why use music and prayers from the 6th century? Why perform so many ceremonial actions during the liturgy, such as having the priest intone the Gloria and Creed, or having the subdeacon guard the paten? These actions no longer serve the practical purposes they once did.”

To respond seems pointless. Either you get it, or you don’t. I fear some people never will.

So many fall down and worship modern “oracles” like Wikipedia. If Wikipedia tells them something, they accept it. If Wikipedia disputes it, they reject it. Years ago, such people were called philistines. They mock anything they don’t understand. A case in point is Robert Schumann’s “Sphinxes” from his Carnival, Opus 9. Wikipedia says not to play them, since they’re a secret “code” from Schumann to the performer. (Schumann was a bit strange.) Yet Rachmaninov, in his recording, does something creative with them. Who’s right? I’m sorry, but I’ll take Rachmaninov over Wikipedia any day.

Sometimes it takes considerable effort to come to an appreciation for that which is great. I still can’t believe WLP’s Vice-President attended a Latin Mass JUST ONE TIME and proceeded to draw conclusions. Can you imagine? It’s like someone picking up a Shakespeare play and saying, “Oh, I spent five minutes on it, and I didn’t care for it.” Or, it’s like someone visiting a new country for twenty minutes and saying, “Oh, I spent some time there. I don’t care for that place.”



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in on a Roman Catholic missal instead of a Bible, since that was all they had available on Air Force One. It was John F. Kennedy’s. (It probably wasn’t the Jogues Illuminated Missal, because that wouldn’t be produced for another five decades.)

By the way, Jackie Kennedy told LBJ’s wife she wore her blood-stained suit because “I want them to see what they have done to Jack.” However, during a truly remarkable audio interview from 1964 (revealed for the first time in 2011) Jackie Kennedy reveals that she thought Lyndon B. Johnson had killed her husband. Was the bloody dress meant to send a message to LBJ? Kennedy had no regrets about refusing to take the blood-stained suit off; her only regret was that she had washed the blood off her face before Johnson was sworn in.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Jacqueline Jackie Kennedy Onassis 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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President’s Corner

    Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
    Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th 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 dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    “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

Random Quote

“You have thereby removed from the celebration of the Mass all superstitions, all greed for lucre, and all irreverence … removed its celebrations from private homes and profane places to holy and consecrated sanctuaries. You have banished from the temple of the Lord the more effeminate singing and musical compositions.”

— ‘Bishop Racozonus, speaking at the last session of the Council of Trent (1563)’

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