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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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 22nd in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 31 August 2025, which is the 22nd 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.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “The Worm That Dieth Not”
    My pastor asked me to write a column for our parish bulletin with reflections on the sacred liturgy and church music. In my most recent article, I discuss “The Worm That Dieth Not.” At this website, you can access it conveniently; simply scroll down to the one dated 31 August 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    A Nice Hymn In Spanish
    In my humble opinion, this is a really beautiful hymn in Spanish. If I practice diligently, I’ll be able to pronounce all the words properly. If you’re someone who’s interested in obtaining a melody only version (suitable for your congregational ORDER OF WORSHIP) you can steal that from this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    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

Random Quote

“Partly on account of these alterations, and partly because I have been unable to ascertain the authorship of many compositions—which have come to me either in manuscript or through other collections—I have thought it right to publish the volume without appending the names of writers to their works. This, however, I confess to be a defect…”

— Benjamin Hall Kennedy (1863)

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