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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

A Photograph “Progressive” Liturgists Cannot Abide

Jeff Ostrowski · November 18, 2014

674 Montini Cappa Magna Paul VI 01 ROGRESSIVE liturgists love Blessed Paul VI because he made sweeping changes to the liturgy. They have been desperately hoping Pope Francis will modify the liturgy further, but Francis hasn’t made any changes. On the right is an image of Bishop Montini wearing Cappa Magna, a garment which causes inexplicable panic in some… Perhaps an intelligent reader can confirm that Montini was a Cardinal at the time this photo was taken.

Some assert that bishops should no longer wear traditional vesture because Paul VI abolished the Papal Court (and with it certain garments). They claim that such vestments smack of secular garments—such as what an ancient prince might wear—and must be forbidden. The problem is, these same folks have no problem with bishops and priests dressing in lay clothes! 1

Many do not realize that Blessed Paul VI was a close advisor to Pius XII. Can you pick out Msgr. Giovanni Battista Montini in these images? (The final image shows him wearing Cappa Magna as bishop.)

670 Montini Pius XII 669 Montini Pius XII 667 Montini Pius XII 665 Montini Pius XII 673 Paul VI Cappa Magna

UPDATE:

FrGuy wrote: “Both photos of Montini in the Cappa Magna were taken when he was a cardinal. In the full length photo you’ve identified as him when he was a bishop that’s incorrect. You can tell he was a Cardinal because 1) he’s wearing red shoes a privilege of cardinals 2) there is a gold tassel hanging from his sash (fascia). This was also a privilege for cardinals. Bishops used to have a purple tuft on theirs. 3) there is no pom-pom on the biretta. Bishops’ birettas have pom-poms. Keep in mind that in the old days there were occasions when cardinals wore purple as well as bright scarlet (penitential days). In both photos Montini is a Cardinal.”



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   In other words, they will allow clerics to dress in secular garments so long as they’re not traditional.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Cappa Magna Liturgical Vestment, Giovanni Battista Montini CAPPA MAGNA, Pope Paul VI Advisor Pius XII Photographs, Pope Paul VI Wearing Cappa Magna 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

    Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
    The 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM was a transitional missal. It was on its way to becoming the 1970 version, but wasn’t there yet. It eliminated certain duplications, downplayed the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, expanded the role of laymen, minimized the Last Gospel, made many items optional, and so forth. Father Valentine Young spotted many typos in the 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM, especially incorrect accents. The Offertory Antiphon for this coming Sunday (OF kalendar) contains an error, citing the wrong verse from Psalm 118. It should be 118:107b, not 118:154. If you read verse 154, you’ll understand how that error crept in. [In this particular case, the error pre-dates the 1962 Missal, since the 1940s hand-missal by Father Lasance also gets it wrong.]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 26 October 2025, which is the 30th 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 top-notch feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Little Encouragement?
    In the Gospel, our Savior tells about 10 lepers who were healed. Only one went back to give thanks. Precious few express gratitude, yet many have endless energy to complain. For that reason, I deeply appreciate receiving messages like the following, which arrived a few days ago (about the parish where I direct in Michigan): “Last Sunday, a couple I knew from Grand Rapids was at Mass at 10:00 a.m. I got a chance to talk to them after Mass. I wanted to let you know what they said about the choir. They were absolutely floored by our sound!!!!! They both said they could continuously listen to our choir and the beauty of it. They asked me: “Do you always sound like that?” And they were also very surprised at how packed the church was. They said it was nice for them to be in such a full church. I just thought you would be interested to know their thoughts about our choir.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
    Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

Random Quote

“For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders”—is that English idiom? “For the Nazis, and all the Germans, except they say Heil Hitler! meet not in the street, holding their lives valuable”—is that English idiom?

— Monsignor Ronald Knox

Recent Posts

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  • Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
  • “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
  • Little Encouragement?

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