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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

Nixon, Watergate, & Singing The Mass Propers

Jeff Ostrowski · April 13, 2015

935 John Ehrlichman H. R. Haldeman OR MOST OF MY LIFE, I had no interest in the Watergate scandal, because I thought it was simply about a burglary. Why should I care about a 1970s burglary? Several months ago, I started learning more, and I must confess: I’m hooked. The whole thing is absolutely riveting. However, I can’t go into detail, because the topic is incredibly complicated and involves many characters.

Strong parallels exist between Watergate and our current situation with the Mass propers.

For instance, one of the most fascinating things about Watergate has nothing to do with illegal activity: it’s the disgusting language Nixon uses during the 3,700 hours of secretly recorded conversations. With the Mass propers, it’s not just that we constantly replace the propers in violation of current Church law. The fact is, what we replace the propers with is often offensive (musically & theologically), as Fr. Scalia correctly said.

Watergate was a huge deal at the time; yet, soon afterwards, it became innocuous. With the exception of G. Gordon Liddy, I don’t believe anyone involved served more than 2 years in prison. Liddy had a very successful post-prison life, thanks to his Watergate fame. Ehrlichman, Haldeman, Dean, Nixon, and many others made tons of money writing and speaking about Watergate.

In a similar way, when people first started to violate the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), it was a big deal, and required machinations & careful manipulation on the part of some Church officials, I’m sorry to say. Friends of mine who remember those years tried to draw attention to the same violations—so many decades ago!—but their protests fell on deaf ears. At this point, such violations have become innocuous:

So what if the GIRM says the assigned texts can only be replaced by music specifically approved by the local bishop? Who cares? Everybody’s doing it! Why rock the boat?

I doubt that 95% of priests today even realize these violations occur in each Mass.

A major concern during the Watergate years had to do with the notion of justice. The President is the Chief Executive, and it seemed wrong for him to “get away” with breaking the law, while others are obliged to follow it. (The same thing bears on Spiro Agnew’s plea bargain.) Similarly, I cannot understand how some are happy to speak endlessly about “being faithful” to the teachings of the Second Vatican Council yet disregard important sections of the GIRM. If we can disregard section 48 of the GIRM, why not section 49? Why not 50? Why not 51? And so forth.

Speaking of inconsistencies, just look at the current treatment of the Responsorial Psalm! According to current legislation, the Responsorial Psalm can be replaced at any time by any other psalm, so long as it’s from an “approved” collection. 1 Yet, 97% of churches choose the ASSIGNED Responsorial Psalm; they do not replace it. In fact, replacing it never occurs to them! Yet, when it comes to the ancient propers of the Mass—whose usage Vatican II wanted to encourage and make accessible—these are almost always replaced, and often in violation of Church law.

Events surrounding Watergate never cease to captivate me. I was shocked to learn that, in the immediate aftermath of the shooting of Governor George Wallace, Nixon discussed the possibility of planting George McGovern items in the shooter’s house so people would think Wallace’s shooter was a supporter of McGovern. 2 Similarly, I continue to be amazed by little tidbits I come across, showing how the Mass propers were undermined by various parties, especially the big publishing companies.

One more parallel, before I call it a day. A major concern in Watergate was how Nixon’s people were bribing people to commit perjury. President Clinton also committed perjury, admitting the truth only after incontrovertible physical evidence was produced. Although I didn’t follow the Clinton trial—I was a young boy at that time—I remember hearing over and over again, “Who cares if the Chief Executive branch committed perjury? Nobody got hurt.” Such sentiments ultimately carried the day. However, a new generation of political analysts is currently reëvaluating the “nobody got hurt” angle in light of filmed testimony by members of the Arkansas State Police, Jones, Broaddrick, Willey, and a whole host of others.

Similarly, a new generation of priests is starting to reëvaluate what the GIRM says about the Mass propers. They are starting to reëxamine what Vatican II was aiming at. They are becoming aware of monumental books of the propers in English such as what Fr. Samuel Weber has created. How long will we continue to violate the clear requirements of the GIRM?

By the way, I just realized that Watergate was happening around the same time the Novus Ordo Missal was being introduced!



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Even metrical settings are allowed!

2   Needless to say, Nixon was not the only politician to ever do wrong! In fact, much of what Nixon did pales in comparison to what we’re beginning to learn about presidents like JFK and FDR.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Hymns Replacing Propers 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

    2-Voice Arr. • “Creator of the Starry Height”
    Do you direct a choir consisting of women or children only? (Some call this a “treble” choir.) Download a two-voice arrangement of Creator of the Starry Height set to the tune of IOANNES by clicking here and then scrolling to the bottom. In our times, this hymn is normally used during ADVENT, and the Latin title is: Cónditor alme síderum. It’s important to say “cónditor”—placing the accent on the antepenult—because ‘condítor’ in Latin means “one who embalms the dead.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Equal Voices” Choir Pieces
    My colleague, CORRINNE MAY, has posted some delightful compositions for equal voices: that is, choirs consisting of all men or all women. Included there are settings of the “Ave Maria” and “Tantum Ergo.” They strike me as relatively simple and not excessively lengthy. (In other words, within reach of volunteer singers.) Even better, all the scores have been made available as instant PDF downloads, completely free of charge. Bravo!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

“I, (Name), do declare that I do believe that there is not any Transubstantiation in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, or in the elements of the bread and wine, at or after the consecration thereof by any person whatsoever.”

— ‘From England’s Anti-Catholic Oath (1673)’

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