• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • Ordinary Form Feasts (Sainte-Marie)
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

Reflections Upon The Death Of Francis Cardinal George This Morning At 10:45am

Jeff Ostrowski · April 17, 2015

904 Francis Cardinal George WAS SADDENED to hear of the death of Francis Cardinal George. I hope readers will permit me a few reflections about this great Church leader. Many will remember the courageous role he played in the creation of a more faithful translation of the Roman Missal. I enjoyed reading his comments—especially in the bishops’ meetings as recorded and printed by Helen Hull Hitchcock—which at times 1 could be rather pointed.

What I wish to relate, however, is my own memory of Francis Cardinal George, who offered Mass during a CMAA Colloquium in Chicago. Some of our readers know that not all CMAA liturgies attain the same level of perfection. This one happened early in the week. To be brutally honest, our singing was very poor. (If memory serves, it was a Wednesday Mass, which means the participants had only one day of training before this Mass.) Someone told me in advance that the cardinal was a trained musician; was he ever!

I’ll never forget when Cardinal George sang his parts. His singing was glorious! Only 2-3 other clerics I know could sing as nicely. Because our singing was so poor—for the reasons I’ve already explained—I felt like crawling underneath a rock!

By the way, this was quite a contrast to another high-ranking cleric, who shall remain nameless. His diocese paid me to present at a conference focusing on the music in MR3. During the Mass, it was obvious the bishop had done zero preparation, because he sang everything exactly as it was before MR3. Whereas Cardinal George had not missed a single note, this bishop sang not one note correctly. During the rest of the conference, we were forced to keep talking about “how amazing” and “how wonderful” the tones in MR3 sounded…and what an improvement they were!  Perhaps if I had more integrity, I would have pointed out that the bishop sang everything incorrectly, but I made the decision to “go with the flow.” (I suppose that makes me a hypocrite.)

Francis Cardinal George had a deep love for music, and personally called into his office several friends of mine. He told them how important their work was. He told them they must continue to fight for QUALITY church music…instead of the “garbage” (his word) so often thrust upon the faithful.

Cardinal George, in some ways, was very serious; he didn’t have time for nonsense. I remember seeing him on Meet the Press, speaking to David Gregory (who was not Catholic). Gregory said something like, “So, now that Pope Francis has been elected, I hear everything in your Church is going to change. Tell us, Cardinal George, about some radical changes Pope Francis will soon make.” Cardinal George’s response was something to the effect of, “As far as I know, David, his job is no different than it always has been: preach the Gospel.”

I hope my reflections don’t come across as too random. We at CCW don’t prepare comments in advance of someone’s death. From what I understand, Cardinal George has skirted death many times in the past, so I’m sure news organizations have their articles “primed and ready.”

Francis Cardinal George had a good sense of humor and probably would have enjoyed this skit, poking fun at people who prepare obituaries in advance:


(Many people dislike Dana Carvey, but his Tom Brokaw is excellent.)



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   If my memory is correct, one of the bishops was insisting that MR3 continue to be delayed, and Cardinal George said something to the effect of, “Our people have already waited a decade; a decade is long enough to delay.” (Remember that the Latin edition of MR3 came out around 2001, yet the American bishops took almost 10 years to release its translation!)

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Francis Cardinal George Of Chicago Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

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).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “What Martin Luther Said…”
    My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“The chapter secretary is authorized to write a letter beseeching a royal pardon for Caspar de Cuevas, cathedral sackbut player, who is imprisoned on a murder charge.” [From “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]

— Sevilla: Chapter Resolution (23 March 1566)

Recent Posts

  • “Musicam Sacram” (5 March 1967) • Does It Apply?
  • “What Martin Luther Said…”
  • “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • Worship the Lord in Holy Attire
  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!

But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”

We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.

Our president has written the following letter:

President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)

Are you able to support us?

clock.png

Time's up