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Views from the Choir Loft

“Battles” in the Church (Part 2 of 2)

Andrew Leung · June 18, 2015

CTL Battles in the Church 2 AST WEEK, I wrote a post about my observations and opinions on the Three “Battles” in the Church. Those three “battles” are tensions that already exist in the Catholic Church. They can be solved by dialogues and discussions. This week, I would like to write about two more “battles” that shouldn’t be fought. Just like the other three “battles”, these two tensions already exist. However, unlike the three “battles”, further debates on these two will divide the Church. That is why they shouldn’t be fought.

(1) Vetus Ordo Vs. Novus Ordo — I don’t know about you. But I have heard many times that people compare the two different Forms of the Mass in the Roman Rite. And when people compare the two, often they talk bad about one of the Forms. I do think that the two Forms can affect each other positively. The Ordinary Form is still pretty new and a lot of times it is not celebrated the way it should be. But as I said here, the Novus Ordo can be done well if it is celebrated according to the rubrics and the vision of the Council Fathers. If we continue to compare the two Forms negatively, saying one is better than the other, it will lead to division of the Church. On the other hand, positive comparison with an open mind can help us understand the Liturgy, the theology behind it and the history of the Mass.

(2) Traditional Vs. Charismatic — This tension happened due to misunderstanding of the terms. I have heard so many times that people compare the two and label others as “traditional” or “charismatic”. And when they do, it seems like one cannot fit into both categories. To be a Catholic is to be both. We are traditional, because we belong to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and we believe in Sacred Tradition; We are charismatic, because we all received the Holy Spirit in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. These two terms do not contradict with each other. We need to be faithful to the Liturgy and to have a good relationship with the Holy Spirit.

In conclusion, the first three “battles” from last week need to be solved through dialogues; the other two are unnecessary and we need to stop fighting them. Humility and prayers are the keys to solve these tensions.

“Battles” in the Church (Part 1 of 2)

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • Gorgeous Book

If there is a more beautiful book than Abbat Pothier’s 1888 Processionale Monasticum, I don’t know what it might be. This gorgeous tome was today added to the Saint John Lalande Online Library. I wish I owned a physical copy.

—Jeff Ostrowski
Sound Familiar?

1 June 1579: “The chapter passes a rule that anyone ascending to the new organ without official permission shall be fined a month’s pay.”

26 October 1579: “The altar boys remain always separate and distinct from choirboys—the one group learning only plainchant and assisting at the altar, the other living with the chapel-master and studying counterpoint and polyphony as well. Father Francisco Guerrero postpones his departure for Rome and instead spends the entire year in Seville making ready for the trip. In the meantime he neglects his choirboys. On 16 November, after considerable complaint against their unruliness and ignorance, he engages an assistant, Bartolomé Farfán.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

St Ambrose had to be “corrected” by Pope Urban VIII. The ‘Iste confessor’ was greatly altered and the hymn for the Dedication of a Church—which no one ought to have touched—was in fact completely recast in a new meter. Singular demand, made by the taste of that particular epoch!

— Re: The hymn revisions of Pope Urban VIII (d. 1644)

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