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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 Myth That Needs To Die

Jeff Ostrowski · December 28, 2015

910 Low Mass Before Vatican II NACCURATE MYTHS are often repeated with regard to the “typical” American Catholic parish of the 1950s. These rumors—often started by people disparaging the Holy Catholic Church—are presented in a dogmatic way, and then folks who don’t know any better mimic them. It is time for such assertions to cease.

A very common version goes something like this:

The Catholic Church before Vatican II focused on externals, never stressing a personal relationship with the Lord. The priests rushed through Mass as quickly as possible—to get it over with—which made no difference because priests in those days didn’t understand the prayers (recited in Latin). Low Mass often lasted 15 minutes, and the Requiem was frequently chosen because it was shorter; not because of the priest’s sincere desire to offer prayers for the dead (something the Curé of Ars encouraged with all his strength).

I got so tired of hearing this, I sent an email to five priests ordained before the Second Vatican Council. They all said these myths were total nonsense, and not representative of the 1950s. Here’s one:

Jeff, I never heard that and I never knew any priests who said or did that. I never witnessed a Mass in the so-called “extraordinary form” done in 15 minutes. The normal time for a side altar—that is, a Mass with no congregation but with just a server—was 25-30 minutes. A Requiem Mass was slightly shorter, especially if the Sequence (optional) was not recited. And that is still the case with Masses said at the seminary, e.g. the FSSP Seminary in Nebraska.

When people make a statement like the one you quoted, I simply tell them that this was not my experience—because it wasn’t. My High Masses on Sunday with a sermon usually take an hour and five minutes. My daily low Masses with congregation normally last about 35 minutes. That is without a sermon; and I don’t preach on weekdays! People are preached at too much nowadays… Regarding preaching, we were taught in the seminary that “the preacher should always end his sermon while the people still wanted to hear more!” Some preachers don’t know when to stop!

(Regarding what he says about the Dies Irae Sequence, it was not said 1 on certain days.)

Another “preconciliar” priest—not the one quoted above—recently sent me this powerful & beautiful prayer:

915 Daily Prayer


Regarding how well priests knew Latin back then, I correspond with 5-6 preconciliar priests through email. All of them know Latin not only “sufficiently” but fluently. Some of the traditional orders these days are teaching Latin to their seminarians, and this is fantastic. 2 But most priests—even good & holy ones who offer the Extraordinary Form—are not fluent in Latin, the way these 5-6 preconciliar priests are. We must continue to work, and hopefully we will again reach preconciliar level!



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Prior to the reforms of Pope John XXIII—which were incorporated into the 1962 editions of the Roman Missal—the Sequence Dies Irae was supposed to be said or sung (depending on whether it was a Low Mass or a High Mass) at all Requiem Masses. The only exception was the so called “Daily Mass for the Dead.” Its recitation was optional at a “daily” Low Mass. (A daily Low Mass could be offered on feasts lower than a double. Today, it would mean a 4th class day.) In 1962, the Dies Irae became obligatory at all Funeral Masses and during one Mass on 2 November, unless the second and third Masses are High Masses.

2   Canon Law requires that all priests of the Latin Rite—both Ordinary Form and Extraordinary Form—possess a knowledge of Latin, because so much of the Roman Catholic teachings are in that language.

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 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

    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th 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 dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Offertory” for this Sunday
    This coming Sunday, 12 October 2025, is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). Its OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF) is gorgeous, and comes from the book of Esther, as did the ENTRANCE CHANT last Sunday. Depending on a variety of factors, various hand-missals (all with Imprimatur) translate this passage differently. For instance, “príncipis” can be rendered: King; Prince; Lion; or Fierce lord. None is “more correct” than another. It depends on which source text is chosen and what each translator wants to emphasize. All these pieces of plainsong are conveniently stored at the blue-ribbon feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF example) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

To end an impropriety, noticed particularly at orchestral Vespers, when two or three Psalms are sung with full orchestra, and then the other Psalms and the Hymn are rapidly hurried through with organ accompaniment only […] we order that at Mass all portions of the text, including “Agnus Dei,” be sung with orchestral accompaniment. […] Moreover, the musicians are not allowed to put the instruments away and leave their places before the conclusion of the sacred function.

— Cardinal Patrizi (18 November 1856)

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